If you’ve never tried a strata before, you should seriously consider making this one. “Strata” means layers in Italian, and it is a great brunch/breakfast dish for two main reasons: (1) you put it together the night before, saving you time in the kitchen the following morning, and (2) people love a good one. I like fritatas, but I often find them to be very dry. Not so with a strata, which you can doctor up to suit your family’s tastes. Stratas are also a great way to use up odds and ends in your refrigerator, like little bits of cream, milk, or cheese, and are thus perfect for Frugal Fridays, wherein I use up the aforementioned odds and ends so that they don’t go to waste.
I’ve made a variation of this strata several times, and get rave reviews, as well as requests for the recipe. I leave out the goat cheese, and add roasted bell peppers. I use whatever combination of milk, cream, or half-and-half (light cream) that I happen to have around. The two critical elements in this recipe, in my opinion, are a decent bread (I prefer an egg bread like brioche or challah), and the fresh basil. I also add some fresh thyme, and Tabasco®, to which I seem to have formed an addiction. You can find the recipe after the jump, and if you want to join me for Frugal Fridays, here’s what you have to do!
