Wife Saver

The Best of Bridge is a big deal cookbook in my family. It's always been referred to some what reverent and hushed tones (just kidding), but as a transplanted immigrant child I didn't really get it. Specifically, the Wife Saver Breakfast Casserole is an especially BIG DEAL. The name of the dish is dated but it was my dad who introduced me to it when he made it one Christmas when my mother was working. That's how feminism is supposed to work, right? The Calgary Herald actually wrote an article about the casserole and the name a few years ago, they are calling it the "partner saver." It's a savory breakfast bread pudding maybe? Or a strata? I make a version of this at least once a week. It's a great dish to use up leftovers and regardless of what science says (it's campaign season after all) breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is not for those who eschew bread, this is for those who chew it.  You can make so many different versions of this dish: Mexican, Eggs Benedict, Savory Sausage.

Use roughly these ratios/amounts in an 8x10

• 5 cups cubed bread
• 1-2 cups veg (I've used cut up cooked potatoes, left over veg, frozen hash browns, froz spinach)
• 6-8 eggs
• 1+ cup milk
• Seasonsing
• Cheese to preference

Ali’s Pesto Wife Saver

• 5 cups cubed bread (we like the cubes pretty small, less than an inch)
• 7 eggs
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of cheese, I used shredded cheddar
• Canadian Bacon (8 slices)
• Scoop of pesto, salt, pepper
• 1 cup hash browns
• 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained

Whisk the eggs, milk, and pesto and then add the drained spinach, hash browns, and any seasonings together. Pour over cubed bread. Let soak at least 4 hours, better to soak overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray dish (any kind of pyrex will work but you’ll need to add time if you use a small, deeper dish). Spread half of mixture in pan. Spread cheese then add the rest of mixture over top. Bake for 30-40 minutes until casserole is set (doesn’t jiggle too much).

We keep it in the frig and microwave a square as needed in the AM.

It's not so photogenic: Pesto Wife Saver