Breakfast Bake with Roasted Red Pepper and Sausage - Flashback Friday

For Flash Back Friday, I'd like to bring back a favourite breakfast casserole.

I was recently asked to bring this to a baby shower brunch 

and it was enjoyed by all the guests.

The addition of roasted red peppers and fresh basil adds extra flavour and 

brings this "Wifesaver" to company status.

• 6-8 slices thick sliced bread, white or whole wheat (I like to use Whole Wheat French bread or a Rustic loaf.)
• 1/2 of a link (approximately 3/4 pound) smoked farmer sausage, skin removed *
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 jar roasted red peppers, drained 
• 6 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup half and half cream
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 cups shredded cheese (I used Cheddar, Gruyere  and Swiss)

* If you are using raw farmer sausage, crumble it into a pan and fry it until cooked. Cool and use as directed below.

1. In a buttered 9"x13" pan or casserole dish, lay out bread slices, fitting them tightly together in the bottom of the dish.
2. Cut 6-8 slices from the sausage and set aside.
3. Using a table knife or 2 forks, coarsely shred the rest of the sausage meat and lay over bread.
4. Saute' onion in butter until softened and spread over sausage.
5. Lay out roasted red peppers on a paper towel to blot out some of the liquid, then cut them into a 1/2" dice and arrange over onion.
6. Sprinkle with chopped basil.
7. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs until frothy. Then add milk, cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, mixing well.
8. Pour over bread and sausage in dish.
9. Top with shredded cheese and arrange sausage slices on top.
10. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and  refrigerate overnight.
11. The next morning, remove casserole from fridge, then preheat oven to 350º F.
12. Bake casserole for 1 hour or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.  
13. Remove from oven and let it rest 10 minutes before serving.
14. Serve with a fruit salad and muffins if desired.