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Peasant Bread Casserole with Toasted Fennel and Sausage

Name: Peasant Bread Casserole with Toasted Fennel and Sausage
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian,
Ingredients: 1 tbsp McCormick Gourmet™ Organic Fennel Seed; 1 tsp McCormick Gourmet™ Organic Mustard, Ground; 1/2 tsp McCormick Gourmet™ Organic White Pepper, Ground; 2 tbsps butter; 1 medium onion chopped; 1 cup sliced celery; 1/2 pound carrots peeled, cut into 1/2-inch rounds; 1/2 pound cauliflower cut into small florets; 1 pound lean smoked sausage cut in 1/2-inch slices and halved; 1 package (8 oz) shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend; 2 tbsps flour; 3 cups milk; 4 eggs lightly beaten; 8 oz Italian bread cut in 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups)

Fennel provides a slight licorice flavor, ground mustard adds zing and winter vegetables and smoked sausage combine with hearty bread and melted cheese to create a satisfying meal.

30m

PREP TIME

50m

COOK TIME

338

CALORIES

14

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients
Instructions
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Ingredients 8 (1 cup) Servings

1 tablespoon McCormick Gourmet™ Organic Fennel Seed
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Organic Ground Mustard
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet™ Organic Ground White Pepper
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup sliced celery
1/2 pound carrots, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1/2 pound cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 pound lean smoked sausage, cut in 1/2-inch slices and halved
1 package (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
4 eggs, lightly beaten
8 ounces Italian bread, cut in 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups) Substitutions available
- French bread

KEY PRODUCTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast fennel seed in large dry skillet on medium heat 30 seconds. Add mustard and white pepper; continue to stir spices 30 seconds or until aromatic. Remove from pan. Lightly crush seeds with a mortar and pestle or with the back of a skillet. Set spices aside
2 Melt butter in same skillet on medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrots; cook and stir 7 to 8 minutes. Add cauliflower; cook and stir 5 minutes. Stir in sausage and toasted spices; cook 3 minutes or until heated through. Pour into greased 4-quart casserole
3 Toss cheese with flour in large bowl. Add milk, eggs and bread cubes; stir gently to moisten bread. Pour into casserole; mix gently with vegetables and sausage
4 Bake, uncovered, 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean