Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Strata

How was your weekend?  I had a great 18 mile run and enjoyed the last day of summer heat.

I have a really delicious recipe to share with you all – however it is not the healthiest recipe I have ever posted.  It would be PERFECT for a group brunch if you want to wow your friends.

Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Strata

Ingredients (makes 6-8 servings)

• 5 slices Nature’s Pride Nutty Oat bread
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 2 Chicken Sausage links, chopped – I used the sundried tomato variety
• 1 medium onion
• 1 Portobello mushroom
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1.25 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
• 3 eggs
• 1.5 cups of egg whites
• 1 cup skim milk

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 225*.  Cut bread into 1” cubes. 
2. Place in heated oven for about 20 minutes, or until crisp and toasty on both sides. 
3. Toss bread with melted better. 
4. Increase oven heat to 350*.
5. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat.  Chop mushroom and onion.
6. Add veggies to the skillet, with a pinch of salt and cook for several minutes.
7. Add chicken sausage and cook for about 5 more minutes.  Remove from heat.
8. Using non-stick spray, oil an 8×8 pan.  Layer the bottom with half of the bread.
9. On top of the bread, put half of the sausage-onion-mushroom mixture.
10. Next, layer with 1/2 cup of the cheese.
11. Repeat layering (bread, sausage-onion-mushroom, then cheese).
12. Whisk eggs together in a bowl.  Add egg whites, milk, a pinch of salt and a tsp of black pepper.  Mix together well. 
13. Pour egg mixture over the layered bread-sausage-cheese. 
14. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of cheese.
15. Bake for 40 minutes. 
16. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

So good!  I could seriously eat this all day.  Warm, cheesy, delicious.  This is definitely too labor intensive for a weekday breakfast, but would make a great dinner or brunch option.  It also makes great leftovers – I am already looking forward for breakfast tomorrow.

I cooked this Sunday morning, as well as two lasagnas since we were having family over for dinner.  I had made all 3 dishes before 1 pm and spent the rest of the day avoiding the kitchen!

Note: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker’s program, I received a coupon for a free loaf of Nature’s Pride bread, but the recipe and review are all my own!