cheddar-bacon-asparagus strata

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 pound bacon
• 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (1 pound) loaf sliced bread, crusts removed
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Recipe

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

Ready Time: 9 hrs 45 mins


• cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. crumble the bacon and set aside.
• place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. cover and bring the water to a boil. add the asparagus, cover, and steam until bright green but still crunchy, about 5 minutes. remove asparagus and set aside.
• in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
• grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. layer the bread slices into the bottom of the dish, cutting and fitting extra slices as needed to fill spaces. sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the bread, followed by the diced onion. arrange asparagus spears and red bell pepper in a layer over the onion. sprinkle crumbled bacon over the red bell pepper; top with another layer of bread slices, cutting and filling in spaces as before. pour the egg-milk mixture evenly over the casserole, and refrigerate overnight.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• bake the casserole for 50 minutes; sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole, return to the oven, and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling and a knife inserted into the center of the casserole comes out clean, 10 to 15 more minutes.