Gluten-Free Egg Strata

Some sort of casserole or egg strata is a common dish for my husband's family when they're having a lunch gathering (as they are on Easter - don't look at me, I just watch the kids play and steal their candy). An egg strata is a casserole that is egg based and usually has something like bread to lighten it a bit and make it more fluffy. Otherwise you'd have a really thick frittata.

There's that key word ... bread. When my sister-in-law was asked about the plans for this year, she basically said she was making that and assumed I would bring something for me. Let me tell you right now, nice as I tend to think my sister-in-law is, that did not sit well with me. It's alienating and downright rude to some extent. Ack ... sorry... soapbox.

But I remembered reading an egg strata recipe in a fiction book - Jill Shalvis' The Sweetest Thing -that used tater-tots instead of bread. Mr. Maura looked at it and we decided to try it now and if it was good, make one and take it to his sister's this Sunday. Gotta have that trial run, you know, in case it sucks.

We did make a few modifications to the recipe as written and will make a few more adjustments when we make it again this coming weekend.

Gluten-Free Egg Strata

(originally Good Morning Sunshine Casserole)

In a 9x13 pan, layer:

One layer tater tots (Ore Ida are Gluten-Free)

One layer ham

One layer bacon

One layer grated cheddar cheese

Caramelized 1/2 cup chopped onion until translucent.

Mix the following and together and pour on top:

6 beaten eggs (we used 7 so as not to strand a lone egg)

1/2 tsp salt, more if desired

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp dry mustard (omitted because, well, Mr. Maura forgot)

caramelized onion

3 cups milk

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Add 1/2 cup melted butter drizzled over the top.

Cook for 1 hour at 350 degrees, uncovered.

It's really good! The tater tots come apart to make a layer of hashbrowns on the bottom. It was a bit oily, though, so I'll omit the butter next time and maybe cut back the milk a tad. It needed more salt (not surprising with the tater tots - potatoes absorb salt like a sponge) and remembering the mustard will brighten it.

Mr. Maura didn't crumble the bacon and it was a bit unwieldy so it gets crumbled next time and we may layer a bit of parmesan between the ham and the cheese.

All in all, though, it's yummy. Easily as good as the recipe my sister-in-law has. So we'll bring a pan of this and have a strata run-off. My ten year old really liked it - it would be funny if it was preferred overall.