Mushroom Sausage Strata

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 cups 1% or 2% milk
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 5 large eggs
• 1 pound whole grain bread (day old is best), cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
• 3/4 cupshredded Gruyere cheese

Directions:
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook sausage for 5 minutes, until browned, breaking apart with a spatula. If there is fat, spoon out and discard all but 2 teaspoons. Add onion and mushrooms to pan, season with salt and pepper and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

Whisk together milk, Dijon mustard, dry mustard, nutmeg, eggs and a pinch of salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

Spray a 9×13 baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray and arrange half of the bread slices along the bottom. Spoon half of the sausage mixture evenly over the bread followed by 1/4 cup of cheese. Top with another layer of remaining bread, sausage and 1/4 cup cheese. Pour egg mixture evenly over the top. With the back of a spatula, press everything down to moisten with liquid. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350.

Top with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese and bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Serves 12