Spinach Sausage Brunch Casserole

1 lb bulk Italian sausage
1 c chopped onions
1 large red bell pepper, roasted*
1 (9 oz) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 c flour
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 T chopped fresh basil or 1 t dried basil leaves
1/2 t salt
2 c milk
8 eggs
4 oz (1 cup) dhredded Provolone cheese

Heat oven to 425. Grease 13x9-inch pan. In large skillet, brown sausage and onions. Remove from skillet; drain on paper towels. Arrange sausage mixture in greased pan. Reserve half of red peppers for garnish; chop remaining red peppers. Sprinkle chopped red peppers over sausage mixture; top with spinach.

Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine flour, Parmesan cheese, basil and salt. In another large bowl, combine milk and eggs; beat until smooth. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; beat until well blended. Pour over spinach.**

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until knife insterted in center comes out clean. Meanwhile, cut reserved red peppers as desired for garnish.*** Sprinkle casserole with Provolone cheese. Add red pepper garnish to top. Bake for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut into squares. 8 to 10 servings.


*To roast red pepper, cut in half; remove seeds. Place, skin side up, on foil-line broiler pan. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat until skin blackens, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in plastic bag; let stand 10 minutes to steam. Peel skin from pepper. Chop and cut pepper as directed.

**At this point, casserole can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 hours. Continue as directed.

*** To make poinsettia garnish, cut reserved red peppers into six to eight petal shapes. Place on top of casserole in pinwheel fashion. If desired, place 1 teaspoon of the shredded cheese or fresh basil in center of pinwheel to resemble poinsettia flower.