Farmer's Strata

My favorite website, http://www.allrecipes.com/, has come through for me again! Every General Conference Sunday, we get together for breakfast with our friends, the Hoggans. I made this strata and took it with us. It was AWESOME!


3/4-1 pound sliced bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 pound country style sausage*
1 small onion, chopped (optional)
10 slices white bread, cubed
1 cup cubed cooked potatoes
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
8 eggs
3 cups milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 dash salt and pepper

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; add onion. Cook and stir until onion is tender; drain. In a separate skillet, cook sausage until cooked through; drain. Add sausage to bacon and onion.
In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish, layer half the bread cubes, potatoes and cheese. Top with all of the bacon mixture. Repeat layers of bread, potatoes and cheese.
In a bowl, beat the eggs; add milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over all. Cover and chill overnight.
Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 65-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
* The original recipe called for 2 cups of chopped fully cooked ham. If using this, add to the bacon when adding the onion.

Our family has always had the tradition of eating what we called a "souffle" at Christmas morning breakfast. As I have taken on this cooking hobby of mine, I have learned that what we were actually eating is called a strata.

I have always loved eating this strata for breakfast, but the recipe really could have been better. I have tried a couple of different recipes and liked them, but this is the new keeper. It will be in our family for years to come as our new Christmas morning tradition.