Mushroom Bacon & Cheddar Strata

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 12 ounces crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 lb cremini mushroom, thickly sliced
• 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (the sharper the better)
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and roughly chopped
• 3 cups milk (plain flavored) or 3 cups soymilk (plain flavored)
• 6 eggs (or 1-1/2 c. egg substitute)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme (or 2 tsp. dried thyme)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

Recipe

• 1 arrange bread cubes on baking sheet in a single layer. bake at 350 deg. f for 20 minutes, or till toasted. place bread cubes in large bowl.
• 2 melt butter in large skillet over medium high heat. add mushrooms and onions; saute 10 minutes or till liquid evaporates and veggies are tender.
• 3 toss onion mixture with bread cubes.
• 4 combine remaining ingredients in bowl; whisk till well mixed.
• 5 to assemble the strata, arrange half the bread cube mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. sprinkle with half the cheese and bacon. top with remaining bread, then the remaining cheese and bacon. pour egg mixture over layers.
• 6 cover strata tightly with tinfoil and refrigerate overnight.
• 7 bake strata, still covered, at 350°f for 30 minutes. remove cover and bake another 15 minutes, till top is nicely browned and eggs are set.
• 8 let stand 10 minutes before serving.