A Breakfast Solution for Early Mornings

I wonder if you are at all like me. Each weekday our alarm rings at 5 a.m. Ungodly early, I know. But every morning at 5 a.m. I have just enough sense to know that I need to make the coffee. Then the next question is “What am I going to make for breakfast?”

If you struggle to figure that out, like I do, I may just have the solution! Bake this gluten-free savory breakfast strata one a free evening, and warm a slice in the microwave in the morning. That way you can start your day with whole grains, lean protein and lots of vegetables.

What is a Strata?

I love breakfast casseroles like this gluten-free savory breakfast strata, which is a layered casserole. They’re fairly easy to through together and allow you to use random ingredients from your refrigerator.

Health Benefits of This Savory Breakfast Strata

Onions contain Vitamin C and help boost our immune system. They also contain chromium, which help to regulate blood sugar. Spinach has many great health properties. Did you know it especially has anti-inflammatory properties, specifically within the digestive tract?

Spinach is also rich in iron, which is great for those who are still restoring their iron stores after suffering from anemia. I also added lean chicken sausage to this gluten-free savory breakfast strata. It keeps us fueled and feeling full longer than simply eating a bowl of cereal.

Using a Whole Grain Bread to Up Your Fiber Intake

I made this particular gluten-free savory breakfast strata with Schar’s Gluten-Free Artisan Baker 10 Grains and Seeds Bread. Schar loaded this bread with whole grains and seeds that provide fiber to a balanced diet.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that women consume at least 25 grams of fiber a day. However, most Americans likely only consume 15 grams a day on average. The multiple grains and seeds in this Schar bread will help boost your fiber intake as well as many other B vitamins.

Great for Breakfast or Brinner

Back to this amazing gluten-free savory breakfast strata. Don’t be fooled by all the healthy items I loaded it with. It may be gluten-free, but it’s full of flavor! These savory ingredients combine to create one delicious meal.

Make this strata for dinner and then have leftovers for breakfast for the whole family the next morning. Or if you’re like me and go away for the weekend, your family may just eat every last piece before you get back!

More Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes

Looking for other great breakfast foods? Try this simple gluten-free breakfast sandwich or my homemade gluten-free chicken breakfast sausage. You could even use that sausage in this strata! Looking for more breakfast casserole ideas? Check out these 10 Gluten-Free Breakfast Casseroles everyone will love over at Eat At Our Table.

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Overnight Gluten Free Breakfast Strata

Course Recipes

Keyword Gluten Free Strata, Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time 4 hours hours

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 4 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 12 oz Gluten Free Bread (8 cups)
• 2 tbsp butter or oil divided
• 4 oz red onion (1/2 red onion) diced
• 4 oz mushrooms (8 mushrooms) diced
• 4 oz spinach chopped
• 1 c cooked sausage, chopped 8 oz
• 6 oz Gouda cheese (1 1/2 cups)
• 2 c whole milk (can use 1 1/2 c milk & 1/2 cup cream)
• 8 eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp minced garlic

Instructions

• In a skillet, warm one tablespoon of oil. Saute onions and mushrooms until soft. Then add spinach until completely wilted. Remove vegetables from pan to bowl for the time being. 
• Add remaining oil to skillet. Bring to temperature and add sausage. (I originally used 3 Gilbert Sausages, which equals 7.5 ounces. I've also used a similar amount of cooked breakfast patties.) Cook 8-10 minutes until cooked through. Remove from stove and allow to cool before slicing. 
• Grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish and add bread, vegetables, sausage and cheese.
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, dried parsley and minced garlic. Pour egg mixture over bread, veggies, sausage and cheese. Refrigerate pre-baked strata at least two hours, preferably overnight. 
• Remove casserole from fridge and allow to come to room temperature. (Preferably for an hour.) Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees. (Last time I made this I drizzled a bit of cream over the top before baking to keep it moist.)
• Place strata in 375 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes. Then, place foil over strata and bake for an additional 30 minutes covered. Remove from oven when casserole is completely set.
• Allow strata to rest for 10 minutes before serving, so you don't burn your mouth. Serve with an extra sprinkling of cheese if desired.

**Schar provided the ingredients for this post and compensated for my time. This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

Originally Published 2017

The post Gluten-Free Savory Breakfast Strata appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

The Best Teacher

My husband is a middle school teacher. After 16 years, he finally believes me when I tell him he’s good at it. He never intended to be a teacher. However he comes from a long line of teachers. His grandfather, who made me my first loaf of buckwheat bread, was a school principal. His grandmother, the inspiration behind my peanut butter pie shake, was an elementary school teacher.

However, he’s also an amazing cook, and taught my most of what I know to do in the kitchen. While I grew up always needing the security of a cookbook, he has always been the one to throw caution to the wind, add a dash of this, a touch of that, and create the most amazing things.

Cooking as Stress Relief

My husband uses cooking to unwind from a long day of teaching. Keeping 5 separate classes of 30 8th graders inspired, focused and on task can be a bit tiring. (I’m sure parents of 8th graders would say keeping their ONE student focused is challenge enough!)

Therefore, I’m so appreciative when he cooks. I came home from a long day at work, not looking forward to making dinner. However, I came home to the most amazing meal of gluten free braised chicken thighs, mashed potatoes and a medley of vegetables! I told him it may be the best dish he’s made in a long time.

More Chicken Thigh Recipes

He usually never writes down anything that he cooks. Therefore, often times his delicious creations can’t be replicated. However, this time, he immediately wrote down this recipe for gluten free braised chicken thighs. This means we can have it again and I can share it with you!

Chicken thighs are often cheaper than chicken breasts, and a a great source of protein. Looking for more ways to use them? These Rosemary Ranch Chicken Thighs from There is Life After Wheat look perfect to pair with roasted potatoes. This Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs and Rice dish from Iowa Girl Eats uses only one pan and 30 minutes of cook time!

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Braised Chicken Thighs

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ to 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 red onion cubed
• 4 oz fresh mushrooms roughly chopped
• 1 roasted red bell pepper
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp. brown mustard
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce We use Lea & Perrins
• 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1/8 tsp. white pepper
• 1/8 tsp. cardamom

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Saute onion and mushrooms in a approximately 2 tbsp. of butter, in a cast-iron dutch oven. Cook approx. 3 minutes.
• Add chicken to dutch oven. Brown three minutes on each side. Add canned tomatoes and roasted red pepper.
• In a small dish, whisk together mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, white pepper and cardamom. Pour over chicken thighs.
• Cover and bake in oven for 45 minutes. Remove the lid 10 minutes prior to serving to allow some of the liquid to cook off and to allow sauce to thicken. (I added a tbsp. of corn starch, mixed with a tbsp. of water, to the dish to finish, and another tbsp. of butter.)
• **I highly suggest serving this dish with mashed potatoes. The sauce this dish creates is AMAZING on potatoes.

What’s your favorite way to cook chicken? I’m always eager to read suggestions! Leave me a note below!

The post Brad’s Amazing Braised Chicken Thighs appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.