breakfast casserole w/ veggie sausage

rosemarypepper

During a Christmas Eve gathering, a friend said she had too many eggs in the house and made a Paula Deen Breakfast Casserole that was easy and delicious. It's fluffy because of the beaten eggs and textured like a savory bread pudding. It's just not that easy on the eyes, as you can see. Because I am me, I used whole wheat bread, veggie sausage and leftover mashed potatoes. We had everything on hand, even the half & half, which we only ever have after Ian Moore stays here. I halved the recipe because Nick won't eat eggs. Also note that although this adapted recipe is easy, it is not speedy because it has to sit covered in the fridge for an hour prior to baking. Next time, I'll add cayenne & fresh thyme to give it a bit more action.

Ingredients

Butter to grease a square Pyrex pan
2 slices fresh whole wheat bread
2 wheels vegetarian sausage, thawed & chopped
1/2 cup mashed potatoes, dropped into blobs
1/2 cup shredded cheese (i.e. Four Cheese blend with Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Asadero & Queso Quesadilla)
3 organic cage-free eggs
1 cup half & half
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
fresh cracked pepper

4 or so servings

Directions

Directions
Butter a glass Pyrex square pan.

Defrost sausage wheels in a low-powered microwave, chop into bite sizes.

Cube the bread and layer it onto the bottom of the baking pan. Then add a layer of veggie sausage, a layer of mashed potato blobs, and a last layer of shredded cheese. Grind some pepper onto all of that.

In a big bowl, add all powders and spices to the half & half (dry mustard, salt, more black pepper, fresh thyme, cayenne) and whisk it.

In another bowl, beat the eggs. Then stir them into the wet mixture which is then poured over the entire casserole.

Cover and sit in fridge for 1 hour or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and bake casserole until it doesn't jiggle, about 20 minutes, then check it again and add more time, if needed. Broil briefly while keeping an eye on it at 450 until golden.

Serve with salt to taste.

Read original recipe at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/breakfast-casserole-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

1 hour 20 minutes