sausage & cheddar breakfast strata

How To Make sausage & cheddar breakfast strata

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  Step 1
  ***UPDATE: After one of those “WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THIS SOONER? moments, I started making the first part of this recipe in my large Pampered Chef 8 cup batter bowl. Now it’s so much easier to fit into the fridge for its soaking time, plus you can measure the 2 cups of milk before adding the rest of the ingredients (besides meat and cheese). Remember to cover with the lid or cling wrap when refrigerating. After soaking, just pour into the prepared baking dish & add the cooked meat (Step #8) and cheese before baking. (Jump down to Step #9.) Easy peasy! =^..^= OR you can start on Step #2 for the original directions.
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  Step 2
  Lightly mist a 13 x 9" pan or baking dish with cooking spray. Tear up the bread into bite-size pieces, or you can cube it, if you must.
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  Step 3
  In a bowl, whisk together milk and eggs.
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  Step 4
  Add the salt, pepper, and dry mustard.
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  Step 5
  Pour egg mixture over bread cubes.
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  Step 6
  Using the end of the whisk, press the bread pieces down into the egg mixture.
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  Step 7
  Cover with wrap & place in refrigerator overnight, or at least 4 hours.
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  Step 8
  In the meantime or in the morning, fry the sausage until it's browned and crumbled. Remove from the skillet & drain on paper towels. Set aside or refrigerate, if it’s the night before until you are ready to bake the strata. (If you're using Bob Evans or Jimmy Dean Sausage Crumbles, just open the package.)
• Step 9
  In the morning, remove strata from the refrigerator & UNCOVER. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. **If the strata is in a bowl, spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, then pour the strata in the dish. (Go to Step #10.) ***If the strata is already in a glass baking dish in the fridge, allow the baking dish to lose most of its chill (about 20 minutes), then go to Step #10. If you're using a metal pan, there is no need to wait. Go to Step #10.
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  Step 10
  Top with sausage crumbles...
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  Step 11
  ...then cheese.
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  Step 12
  Bake UNCOVERED at 350 degrees F. for 30-35 minutes, checking early the first time you make it. A knife put in the middle should come out clean & the cheese should be melted & bubbly. Remove from oven & let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
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  Step 13
  NOTE: The strata should come out of the oven rather puffy, but will lose that puffiness as it starts to cool. This is just the nature of stratas so you did it all right. It's going to be delicious! =^..^=
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  Step 14
  NOTE: For those who are vegetarian, Cheesy Veggie Strata is delicious, too!
• Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!