Spinach And Mushroom Brunch Bake

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 lb fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato, chopped (without the oil and salt)
• 1 lb mushroom, sliced
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and divided
• 2 tablespoons basil, fresh and chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 12 croissants
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Recipe

• 1 remove the stems from the spinach. wash thoroughly and pat dry. tear the spinach into bite-size pieces. bring 1/4 cup water to a boil in a large dutch oven; add spinach. cover and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until the spinach wilts. drain and set aside.
• 2 place tomatoes in a small bowl. add boiling water to cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. drain and set aside.
• 3 saute mushrooms in 3 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until tender. stir in reserved tomatoes, basil and thyme; remove the mixture from the skillet, and set aside.
• 4 in the same skillet, saute onion in 2 tbsp butter over medium heat, stirring constantly until tender. stir in the reserved spinach, ricotta cheese, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, and the bacon. set aside.
• 5 slice the croissants horizontally into thirds. place the bottome third of the croissants, crust side down, in a lightly greased 13x9x2 inch baking dish. spread the reserved spinach mixture evenly over the croissant layer. top with the middle slices of croissants; spread with the reserved mushroom mixture, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. place the remaining slices of croissants over the cheese, cut side down.
• 6 combine the eggs and the next 4 ingredients; pour over croissants. cover and chill 8 hours. sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup parmesan cheese. drizzle with the remaining 3 tbsp of butter.
• 7 bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour.