Ellie's Sunday Strata

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups 2% low-fat milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded american cheese
• vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup diced lean ham or 1 cup canadian bacon
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• 12 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 lb sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 1/4 cups bread cubes
• paprika
• garlic salt, to taste

Recipe

• 1 to prepare the cheese sauce, melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat. blend in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. gradually add milk; cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. add salt, pepper and cheese, stirring until mixture is smooth.
• 2 oil a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish or coat it with cooking spray. melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet. add ham and green onions and sauté until ham is lightly browned and onions are tender. add eggs and cook over medium-high heat, stirring to form large soft curds. when eggs are set, stir in mushrooms and cheese sauce.
• 3 spoon egg mixture into baking dish. combine melted butter and bread cubes, mixing well; spread evenly over egg mixture. sprinkle lightly with paprika. cover and refrigerate overnight.
• 4 the next day : preheat oven to 350f and remove dish from refrigerator.
• 5 bake strata, uncovered, about 30 minutes, until thoroughly heated and lightly browned on top.