Spinach & Cheese Strata

It's the time of year that I hate the most - the cold, gray days of January and February.  Luckily we are having a baby shower this weekend for Nicole and my Mom is coming up from Florida this week so there will be a lot to keep us busy and we won't be thinking about the winter weather in New Jersey.  We have a casserole like this every Christmas morning after we open our gifts.  We have tried many recipes but my family likes this one the best so we have had this one for a few years now.  I like it because it is prepared the day before and on Christmas morning I just wake up and put it in the oven and it cooks while we are opening gifts.   This recipe is adapted from www.annies-eats.com, originally from Gourmet, February 2003. 

Ingredients:
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
2 10 oz packages of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
8 cups cubed french or italian bread, cut into cubes
12 oz. shredded cheddar jack or cheese of your choice
10 large eggs
2-3/4 cups milk

Directions:
Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add onions and garlic to the pan and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  Continue cooking for 1 more minute.  Stir in the drained spinach.  Remove from heat and set aside.

Butter the inside of a 2-1/2 or 3 quart baking dish.  Layer the bottom of the dish with one third bread cubes. Top with one third spinach mixture and one third of the cheese.  Repeat these layers twice more with the bread, spinach and cheese.

In a medium bowl combine the eggs and milk. Whisk together until blended.  Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, spinach and cheese layered in the baking dish.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours or for up to a day.

Remove from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before baking.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Bake uncovered until puffed, golden brown and cooked through for about 45-50 minutes.  Let stand at least 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!!   Susan

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