Garden Vegetable Cracker Strata Recipes

VEGGIE-PACKED STRATA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute peppers and onion in 1 Tbsp. oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain; pat dry and set aside. In the same skillet, saute the yellow squash, zucchini and mushrooms in remaining 2 Tbsp. oil until tender. Drain; pat dry and set aside., Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, cream, salt and pepper until smooth. Beat in eggs. Stir in vegetables, half of the bread cubes and Swiss cheese. Arrange the remaining bread cubes in a greased 10-in. springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Pour egg mixture into pan. , Bake, uncovered, until set and a thermometer reads 160°, 80-95 minutes. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. Run a knife around sides of pan to loosen; remove sides. Cut into wedges.

VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Transfer to a large bowl., Repeat with an additional 1 teaspoon oil and zucchini; add to asparagus. In same pan, cook and stir corn, shallots and garlic in remaining oil until shallots are tender; stir in herbs, salt and pepper. Add to asparagus mixture; stir in bread cubes., Place half of mixture in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with 1-1/2 cups cheese. Repeat layers. In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk; pour over casserole. Sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour., Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: After assembling, cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake strata, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

GARDEN VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Melt margarine in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add vegetables; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Stir in seasonings. Remove from heat; set aside.
• Layer crackers and vegetable mixture in 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray. Beat eggs and milk with whisk until blended. Stir in cheese; pour over vegetable mixture. Cover; refrigerate several hours.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Bake casserole, uncovered, 45 to 50 min. or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the broccoli until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, Parmesan, eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Layer half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the Monterey Jack, followed by the mushrooms, broccoli, scallions and tomatoes. Cover with the remaining bread cubes and pour the egg mixture evenly over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. (This can also be assembled the day of; just let soak at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking.)
• On the day of baking, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Let the strata sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Remove the plastic and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Monterey Jack. Bake until slightly puffed and just no longer jiggly in the center, 40 to 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

MAKE YOUR OWN VEGETABLE CRACKERS

Steps:

• Combine 4 1/2 cups flour, soup mix, and soda in a large mixing bowl; add butter and egg, beating at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended.
• Add buttermilk, beating well.
• Stir in enough remaining 1 cup flour to form a soft dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 4 or 5 times.
• Divide dough into fourths; roll each portion into a 10 x 12-inch rectangle (about 1/16 inch thick). Cut into 2-inch squares, using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, and place on lightly greased baking sheets. Prick with a fork and sprinkle with salt.
• Bake at 400° for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Butter an 8 inch square baking pan.
• Cut bread into ½ inch cubes and distribute evenly in pan.
• Top with cheese.
• Toss vegetables together and distribute over cheese.
• In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard and salt and pour over vegetables.
• Chill, covered, overnight.
• Preheat oven to 340 degrees F.
• Sprinkle basil and pepper to taste over strata.
• Put in larger baking pan and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up sides.
• Bake in middle of oven for 1 hour, or until top is golden.

FARM STAND STRATA

Steps:

• Spray a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Lay slices of bread in the bottom of the prepared pan in a single layer, trimming and filling in gaps as necessary. Spread 1 cup Cheddar cheese, onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, red bell pepper, and bacon on top, in that order.
• Whisk eggs, sour cream, mustard, seasoning blend, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until well combined. Pour mixture over bread, making sure to soak the top layer.
• Cover baking pan and refrigerate strata at least 8 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Uncover strata and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle remaining Cheddar cheese evenly on top and return to the hot oven. Bake until Cheddar cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Let strata stand 5 minutes before serving.

EASY STRATA AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Saute mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of oil. Season with salt and set aside.
• Whisk half-and-half, eggs, salt and pepper until smooth. Spray a 9-by-13-inch Pyrex or ceramic baking dish with vegetable cooking spray.
• Line bottom with 6 slices of bread. Scatter half of the ham, and half of the mushrooms over the bread, then sprinkle with half of the scallions and cheese. Pour 1 cup of egg mixture over the top. Repeat layers with remaining bread, ham, mushrooms, cheese and scallions. Slowly pour remaining egg mixture evenly over top. Cover with plastic wrap, then weight down casserole with 3 16-ounce cans for at least 15 minutes to submerge ingredients. (Can be refrigerated overnight, but return to room temperature before baking.)
• Adjust oven rack to middle position. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven until custard is just set, about 50 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil until strata is spotty brown and puffy (watch carefully), about 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, then serve immediately.