"ORANGE CREAM CHEESE STRATA WITH CRANBERRIES AND WALNUTS"

From Perfect Recipes for Having People Over

12 ounces cream cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
9 large eggs
3 cups half-and-half
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12-14 slices fluffy white bread
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup orange juice

Combine cream cheese and orange zest in a medium bowl and beat with a hand mixer, adding eggs one at a time, to form a lumpy batter.  Beat in half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla; batter should still be lumpy.

Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray.  Line bottom of dish with 6 slices bread.  If necessary, cut in strips to fill in any gaps.  Pour 1 cup egg mixture over bread, sprinkle with 1/2 cup cranberries.  Make another layer with remaining bread, cutting strips to fill in any gaps.  Slowly pour remaining egg mixture over bread. 

If making today, cover with plastic wrap, then lightly weight strata (or lightly press on it with your hand a few times) until bread has almost completely absorbed half-and-half mixture.  Let stand for 15 minutes.

If preparing for the next morning, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, you don't have to weigh it down.  Before baking, return it to room temperature or add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time.

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Sprinkle strata with walnuts and remaining 1/2 cup cranberries, then lightly press them into bread.  Bake until strata is set and puffy, 35 to 40 minutes.  Remove from oven and let stand for 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, warm marmalade and orange juice in a small saucepan.

Cut strata into portions and serve with orange sauce mixture.  YIELD:  12 to 15 servings