Spinach Sausage Brunch Casserole

Recipe courtesy of Irish July Bride
1 blk Italian sausage
1 C chopped onions
1 jar (7.25 oz) mild roasted red bell peppers drained, chopped
1 package (9 oz) Green Giant Harvest Fresh Frozen Chopped spinach thawed, well drained
1 C all purpose flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
2 C milk
8 eggs
1 C shredded Provolone Cheese (4 oz)

1.  Heat oven to 425 Grease 13x9 pan.  In 10 inch skillet brown sausage and onions.  Remove from skillet, drain on paper towels.  Arrange sausage mixture in greased pan.  Sprinkle chopped red peppers over sausage mixture; top w/ spinach.

2.  In large bowl, combine flour, parmesan cheese, basil and salt.  In another large bowl, combine milk and eggs; beat until smooth.  Add egg mixture to flour mixture; beat until well blended.  Pour over spinach.

3.  Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Sprinkle casserole w/ Provolone cheese.  Bake at 425 for 1to 2 more minutes enough for cheese to melt.

4.  Let stand for 5 minutes and then cut into squares.

Spinach and Cheese Strata

Recipe courtesy of LizDP

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

1 (10-oz) package frozen spinach, thawed
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion (1 large)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8 cups cubed (1 inch) French or Italian bread (1/2 lb)
6 oz coarsely grated Gruyère (2 cups)
2 oz finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 cup)
2 3/4 cups milk
9 large eggs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Squeeze handfuls of spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, then finely chop.

Cook onion in butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in spinach, then remove from heat.

Spread one third of bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other shallow ceramic baking dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture. Sprinkle with one third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice (ending with cheeses).

Whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Chill strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 8 hours (for bread to absorb custard).

Preheat oven to 350°F. Let strata stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Cooks' note:
• Strata can be chilled up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

Recipe courtesy of alicianrj

6 large eggs, beaten

1 ½ cups heavy cream

Salt and pepper

2 cups chopped, fresh baby spinach, packed

1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 ½ cups shredded Swiss cheese

1 (9 inch) refrigerated pie crust, fitted to a 9-inch glass pie plate

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper into a food processor or blender. Layer the spinach, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust, then pour the egg mixture on top. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until egg mixture is set. Cut into wedges and serve.

Pineapple Casserole

Recipe courtesy of mrs.tbag

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter

10 slices bread cubed

4 eggs

1 1lb can crushed pineapple

Beat together sugar, butter and eggs.

Grease a rectangular baking pan.

Place cubed bread on bottom of pan.

Pour pineapple and juice over bread.

Pour batter on top of pineapples.

Bake for 1 hour.

Mini Quiche Variation

Recipe courtesy of Aveline

Take your favorite recipe for quiche filling and turn it into an appetizer for your family or breakfast for your toddler! The biscuit rounds are a good size, just peel into 2 or 3 layers each & fill with the mixture of your choice. Can be made ahead (and even frozen), then reheated on a baking sheet in the oven…microwaving not recommended.

Ingredients:

Refrigerated butter flake biscuits (Pillsbury) that separate into layers.

Filling for Quiche (can use this or any recipe):

4 slices bacon
1/4 c Finely chopped onion
1 1/2 c Shredded cheddar cheese
4 Eggs slightly beaten
1 1/3 c Milk
3/4 t Salt
1/2 t Dry mustard
1/8 t White pepper
1/8 t Ground nutmeg

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease/spray mini muffin tins & line each with a layer of biscuit dough.
• Combine filling ingredients OR combine egg/milk/seasoning ingredients only.
• Place small amounts of cheese, bacon, veggies, etc. on each quiche crust and top with liquid ingredients. OR, pour all combined ingredients into each quiche crust.

Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Mile High Lasagna Pie

Recipe courtesy of jerseyjessie

Ingredients:

14 lasagna noodles

2 Tbsp Olive oil

1 ½ cups finely chopped carrot

2 cups finely chopped zucchini

4 cloves garlic

3 cups sliced button mushrooms

2 6oz packages pre washed spinach

2 Tbsp fresh basil

1 egg beaten

15oz ricotta cheese

1/3 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

26 oz jar of tomato sauce (or you can make your own)

2 cups shredded mozzarella

1. Cook noodles, drain and rinse in cold water, set aside
2. Meanwhile in a large skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Add carrot, zucchini and half garlic. Cook and stir about 5 minutes or until crisp tender. Transfer to a bowl
3. Add remaining oil to skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook and stir about 5 minutes. Add spinach, cook 1-2 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to another bowl, stir in basil.
4. Combine egg, ricotta, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
5. Preheat oven to 375F.
6. To assemble pie use a 9x13 spring form pan. Spread ½ cup pasta sauce, arrange 3-4 cooked noodles over sauce, trim and overlap to cover sauce. Top with half of spinach-mushroom mixture. Spoon ½ ricotta cheese mixture over spinach mixture.
7. Top with another layer of noodles, spread with ½ remaining pasta sauce. Top with all of zucchini-carrot mixture.
8. Top with another layer of noodles and remaining sauce. Gently press down pie with back of spatula.
9. Place spring form pan on foil lined baking sheet. Bake in pre-heated oven for 60 minutes. Top with remaining cheese for last 15 minutes. Once done baking let stand on wire rack for 15 minutes before serving. Remove sides of pan.

* Allow lasagna to sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb all the sauce, if you remove the side too soon the lasagna pie will fall apart!*

Mexican Beef Dip

Recipe courtesy of shortbride145

Ingredients:

1 package ground beef (1 lb)
1 package taco seasoning (I prefer Taco Bell packet)
1 Med size jar salsa (chunky style works best)
1 can refried beans (or homemade refried beans: see directions below)*
1 8oz package cream cheese - softened
1 bag shredded Mexican blend cheese

Preheat oven to 350

Prepare the ground meat with the taco seasoning according to the direction on the package and set aside.

In an 8 1/2 x 11 pan (I have found that glass or Pyrex works best), layer the ingredients in this order:

Cream Cheese
Refried Beans
Salsa
Meat w/seasoning
Shredded Cheese

Bake in oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble. Serve with tortilla chips.

Jackie

*(Heat the 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a small nonstick skillet. Add 19 ounce can of black beans and mash with a fork. Season the beans with salt and fry until crisp at edges, about 3 to 4 minutes)