Ham and Cheese Strata

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan and spread the bread evenly over the bottom. Scatter the ham over it and then sprinkle on the cheese.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard and tarragon. Add a few pinches of salt and several grinds of pepper (if substituting with something very salty like bacon, you may want to omit adding any salt at this stage).

Pour egg mixture over everything in the pan and let it sit for 5-15 minutes so the bread can absorb some of the liquid, then bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and bubbly and the custard is set. Remove from oven. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes or to room temperature before serving.