Good Morning! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I am finally on the verge of feeling somewhat settled. While I was at the Farmer's Market over the weekend, picking up the winner's (of my giveaway) choice of sea salt, I found so many beautiful things to make a perfect Sunday strata! There is finally asparagus, plus I bought a dozen gorgeous brown eggs and some ham to dice up. And if you remember my penchant for sea salt, you'll know that I could not resist buying a new one for myself while I picked up the winner's choice. Charmane carries so many amazing choices, but I had to go for the Black Truffle Sea salt (figured it'd marry perfectly with the eggs & asparagus). I can tell you that the first "real" thing I made in my new, fun-sized kitchen was a seasonal strata!
Spring Stratafrom the kitchen of girlichef
yield: 1 (9"x13") pan
eggs-12
milk- 1 1/2c.
cream- 1/2 c.
sweet, hot mustard- 3 Tbs.
Black Truffle sea salt- 1 tsp.
Black Pepper- 1/2 tsp.
Asparagus, trimmed to 1" pcs.- ~3/4 of a bunch
butter- 3 Tbs, divided
ham, diced- ~1 1/2 - 2 c.
sharp cheddar (i used KerryGold), shred or grate- 3 1/2 oz
swiss, shred or grate- 6 oz.
firm bread (I used sweet italian), torn into pieces- 1 lb.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk first 6 ingredients and set aside.
Heat 1 Tbs. butter in small saute pan and saute asparagus until just tender. Reserve.
Butter a 9x13 dish. Either mix the cheeses together or add them in whichever order you like. First, scatter 1/2 c. of cheese over bottom of pan. Layer 1/2 bread, asparagus and ham. Sprinkle w/ 1 c. cheese.
Repeat w/ remaining bread, asparagus & ham. Sprinkle over last cup of cheese.
Pour eggs mixture over the top and gently push down any bread to moisten it. Drizzle w/ remaining 2 Tbs. butter, melted. 
Bake 45-55 minutes, until golden and slightly puffed.
Bake 45-55 minutes, until golden and slightly puffed.
Let sit about 10 minutes before cutting. This is good warm or cold. Refrigerate any leftovers.
This strata looks like the most perfect dish for spring. How lucky you are that a farmers market is so close to you!
I could go for a bite of that right now. I LOVE fresh markets! We went to two while in Rome not too long ago. All I could do was stand there in awe, drooling, and feeling really sad that I didn't have a kitchen to cook in there. :-)
Glad to hear you are starting to feel settled! Isn't it fun cooking in a new kitchen?
That looks amazing.........
I am gonna win the sea salt right??
I will send you a puppy :0
Who can resist a puppy?
Steady On
Reggie Girl
black truffle salt! how utterly luscious!
I'd love a huge slice of it...and then I'd take all remainders home!(to save you from having to wash the dishes, aren't I kind?)
This looks delicious, I've been eating a ton of asparagus lately!
Ummm, HELLO! This looks devine! Where do you get black truffle salt? Me must get some!
Truly,
Jenifer
Jaime & Jen Dish
i made two stratas this weekend! don't you just love them?! i did a proscuitto and goat cheese one, and then a spicier one, with hot sausage, colby jack cheese, peppers, onions and a little hot sauce in the egg mixture. i'll blog about them later this week. yours looks lovely with the asparagus! and i know you must be loving that truffle salt. i have some of my own and it's one of my favorite possessions :)
This looks so good and it's a great way to work asparagus into a meal. The asparagus we had this weekend was plump and beautiful. I'll have to get some more.
I could really go for that strata. Our farmers market has just begun now that it is April. Love the photo of the three bites.
Sam
All around I would have eaten that so fast you would not have been able to take photos! I am adding asparagus to my list!
What a beautiful spring dish! Your cat looks so much like a cat I used to have. He was such a good kitty!
Welcome back. Glad to hear that you're getting settled. A new house isn't a home until you've prepared a meal in it. Your strata looks delicious, a perfect way to make your house a home. :)
THAT looks sooo amazing. Seriously delicious. Like I want one now. I may have to plan a brunch because of you. ; )
What a perfect first thing to cook in the new kitchen--it looks absolutely wonderful!
Dar, Your strata looks amazing!! I should have ordered that truffle salt. NEXT TIME!!! Glad the move is going good!!
You christened your kitchen so deliciously!! I haven't made a strata in such a long time. It looks scrumptious with all your fresh ingredients from the market. I'm happy to hear your getting settled. I like your picture experiments!!
Your strata looks amazing! :)
I am so envious that you have access to a farmers market. We won't have that for at least a couple of months. The stratta looks delicious!!!
...thanks all- i absolutely love having a farmer's market here in town. i hear tell there's going to be another one opening on the other side of town later this month (hooray!), plus there's a huge one in the town next to us..not far at all!
...Reggie Girl- bring me that sweet giant schnauzer on your page today and I'll hand some black truffle salt over now! (i did actually draw the winner already, tho...)
...jenifer- click on the "charmane" link...you can find it there!
...gin-YES! I will never be without again if I can help it :)
...reeni- i'm lovin' the strata's these days!
Beautiful and delicious-looking strata! I'm happy to hear that you're back on your game in the kitchen.
Love this love this love this. I've been looking for a perfect first strata recipe for myself - really want to do one for some reason - and this is perfect. Beautiful! Great show of spring.
YUM!!!!
Man... I've been missing some awesome dishes while I've been away!