Pear and Roquefort Strata

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 10 (1 3/4-ounce) slices sturdy white bread
• 2 cups Riesling or other slightly sweet white wine
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) crumbled Roquefort or other blue cheese
• 3 Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 4 cups)
• 3 cups fat-free milk
• 4 large eggs

Preparation

1. Coat a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange 5 bread slices in bottom of dish in a single layer. Pour 1 cup wine over bread. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Top with 3/4 cup cheese. Arrange the pear slices over cheese; top with remaining bread, wine, salt, pepper, and cheese.
2. Combine milk and eggs in a bowl; stir well with a whisk. Pour the milk mixture over the bread mixture. Let stand 20 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 425°.
4. Cover strata and bake at 425° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes.