Savory Sausage Cassserole

If you are on Weight Watcher's or Jenny Craig you might want to pass on this dish. Even if you're not I don't think it should be in your regular 14 day meal rotation. But it is sooo good.

This recipe is from a light mystery written by Diane Mott Davidson. I love her books. Her main character is a caterer who really wants to be P.I. At the end of her books she always includes the recipes for the dishes she mentions in the novel. Just fun light reading plus great recipes.

Savory Sausage Casserole
Makes 6 servings

1 pound new potatoes
8 ounces mushrooms, minced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups of minced onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 pound Italian sausage, hot, mild, or mixed, casing removed
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch pan.

Fill a large pot with water and add potatoes, bring to a boil, cook until potatoes are just done about 10 15 minutes. Don't over cook. Strain the potatoes and set aside to cool before slicing.

Using a clean cloth dishtowel that may be stained, squeeze the mushrooms by small handfuls to remove all excess liquid. When all the mushrooms have been rendered almost dry, set them aside.

Using a wide saute pan, melt the butter over low heat. Still keeping the heat low, cook the mushrooms and onions until the onions are translucent. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan and put them in a heatproof bowl. Stir in chopped parsley and set aside.

Slice cooled potatoes into 1/2-inch slices. Place them in the bottom of the prepared pan. Distribute the mushroom mixture over the potatoes. Evenly distribute the sausage over the mushroom layer. Set aside.

Inn a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the half-and-half on low speed until the mixture is smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pour this mixture over the ingredients in the baking dish. Sprinkle the cheese on top.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the egg mixture has set in the middle. Serve immediately.