Recipe - Cherry Strata

12 cup Dayold Italian bread cubes;
(appx One half inch cubes)
1 pack (8 oz.) cream cheese;
softened
One half cup Sugar; divided
One half teaspoon Almond extract
One half cup Dried cherries or
cranberries
One half cup Chopped pecans
4 Eggs
1 One half cup Halfandhalf cream
1 teaspoon Cinnamon

CHERRY SYRUP
1 cn (appx 14 0z.) sour or tart
cherries; chopped
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Corn syrup
One half teaspoon Almond extract

http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/4908/strata.htm

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.

Place 8 cups of the bread cubes in prepared pan.

In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, One fourth cup sugar and extract until smooth.
Stir in pecans and cherries (or cranberries). Spoon over bread and top with
remaining bread cubes.

In mixing bowl, whisk eggs, cream, cinnamon and remaining sugar. Pour over
bread.

Bake uncovered for 3540 minutes, or until browned. Let stand 5 minutes
before serving. Top individual servings with Cherry Syrup.

Makes 6 8 servings.

Cherry Syrup: Combine cherries, sugar and corn syrup in small saucepan.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat
and stir in extract. Serve warm over strata.

Posted to recipeludigest by LSHW shusky@erols.com on Mar 24, 1998