Easter Brunch

Mmm. . .my family LOVES breakfast casserole. It used to just be a special treat that we would get on Christmas morning at Matt's house. Then I found a really good recipe courtesy of Emeril! It is so good and so easy to make! If your on a diet this might not be the recipe for you! :)
Here's the recipe:

8 oz. of breakfast sausage, 12 to 16 1/2 inch slices of day old French bread, 6 oz of shredded cheese, 10 large eggs, 2 1/2 cups of half-and-half, 1/2 t salt, and 1/4 t ground pepper.

Brown the sausage over medium heat. Drain and set aside. Butter a 9 inch baking dish and line the bottom with half of the bread slices. Top the bread slices with half of the sausage, then half of the grated cheese. Make another layer with remaining bread, sausage, and cheese.

In mixing bowl combine the eggs, half-and-half, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the layered bread mixture. Cover and refrigerate for a least one hour and up to overnight.

Remove casserole from fridge and allow to come to room temperature for about 20 minutes. Position rack in center of oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Bake casserole, uncovered, until puffed and golden brown, about one hour. Remove the casserole from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe originally appeared in Emeril's "There's a Chef in My Family".

This is one of our family favorites and we do eat it for dinner also!