Strata various: Get cracking on tomorrow's breakfast casserole

Christmas morning should be greeted with something more festive than cold cereal, especially if friends and relatives are popping in to visit.

But there's no need for anyone to be stranded in the kitchen, missing all the chatter and gift-opening.

That's why stratas are so popular on Christmas morning. You might know them as "breakfast casseroles."

They can be assembled and refrigerated the night before and oven-baked the next morning to puffy golden goodness.

And they're a good antidote to the tendency to just nibble on candy and sweets all morning.

In the nonfood world, a "strata" is a layer of rock or sediment. Perhaps the layering concept is where this dish gets its name, because the egg mixture is usually poured over layers of bread, cheese or other ingredients.

Besides the make-ahead advantage, stratas have other pluses. Eggs are a low-cost protein and can stretch a handful of other ingredients into a meal. In fact, the Eggs Benedict Strata cashes in at about 90 cents per serving.

You can vary ingredients based on what you have on hand. You've got a few slices of ham left over from Christmas Eve dinner? Just chop and add to the mix.

Although stratas are similar to quiches, some come pretty close to the hearty Mountain Man Breakfast, recognized by anyone who's ever been on a Boy Scout campout. However, this Paula Deen Hash Brown Casserole, layered with sausage, hash browns and cheese, doesn't require a campfire or Dutch oven. Baked Oatmeal Wisconsin-Style is a cross between hot cereal and a breakfast casserole. The recipe comes from "Hot Dish Heaven" (Minnesota Historical Society Press, $16.96). Author Ann L. Burckhardt explains that she first tried this egg-rich, oven-baked oatmeal when it was served at the Lake Geneva, Wis., conference center.

If you don't have time to assemble a casserole the night before, the Rapid-Fire Strata Italiano can be thrown together, microwaved and on the table in minutes.

One cooking tip: Take the casserole out of the oven when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. The very center may not be completely cooked, but the residual heat will finish the job, according to the American Egg Board. Overcooking can result in a curdled or weepy egg mixture.

RAPID-FIRE STRATA ITALIANO

1 1/2 cups unseasoned stuffing cubes or toasted bread crumbs

4 eggs