1 large loaf of French or Italian Bread (the big fluffy kind), sliced ½" thick
1 stick of unsalted butter, divided
1½ lb. red potatoes, scrubbed and diced
salt and pepper
3 shallots or ½ onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBL fresh rosemary, minced
1 lb ham, diced
1 cup dry white wine
12 oz monterey jack cheese, shredded
12 eggs
3 cups half and half
3 TBL minced fresh parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spread the bread out on 2 baking sheets and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. I switched and turned them halfway through the cooking time.
Let bread cool and spread butter on one side of each slice, using 3-4 TBL of butter.
Meanwhile, boil potatoes in water and ½ tsp salt over high heat. Cook until just slightly tender, about 4 minutes. Drain the potatoes.
Melt 3 TBL butter in a skillet over medium heat and add potatoes. Cook until beginning to brown about 7 minutes.
Stir in the onion and cook 2 minutes. Add garlic and rosemary and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Transfer to a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add ham and stir together.
Add wine to skillet and simmer until very reduced, about 5 minutes, take off of heat to cool.
Butter a 9x13 inch pan (I had a slightly larger one)and place half of slices in the bottom in a single layer, with butter side up.
Sprinkle half of the ham and potato mixture and ⅓ of cheese over the bread slices. Repeat with remaining bread slices, ham and potatoes and another ⅓ of cheese.
Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until combined then whisk in reduced wine, half and half, parsley, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper.
Pour egg mixture evenly over all and sprinkle remainder of cheese on top.
Wrap the strata with plastic wrap, very tightly. Weigh the strata down with a few sugar boxes or heavy books. Refrigerate for 8-24 hours.
When ready to cook, unwrap the dish and let sit out on counter for 15-20 minutes. Bake uncovered for 1 hour and 20 minutes in 325 degree oven. Strata should puff slightly and pull away from sides. Cool for 5-10 minutes.
Recipe by momwithagoldenfork at http://www.momwithagoldenfork.com/breakfast/end-of-christmas-break-breakfast-strata/