BISON SAUSAGE APPLE AND SAGE STRATA

A warm, wonderful way to start the day. This egg dish has it all: bison sausage, tart apple, savory sage, and Provolone cheese. It smells great as it bakes, and eating it is even better.

• 1 lb bison breakfast sausage

• Nonstick cooking spray

• 1 medium onion chopped

• 2 tart cooking apples, cored and chopped

• 8 eggs

• 2 cup milk

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage leaves OR

• 1 tsp dried sage

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• 12 oz firm-textured French or Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1 cup shredded Provolone cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Cook bison sausage and onion over medium heat in an extra-large skillet until bison sausage is brown. Add apple and cook for 5 more minutes. Drain off fat.

2. Whisk eggs, milk, sage, and pepper in a large bowl.

3. Place bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Top with bison sausage mixture and cheese. Gently mix to distribute ingredients evenly. Pour egg mixture over bread mixture.

4. Bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.