The Gargoyles Make Breakfast
A quiet slumber fell upon it, the miniscule and grand
While Santa made his rounds and the town was deep in slumber
There was movement in one special house, unlike any other.
You see, the gargoyles had awakened on this special Christmas Eve
And decided to make breakfast, a sight not any would believe.
They yawned and stretched and awakened and slowly came to life
They then ventured toward the kitchen grabbing every fork and knife.
Gargoyles are usually watchers, keeping evil ones at bay
But every hundred years or so, they cook for Christmas Day
It's a special dispensation for a very stony crew
For Christmas Gargoyles everywhere had a very strict curfew.
As the beams of Christmas morning hit the windows of the house
The gargoyles turn back to stone leaving them quiet as a mouse
So before those beams began to rise, the gargoyles started cooking
Making breakfast for their human friends while no one else was looking
The table was set with the silver and the linens from the chest,
This coming Christmas morning, there would be nothing but the best.
A strata was in order, in simple elegance it could be served
A special Christmas breakfast was what everyone deserved.
They had no time for shopping so some day old bread they used
A Christmas ham, some cheese and egg, some spinach and some booze
They mixed it all together and upon it they all sat
to soak it in, to cheese it up and also make it flat.
For strata means it's layered, a custard like concoction
It might be sweet or savory, you always have the option
The night was ending quickly and soon the morning would be dawning
The strata went straight in the stove as the gargoyles started yawning.
They set the timer carefully, so the humans could all eat.
They slowly stiffened and they hardened, turning back into concrete.
They flew back to their shelves before the humans filled the room
The gargoyles watched as the humans discovered the brunch they were about to consume
Where had it come from, this breakfast so special, a strata made for this day?
The ham it was missing, the wine was all gone, had Santa been here to play?
The gargoyles grinned at the humans, befuddled, but really enjoying their brunch
They look at the gargoyles, the gargoyles stared back. It seemed like they had a hunch.
There on the shelf, sat the smallest gargoyle, the rest of the wine in his hand.
A toast to the humans and a Merry Christmas to all who dwell and dine in this land.
Breakfast Strata
with Ham Spinach and Gruyere
French Bread, sliced 1/2" thick, (about 1/2 loaf, enough to fill a baking sheet)
6 Tbsp. Butter, softened
1/2 cup Sweet Onion, minced
1 pkg (9 oz.) Ready to Eat Baby Spinach
Salt/Pepper
1/2 cup Dry White Wine
1 1/2 cups Gruyere, shredded (about 6 oz)
6 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Half and Half
8x8 Glass Baking Dish
Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
Slice Bread.
Place on a baking sheet.
Bake 20 minutes.
Flip pieces of bread over.
Bake another 20 minutes until crispy and hard.
Alternately, you can leave the bread out all night to dry and crisp up.
Shred your cheese.
Chop your onions.
Slice the ham.
Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 12 inch skillet on medium.
Saute the onions until soft.
Add the spinach, seasoning with a little salt and pepper.
Stir and let the spinach shrink and wilt.
Place the spinach and onion mixture in a strainer over your sink.
Let cook slightly and squeeze any excess liquid from the spinach.
In the meantime, use the now empty skillet and pour in your wine over medium high heat.
Let it reduce by half.
You should have about a quarter of a cup.
Butter only the tops of your pieces of dried bread.
Butter the baking dish generously with about a tablespoon of the softened butter.
Layer almost like you would lasagna.
Start with the bread on the bottom, butter side facing up, please.
Top with half of the spinach.
Top spinach with about one half cup of the shredded gruyere.
Place ham over the cheese.
Do it all over again, forming a second layer.
Beat your six eggs along with the wine and the half and half.
Place plastic wrap over your strata.
Place a weight over the strata, some cans, a few bags of brown sugar, or have your gargoyles weigh it down.
A great time was had by all gargoyles at the strata making Christmas Eve Party.
They gathered together and weighed the strata down overnight for about eight hours.
Store in the refrigerator overnight, please, with a rimmed baking sheet under it (just in case).
The next morning, remove the plastic wrap.
Sprinkle the top with the remaining half of a cup of shredded gruyere.
Let sit out about twenty minutes while the oven preheats to 325 degrees.
Bake about 50-60 minutes.
The cheese will turn a golden brown and the edges of the strata will pull away from the dish.
Let cool slightly and set about 10 minutes.
Slice and serve.
Mimosas would be wonderful to accompany the strata.
and above all, Have yourself a Very Merry Christmas, Friends!
No comments:
Post a Comment