Hearty Vegetarian Bread Bake

featuring Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted White Bread

Timing: 1 hour & 20 minutes | Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 4 cups cubed Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted White bread

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 3 cups chopped onion, 2 medium

• 4 cups cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach, red bell pepper chopped
  (or 3 cups cooked veggies)

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 2 tsp dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, rosemary

• 4 large eggs, whisked

• 1 cup vegetable stock

• 1 cup milk, cream or buttermilk

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

• 2 cups shredded cheese (whatever you have on hand- suggested:
  Swiss & Monterey Jack)

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.

• Lightly oil a 2-quart baking dish. In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil to medium-high, add the onions, season with salt and pepper and cook till translucent, about 3 – 5 minutes. Next add cauliflower, red pepper, and mushrooms, season with salt and cook until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. It's okay if onions caramelize a bit. Add the spinach and herbs, season with salt and let the spinach cook down. Set aside to cool.

• Spread the cubes of Perfectly Crafted White bread on a large baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon (or more if needed) of the olive oil over the cubes. Toss to coat. Toast them up a bit in the oven for about 10 minutes, tossing them every so often. When golden, remove from the oven, place in the baking dish and allow to cool. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg with the milk, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper. Add the veggie mixture to bread, pour the egg mixture over the top. Now, sprinkle the cheese in and give it all a toss to get the cubes coated. At this point, you can cover the dish up with wrap and put it in the fridge for later. Just remember to take the casserole out at least 20 minutes before baking. If you are ready to bake, place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 to 45 minutes until a paring knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

• Suggestions - This recipe is great for using leftover vegetables and meat. The sky's the limit whatever you have on hand in the refrigerator will be great! Note: You can add up to 2 cups of shredded, cubed or chopped leftover chicken, ham or other meat plus one additional egg.