Breakfast Casserole

This is the casserole that I make when I have special guests in for occasions (like my parents). So yummy for them to wake up, smell the coffee, make their way downstairs and get hit with the aroma of this casserole, some creamy grits, and maybe some fruit salad... Mmmm... starts the day off right!


Ingredients:

• 3 slices     white or wheat bread, crusts removed
• 1½ Tbsp  melted butter
• ~ ¾ cup   extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 large     eggs (well beaten)
• 1 cup       heavy whipping cream
• ~ ¾ lb     breakfast sausage
• ½ tsp      salt
• ½ tsp      dry mustard
• To taste  black pepper
• To taste  dried dill
• ~ ¼ cup   red bell pepper, diced small
• ~ ¼ cup   green bell pepper, diced small
• ~ ¼ cup   yellow bell pepper, diced small
• ~ ¼ cup   sweet onion, diced small

Combine the onions and peppers into a microwave save bowl and cook them in the microwave about 2 minutes with a small pat of butter.  Cook sausage well and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.  Melt butter in glass casserole dish (a 9 x 9" square works well).  Tear bread in small pieces and sprinkle over butter.  Sprinkle the cooked vegetables and drained sausage over the bread.  Sprinkle the cheese over the sausage.  Beat eggs, cream, and seasoning ingredients together and pour over the casserole.

Chill for 8 hours or overnight in refrigerator.  Bake at 350 F oven for 40 – 50 min.  I like to leave it covered with aluminum foil for the first 40 minutes, then remove foil for the last 10 minutes.