Easy Savory Strata

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 quart half-and-half
• 12 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 12 -14 slices fluffy bread, such as wonder bread
• 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 3 cups)
• 1/2 cup thin-sliced scallion (about 3 medium)

Recipe

• 1 whisk half and half, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste until smooth.
• 2 spray a 13-by 9-inch pyrex or ceramic baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. line pan bottom with 6 slices of bread, fitting in additional bread, cut into strips, to form a tight fit, which keeps the strata from puffing dramatically, and then sprinkle with half the scallions and cheese. pour 1 cup of egg mixture over the topped bread. make another layer with remaining bread –-adding extra strips of bread if necessary–scallions and cheese. slowly pour remaining egg mixture over bread. cover with plastic wrap, then weight the casserole with 3 one-pound cans for at least 15 minutes.
• 3 adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. bake until custard is just set, about 50 minutes. without adjusting oven rack, turn on broiler; broil until strata is spotty brown and puffy, about 5 minutes longer.
• 4 remove from oven, let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, and then serve immediately.