yesterday we sent our beloved prep manager, Cheryl, to the fair to do a short cooking demo and give out samples and door prizes. we had a great time and met some lovely people!
as promised to those who were present, we are sharing here the recipe that Cheryl made live yesterday. it is an overnight sausage breakfast casserole and is a take on the breakfast casserole we make in-store on Saturdays. this one also has a bread element so it's a hybrid casserole/bread pudding. it is DELICIOUS; it doesn't require a ton of prep time and the best part is that you can make it a day ahead of time and then just wake up and pop it in the oven the morning of. easy as pie (or something like that...)
OVERNIGHT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE RECIPE
Ingredients:
8 cups dried out or day-old bread; cubed and crust removed
1 lb sausage (use any kind you like; we used Italian sausage)
2 cups chopped bacon (approx. 24 pieces)
2 cups fire roasted peppers and onions or just use a medley of bell- peppers and onions, chopped
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded pepperjack cheese or another kind of your choosing
7 eggs
3 cups milk
½ tsp. each of : oregano, garlic, basil and onion powder
Directions:
1. Brown the sausage and bacon together for about 5 minutes over medium-high heat; add the oregano, garlic, basil and onion powder and the chopped peppers and onions. Cook until meat is thoroughly browned
2. While the meat mixture is cooking, cube your bread and have cheeses ready.
3. Using a 9x13 pan that has been sprayed, layer half of your cubed bread in the bottom.
4. Add ½ of the meat mixture on top of the cubed bread. You will layer this much like a lasagna.
5. Add ½ of the mozzarella and ½ of the pepperjack on to the meat mixture.
6. Layer remaining cubed bread, meat mixture and cheeses.
7. In a separate bowl, combine your 7 eggs and 3 cups milk and beat well with a whisk.
8. Pour this egg mixture over the top of your layered casserole and make sure all bread has been covered.
9. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
10. NEXT DAY!!!!! Bake covered with foil in a 350 degree oven for 55-60 minutes. It will be done when knife comes out clean when inserted or has reached an internal temperature of 180 degrees.
Here's a few photos from our time at the fair. thanks for having us, Ozark Empire Fair crew!
