Sunday, October 05, 2008

'DELICIOUS AUTUMN' ~ (FALL BRUNCH) ROASTED PEPPER & FRESH BASIL STRATA

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~ George Eliot


ROASTED PEPPER & FRESH BASIL STRATA

~ Wondering what to do with your fresh basil harvest? A lovely easy recipe to tuck away ...
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10 cups dried (1/2-1 inch cubed) favorite hearty bread
(wheat, herb, sour dough, brioche, etc.)
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 large thinly sliced red or sweet onion
1-2 cups thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice)
2 cups crumbled feta cheese
2 cups sliced roasted red and yellow peppers
(roast peppers yourself or try Trader Joe's jars of combined)
1/2 cup packed thinly sliced fresh basil
5 large organic eggs
1 cup whole milk or sour cream
1 healthy tsp. Coleman's dry mustard
1 tsp. coarse salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup crumbled feta or grated Parmesan cheese
freshly chopped parsley or dried parsley

  • Melt butter in skillet and saute onions and mushrooms until soft and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Toss with dry bread cubes, feta, roasted pepper and fresh basil.
  • Whisk eggs, milk (sour cream), dry mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over bread, onions and mushroom mixture.
  • Spray baking dish or casserole with Pam. Shovel and pack bread & egg mixture into prepared pan. Top with additional feta or Parmesan and fresh or dried parsley. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and hide in refrigerator overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Remove plastic wrap and place baking dish on baking sheet. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Serve with either a delicious seasonal salad (with grapes or pears) or simple thick sliced tomatoes, topped with a drizzle of good olive oil, balsamic vinegar, coarse salt, freshly cracked pepper, and more sliced fresh basil. (serves 8-10)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful mosaic! And the roasted peppers sound delicious, too.

Meems said...

Beautiful colors. Glorious photos. Delicious autumn indeed. I'd like to be that bird... flying about seeking the successive autumns.

The recipe sounds wonderfully yummy, too.
Blessings,
Meems @Hoe&Shovel

Anonymous said...

That collage of colorful leaves is beautiful Joey! And another delicious recipe to top if off!

marmee said...

sounds amazing.
your leaves are so beautiful.
happy autumn to you!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Joey ! Thanks for dropping by my blog : )
I love the pictures and recipes .. and that quote from Eliot was perfect .. that is me .. I would be chasing Autumn all over the world .. but it is never as good as the one in your own space and time ? LOL

joey said...

Thanks Nancy ... the recipe is indeed a 'comfort food for autumn (a small portion 'hits the spot')

Hi dear Meems ... I would like to be that bird also! Blessings returned ...

Thanks dear P.G. ~ I love autumn leaves AND love stratas!

And happy autumn to you, dear Marmee. We are both so lucky to live in such beautiful surroundings.

How wise you are, gardenjoy4me! My thoughts are with you ...