Christmas Morning Life Saver

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (18 ounce) loaf sliced bread
• 1/2 pound thinly sliced or shaved ham
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• dash tabasco® pepper sauce
• 3 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Recipe

Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ready Time: 1 hr 55 mins


• trim crusts from bread; reserve crusts. cover bottom of greased 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) baking dish with slices of bread, trimming to fit if necessary. cover with ham, then cheese. top with another layer of bread.
• whisk eggs. add onion, green pepper, dry mustard, pepper, worcestershire sauce and tabasco; whisk to combine. whisk in milk. pour mixture over bread. cover and refrigerate overnight.
• meanwhile, pulse reserved crusts in food processor until coarsely chopped. set aside 1-1/2 cups of the bread crumbs. (remainder can be frozen for another use.)
• the next day, stir butter into bread crumbs until moistened. sprinkle buttered crumbs over top of casserole.
• bake in a preheated 350 degrees f (180 degrees f) oven until puffed, set and golden brown, about 1 to 1-1/4 hours.