Broccoli-Cheese Puff
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This is a truly magnificient vegetable side dish - broccoli, Cheddar cheese, and bread cubes baked in a basil-flavored egg custard and topped with rings of fresh bread. It can be prepared up to 1 day ahead, and then popped into the oven and baked just before serving. The abundance of eggs and cheese makes this dish high in portein, and for a light lunch or dinner, you need only to add a big tossed salad.
INGREDIENTS
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
10 slices day-old white bread
12-ounces sharp Cheddar cheese
6 eggs
3-1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepperPut frozen broccoli into a small saucepan; add water as package directs. Cover and cook until tender, separating broccoli as directed. Drain and set aside.
Use butter or margarine to thoroughly grease the inside of a 9 x 9 x 2-inch ovenproof baking pan.
Using a large knife, trim off and set aside crusts from bread slices. Using a 2-3/4-inch diameter doughnut cutter, cut doughnut-shaped rounds from 8 slices of the bread. Cut bread trimmings and remaining 2 slices of bread into 1/4-inch cubes.
Using a 4-sided food shredder or a food processor fitted with a coarse shredding blade, coarsely shred Cheddar cheese. Put cheese, bread cubes, and drained chopped broccoli into a large mixing bowl. Toss well and spoon into the prepared baking pan.
Arrange doughnut-shaped bread rings on top of broccoli mixture, overlapping them if necessary.
Put eggs into the mixing bowl; beat with a wire whisk or a rotary or portable electric. Add milk, dried basil leaves, salt, and pepper. Beat until smooth.
Pour seasoned egg-milk mixture over broccoli and bread in pan. Let stand 30 minutes. (This much can be done up to 1 day in advance. Cover broccoli mixture with aluminum foil and refrigerate until about 1-1/4 hours before you plan to serve dinner).
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put uncovered pan on center rack in oven. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until mixture is puffed and lightly browned. It is done when a knife inserted in center of puff comes out clean. Serve immediately.
Makes 8 servings