Stuffed french toast is pretty easy to make, just like regular french toast. Weve normally had it with french bread sliced double-thick and sliced halfway through in the middle of each double-thick slice (see here for an example)--but it works with regular bread, too, and weve even made the sausage-and-swiss style from the link above as just a french toast-grilled-cheese sandwich. But then we thought, "wouldnt it also be great in a strata?" And were happy to report that it is, indeed, great in a strata.
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| Start by browning up some ground meat to make some breakfast sausage. For 1 lb ground venison, we seasoned it with about a half-teaspoon each of salt, and pepper, and one teaspoon each of garlic powder, caraway seeds, and ground sage. |
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| When the meat is cooked through and tastes like the type of breakfast sausage you want, make layers like the picture shows, in a 9 x 13" pan. A couple of differences between this strata and our other recipes: this one doesnt have vegetables in it, so youll have to get them in a side dish. (Dont skip them! Remember, this is moms meal plan were emulating.) Or maybe make an omelet to go with it or something. Also, were not normally picky about what kind of cheese we use in the strata, but this ones gotta have Swiss cheese. |
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| Add a second set of bread-meat-cheese layers, then pour a mixture of six eggs, three cups milk, and one teaspoon each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning (beaten together) over it. The seasonings in the egg mixture could also be more traditional french toast spices, like vanilla and cinnamon, but we decided to match the sausage flavor instead. Doesnt matter, well still eat it with syrup like Buddy the Elf. |
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| Set it in the fridge to chill out for a while. |
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| Then bake at 350 °F for 50-55 min until it looks something like this. |
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| Look at those layers! Time for the syrup! Good stuff, Maynard. House rules: when an entree is topped with real maple syrup, the plate must be licked clean. No exceptions! |
What do you stuff your french toast with? Let us know in the comments section below!
The recipe:
~1 lb ground venison
0.5 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, caraway seed, and ground sage
10 slices of bread (at least)
1 lb shredded Swiss cheese
6 eggs
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
Brown the ground venison in a frying pan over medium heat, seasoning with garlic powder, caraway, sage, salt and pepper to taste (suggestions above). The amount of ground meat can be adjusted, too--1 lb gives a two scant layers in the strata, two lbs. makes a very meaty strata. Layer the bread, browned meat, and cheese in a 9" x 13" pan, starting with bread and ending with cheese, aiming for two layers each. Beat together eggs, milk, and remaining seasonings. Pour over layers and set in fridge for several hours or overnight. Bake at 350 °F for 50-55 min. Allow to cool and smother with real maple syrup. Remember to lick the plate afterward.
