Bread and Sausage Pudding - Test 1

http://www.food.com/recipe/sausage-gruyere-and-onion-strata-100415

1 - A new comfort food! I've made substantial changes to the original recipe.

8 ozItalian sausage, casings removed
1 Tbsp olive oil
1⁄2 cup 1 onion, chopped
1⁄2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsps fresh flat-leaf parsley,chopped (optional)
1 tsp kosher salt, plus
additional kosher salt, to taste
fresh ground black pepper
5 large eggs
2 1⁄2 cups milk
6-8 slices (6 to 8oz/ 168 to 224g) of day-old crusty bread cut 1⁄2 - 1⁄4  inch-thick 
6 oz gruyère cheese, grated

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk eggs and milk together. Add the salt and pepper.
2. In a flat container layer the bread and pour the egg and milk mixture as evenly as possible over this. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. Once the egg and bread has finished soaking, cook the sausage by heating the oil in a large pan, break up the sausage and fry, until it starts to brown. Over medium heat in large skillet, heat sausage, stirring with wooden spoon to crumble, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
4. Strain sausage of fat, and set aside.
5. Return skillet to medium heat; Add onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until golden, about 8-10 minutes. soft.
6. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
7. Stir in parsley (if using). , salt, and a good grind of black pepper.
8. Add sausage and stir to combine; set aside.
9. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until foamy.
10. Add milk and blend.
11. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a grind of black pepper.
12. In a greased To assemble: lightly coat a 2 quart shallow baking dish with oil.
13. When ready to assemble the dish, preheat oven to 350F.
14. Grease a 2 quart shallow baking dish, and lay enough slices of bread to loosely cover the bottom. Add a layer meat and then a layer of cheese with a good grind of pepper, and alternate ingredients in this fashion, but keep enough bread and cheese to make up the top two layers. (For the bread I use, which is usually my Wonder Bread, two slices suffice, which means that I will create 3 - 4 layers of bread and cheese, and 2-3 layers of meat). of er the bread. remove the soaked bread slices and egg liquid to Use half the bread slices to make a single layer; cut, if necessary, so they fit in tightly together.
15. Spoon sausage mixture over bread; sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese.
16. Make a second layer of bread, and pour the egg mixture evenly across, using a spatula to press down on the bread for even absorption.
17. Top with remaining cheese.
18. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
19. Pour the remaining egg-and-milk mixture over all and put in the oven, baking for about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
20. Uncover strata and bake until puffed and browned, about 45 minutes.