Sausage Breakfast Casserole

I made this recipe when the boyfriend of my oldest daughter, and his Mom, came to our house so that the kids could go to the prom together (I have the story of his visit with his mom in my family blog.)  

Since they drove through the night and arrived at breakfast time I had planned to have this ready when they arrived. But I doubled the bread and it took forever to bake - although it was still yummy. 

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

        1 lb of Italian Pork Sausage

        4 1/2 cups Day-old Bread, cubed

        2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded

        10 Eggs, slightly beaten

        4 cups Whole Milk

        1 tsp Dry Mustard

        1/4 tsp Onion Powder

        1 tsp Salt

        Ground Pepper, to taste

        1/2 cup Cliced Mushrooms (optional)

        1/2 cup Tomatoes, peeled, chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat a skillet on medium high.
2. Place sausage into the pan and cook through.
3. Break up the sausage into chunks as they cook, working in batches if need be, until browned all around. Make sure the chunks of sausage have some space around them or your meat will steam and not brown.
4. Remove the cooked sausage from the pan and let sit on some paper towels on a plate to soak up the excess fat.
5. Place bread in a well buttered 9x13 inch baking pan.
6. Sprinkle with cheese.
7. Combine the eggs, milk, dry mustard, onion powder, salt and pepper.
8. Pour evenly over the bread and cheese.
9. Sprinkle sausage and optional ingredients over the top.
10. At this stage you can cover and chill overnight, if you want to prepare ahead. If not, let sit for 10 minutes before putting in the oven.
11. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
12. Bake uncovered for about one hour.
13. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.

Serves 6-8.

Enjoy!

            Ingrid