Photo: Courtesy of Lady Gouda

“I’m telling you, this breakfast strata will save your a- -.”

So proclaims Lady Gouda.

Be it an impromptu family gathering, brunch with friends or simply a moment for comfort food, Lady Gouda’s breakfast strata warms up for the challenge.

An egg n’ cheese, bread n’ bacon soup when it slides into the baking dish, the strata slowly bubbles and browns, a combination of bread pudding and quiche, and it’s ready to eat within minutes of being removed from the oven.

A slight variation: I used Vermont Smoke and Cure bacon instead of Lady Gouda’s suggested Canadian bacon. But did it mess up the recipe? Absolutely not! The best part about the ever-ready strata is how it incorporates the whims of the chef. Mixing meats? Using sweetbreads, or perhaps a healthier, nuttier bread? A sprinkling of herbs, maybe? The strata brings them all to the table “…and results in fantastic leftovers.”