Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking or casserole dish with the butter.

Step 2

Spoon one-fourth of the tomatoes (and their liquid) into the dish (just enough to moisten the bottom of the pan) and spread them out evenly. Spread one-fourth of the chile strips evenly across the tomatoes, then scatter one fourth of the cheese evenly over the vegetables. The ingredients will have lots of space in between them. Repeat this layering process three more times with the remaining ingredients to make 4 layers, reserving the last quarter of the cheese.

Step 3

Whisk the eggs and cream with the salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Slowly pour the egg mixture over the casserole, adding it evenly to all parts of the dish. Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes so that the egg soaks in (you can use a fork to push the ingredients down into the egg if something looks dry). Sprinkle on the reserved cheese.

Step 4

Bake the casserole for 40 to 45 minutes, until it looks puffy and has a golden top. Let it rest for 15 minutes to firm up, then cut into squares and serve warm.