when in doubt, make a strata

This past week I named a little mini challenge for myself... It was to really start paying attention to the food I purchase and eat and to not throw away a single food item. I didn't say anything here (in case I screwed it up), but now I think I'll share my weekly adventures in waste not want not with you.

The week started off easy-peasy with some bean soup with carrots and kale (my new favorite veggie). It was the end of the week that was challenging. I almost broke down and ordered a pizza, but decided I couldn't give up so easily!!

And then, Better Homes and Gardens came to my rescue with a recipe suggestion.... strata! I had all the ingredients (kinda) and well.... it looked good in the photo! I went through my fridge and heavily modified things to fit into a few other constraints (trying to eat less meat, more veggies and well... didn't happen to have asparagus laying around).

Looks good don't it??

And so, here ya go! My recipe (so heavily modified I think I can call it mine.

Emily's Strata

Ingredients:

- Old bread, cut up into cubes. As much as it will take to cover the bottom of a smallish glass dish in two layers.

- About 6 eggs

- About 1/2 to 1 cup of milk

- Spices you like (I forgot salt and would highly recommended that you don't!)

- Whatever veggies/meat you have laying around. Mine was kale(!!), baby portabella mushrooms. onion and garlic

- Some grated white cheese

So, here's what you do. Preheat the oven to 325 or 350ish. Spread half chthe old bread cubes over the bottom of the dish. Cover with half the filler (veggie, meat combo). Then add a layer of cheese (however much looks good).

Beat the eggs and milk together, along with spices. Pour 1/2 of it over the stuff in the pan. Repeat layers; bread cubes, filling, eggs, cheese on top.

Bake that sucker until it is firm (about 30ish minutes I think). Cut it into squares and eat!

I accompanied mine with homemade Gluhwein (cheap wine, sugar and mulling spices). It was pretty darn good!