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Spinach and Cheese Christmas Strata

(recipe, Katie Hickey)

Introduction

A Christmas tradition, born our first year together.

Ingredients

  1. 1 10.0 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed, squeeze (very well!) of all excess liquid, and chopped
  2. 1½ cups finely chopped onion (1 large)
  3. 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  4. 1 tsp. salt
  5. ½ tsp. black pepper
  6. ¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  7. 8 cups cubed French or Italian bread in 1-inch cubes (½ lb)
  8. 6 oz. coarsely grated Gruyère (2 cups)
  9. 2 oz. finely grated parmesan (1 cup) (I would use less parmesan next time)
  10. 2¾ cups milk (mix in a little half and half for body)
  11. 9 large eggs
  12. 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

Steps

  1. Sauté onion in butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and nutmeg and continue cooking for one minute. Stir in spinach, remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Spread one third of the bread cubes in a well-buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other ceramic baking dish. Top with one-third of bread cubes,one-third of spinach mixture and one-third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice with remaining bread, spinach and cheese.
  3. Whisk eggs, milk, mustard and remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Cover with plastic wrap and chill strata for eat least 8 hours or up to a day.
  4. The next day, let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F. Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.