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PROBUS Club of Durham West- HOME
- Recipe May 2025
Sharing Our Recipes |
Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Strata Recipe, Courtesy of Patricia Bolger |
I have been scouring recipe books and the internet for high quality protein dishes with awesome taste, great presentation and a reasonable price that will feed two hungry seniors. Instantly, “The Big Guy” has a full grown panic attack using his best sad face, worrying that he will be on starvation rations and has just seen the last of any big slabs of meat on the dinner table. A spectacular theatre production it is! Occasionally, I can slip in an egg dish with a lovely green salad for one of our evening meals. This Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Strata is perfect for any holiday buffet, family brunch, ladies light lunch, breakfast or just a springtime evening meal in the garden. It takes some time to make this recipe but when its in the oven there is time to test the recommended beverages from “The Big Guy”… depending on the position of the sun, you might want to try a Chardonnay, Muscato, Sparkling Prosecco or a jug of Mimosas. Just a word about the Options. The Worcestershire sauce, Tobasco sauce, Season All or chili flakes have distinct flavors that you can choose. Start small and evaluate. I often put a pinch of chili flakes to pop up the flavour as it “wakes up your mouth” and adds to the overall taste. Worcestershire taste is not my favourite but I see some recipes include it as an ingredient. Season All is a prepared mixture of spices that you can buy at any store. It has paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. It may be enough! One baguette is just right for 7 cups of bread cubes and ham is a good substitute for bacon. |
Ingredients: 1 small onion, diced 1/2 cup red pepper, chopped 4 bacon slices, diced (reserve 2 Tbsp for topping) 6 large eggs 1 1/2 cups milk 1/2 tsp “Season All” Seasoning 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional) Dash of Tabasco (optional) Pinch of chili flakes (optional) Salt Pepper 7 cups bread, cut in 1” cubes 2 cups Monterey Jack or Old Cheddar cheese, shredded ( reserve 1/2 cup for top) Parsley flakes Method 1. Set oven to 350 degrees and choose an oven-proof casserole dish, an 8” springform pan that doesn’t leak, 9” square cake pan or a high-sided ceramic baking dish. 2. In a skillet, cook onion until soft add red peppers briefly then set aside for later. 3. Add diced bacon and cook until lightly browned and starting to crisp. Remove. 4. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, Season All, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and consider the Options: Worcestershire sauce, Tobasco sauce or chili flakes. 5. Add all the bread cubes, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, onion, red pepper and bacon minus 2 Tblsp to the egg mixture. Cover the bowl for 30 minutes until the bread is soaked with egg. If you use soft bread cubes, 10-15 minutes might be sufficient. 6. Generously grease your chosen baking dish then pour in the mixture. Sprinkle the reserved bacon and cheese loosely over the top. |