Breakfast "Souffle" Recipe that JUST CAN'T WAIT!

I would usually wait to insert a new recipe into another post, but the one I tested out this morning was SO good, SO fast, and SO easy, it needs it's own post.  It's called a "Souffle" but it really isn't.  Still, it is 100% delicious and you could easily substitute ingredients to customize it.


What you need:


Half a loaf of your favorite bread (stale works fine, don't throw it out!),
Five eggs (or 2 eggs and 5 egg whites for a healthier version),
1 1/2 cups of milk,
A pound of cooked, crumbled sausage, 
1 cup of shredded cheese of your choice,
A tsp each of onion powder and parsley.


What you do:


(1)  Grease a 13x9 glass dish.
(2)  Take the crust off the bread with a knife, and then chop the slices of bread into small, 1/4" to 1/2" squares.  Add the spices to your bread cubes, and gently crumble them a little more with your hands.
(3)  Mix the eggs and milk briskly in a bowl.
(4)  Spread a layer of bread cubes, just enough to coat the bottom of your pan, in the glass dish.  Layer sausage over that, then cheese.  Repeat with more bread cubes, more sausage, more cheese, and top with the remaining teeny bits of bread crumbs.
(5)  Pour the egg and milk mixture over this.  Don't worry if it doesn't completely cover the other ingredients, it will bake up nice and fill the pan!
(6)  Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes, and serve warm.


You can actually do steps (1) through (4) the night before, and then just cover with the egg and milk mixture in the morning, for a yummy breakfast with little work!


Other variations:


Clearly, you could substitute in some meatless sausage for those who don't eat meat or who just don't eat pork.  


You could experiment with chorizo and use a mexican cheese blend, maybe adding in some diced green chiles.


You could go veggie and layer in stewed tomatoes with sauteed onions and peppers, and use some parmesan cheese with this.  If you do, try a little fresh rosemary in the mix!


You could do as my aunt does, and skip the savory filling.  Substitute crushed canned pineapple, and of course the onion powder, parsley and cheese.  


You could substitute cinnamon and brown sugar for the onion powder and parsley, and then use apple pie filling.  Even try layering in some cream cheese with this variation!


No matter what your preferences are, please try this one and get back to me!  I think everyone will enjoy this, and the pre-layered "Souffle" (sans egg mixture) travels really well, for those who will visit family this holiday season.


Have fun!