Sausage Pecan Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1  8-oz package of mild sausage
• 1 loaf Aunt Millie's Cinnamon Raison Swirl Bread, cubed
• nonstick cooking spray
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. milk - preferably 1%
• 1 1/2 c. half and half
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 c. packed brown sugar
• 1 c. chopped pecans
• 1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup

Yield: 10 servings

Directions:

1. Brown the sausage in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Drain off the fat when thoroughly cooked, breaking into small pieces as it cooks.
2. Spray a 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.  Place bread into the baking dish and top with the cooked sausage.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon together.  Pour over the bread and sausage.  Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
4. Preheat over to 350 degrees when ready to bake and combine the brown sugar, pecans, butter or margarine, and maple syrup together in a bowl. Place a layer of this mixture over the bread and sausage mixture.
5. Place in oven and bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.