Savory Croissant Breakfast Pudding

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons melted
• 1 1/4 cups thinly sliced yellow onions
• 6 ounces Canadian bacon, roughly chopped
• 6 ounces hot sausage, removed from casings and crumbled
• 8 large eggs
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 stale croissants, torn into 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups)
• 2 cups grated Fontina or Gouda
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 3-quart casserole dish and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat.
3. Add the onions, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, stirring, until soft and lightly caramelized, about 15 minutes.
4. In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat.
5. Add the Canadian bacon and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
6. Drain on paper towels.
7. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook, stirring, until browned, about 5 minutes.
8. Drain on paper towels.
9. In a large bowl, beat the eggs.
10. Add the milk, cream, salt, Essence, and pepper and whisk to combine.
11. Add the croissants and let sit for 5 minutes.
12. Add the sausage, bacon, onions, Fontina cheese, stir together, and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
13. Pour into the prepared dish and bake until almost completely set, 35 to 45 minutes.
14. Cover with aluminum foil if it's browning too much.
15. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and melted butter.
16. Uncover the pudding and evenly cover with the bread crumb mixture.
17. Return to the oven, increase the heat to 375 degrees F and bake until completely set in the center and golden brown on top, about 15 minutes.
18. Serve hot.
19. 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
20. 2 tablespoons salt
21. 2 tablespoons garlic powder
22. 1 tablespoon black pepper
23. 1 tablespoon onion powder
24. 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
25. 1 tablespoon dried oregano
26. 1 tablespoon dried thyme
27. Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
28. Yield: 2/3 cup
29. Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
30. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

unsalted butter, onions, bacon, hot sausage, eggs, milk, heavy cream, salt, freshly ground black pepper, croissants, gouda, bread crumbs, parmesan

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/savory-croissant-breakfast-pudding-recipe.html (may not work)