The appeal of breakfast foods is an excellent factor to keep trustworthy beginners, such as eggs, bread and other staples, on hand. Why reserve them just for early morning meals? Preparation breakfast for supper is a great way to provide easy, rewarding night meals without investing a great deal of time in the kitchen area.

A strata is one easy-to-prepare meal that can go from breakfast to supper with ease. The word strata suggests layers and the layers of Tomato Strata Florentine are merely cubed bread, torn spinach and experienced sliced tomatoes. An egg-milk custard put over the top binds the bright-colored layers together and triggers the bread to puff up throughout baking.

For single restaurants or households whose members consume at different times, bake the components in specific custard cups which you can reheat and cool in the microwave. For a household meal, utilize a baking pan.

This budget-wise mix is nutrition thick. In addition to cheese and milk, the eggs offer about 1/3 of your day-to-day protein requires, while the bread and tomato supply carbs. Together, the active ingredients amount to an outstanding variety of required minerals and vitamins, at less than 200 calories and just 8 grams of fat per serving.

Other breakfast meals make great suppers, too. Quick-cooking rushed eggs are simple to dress up with pasta or rice and onions, peppers, mushrooms or other flavoring foods. Poached eggs integrate well with veggies, breads and cheeses.

Tomato Strata Florentine

4 portions

Cooking spray

2 cups torn fresh spinach (about 4 oz.).

2 pieces entire wheat bread, cubed (about 1 1/2 cups).

1 cup sliced fresh tomato (about 1 medium).

1 teaspoon Italian spices, squashed.

4 eggs.

1 cup skim or low-fat (1%) milk.

1/4 cup (1 oz.) shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese.

For specific cups: Evenly coat 4 (10-ounce) custard cups with spray. Spoon 1/4 cup tomato mix over bread cubes in each cup. Gradually put little 1/2 cup egg mix over tomato mix in each cup.

Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven till custards are puffed and start to retreat from sides of cups and knife placed near centers comes out tidy, about 30 minutes.

For baking pan: Layer whole quantities of all components as above in sprayed 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake as above.

Nutritional details for 1 serving of 1/4 dish utilizing skim milk: 175 calories, 8 gm overall fat, 218 mg cholesterol, 238 mg salt, 469 mg potassium, 14 gm overall carb, 13 gm protein and 10% or more of the RDI for vitamins A, B12 and C, riboflavin, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc.

For specific cups: Evenly coat 4 (10-ounce) custard cups with spray. Location 1/2 cup of the spinach in each cup. Spray each with about 1/3 cup of the bread cubes. Spoon 1/4 cup tomato mix over bread cubes in each cup. Gradually put little 1/2 cup egg mix over tomato mix in each cup.