Elegant Brunch Casserole

highcotton's Note:

This is a lovely choice for a Christmas or New Year's brunch or to serve special houseguests. I found the recipe years ago in an old church cookbook, and it's proven to be wonderfully adaptable. You can substitute Canadian bacon or ham for the regular bacon if you prefer and vary the cheeses according to your family's preferences. (Gruyere is great!) If you don't cook with wine, just add more milk mixed with a little water to thin. You can also replace the meat with sauteed mushrooms for a vegetarian version. Please note that it must be refrigerated overnight. Enjoy!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 loaf French bread, sliced
• 3 tablespoons butter, plus
• more butter, for buttering dish
• 4 ounces swiss cheese, grated
• 4 ounces monterey jack cheese, grated
• 12 slices bacon, diced and fried until crisp
• 8 large eggs
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 3 green onions
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Grease bottom and sides of 9" x 13" glass casserole dish with butter.
2. Tear bread into bite-sized pieces and place in dish, arranging so that they form a fairly solid layer but do not overlap (you may not need the whole loaf).
3. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan; drizzle evenly over bread.
4. Sprinkle grated Swiss and Monterrey Jack cheeses evenly over bread.
5. Top cheese layer evenly with cooked bacon bits.
6. Break eggs into large mixing bowl and beat lightly by hand; add milk, wine, chopped green onion, mustard, black pepper and cayenne, beating again until foamy.
7. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole; cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
8. The following day, remove dish from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
9. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
10. Bake, covered with foil, for approximately 45-50 minutes, until eggs are'set' in the center.
11. Remove from oven and spread sour cream evenly over the top of the casserole; sprinkle with grated Parmesan.
12. Return to oven uncovered; bake an additional 10 minutes or so until lightly-browned.

Reviews

[CathShaw]

I used this recipe for my family for a Christmas brunch this year and they all insist that I make it next year. I made it exactly as it appears here, but see that it would be possible to substitute low fat ingredients, or to make it suitable for vegetarians by omitting the bacon and adding mushrooms or any suitable vegetables.

[Luluandbo]

I have made many variations of the brunch casserole over the years, and this is by far my most favorite!! I made 14 of them for a wedding brunch (some with egg substitute) and all of them with low fat turkey sausage instead of bacon, and light sour cream. They were sensational!! The guest thought so, too!