Homemade Runza Casserole

Any of you mid-westerners are probably familiar with the infamous Runza sandwich.  I've spent some time trying to figure out how to make them at home, but could never keep the bread from breaking when I put the filling in.  I posted my recipe on Pinterest about a year ago, and thanks to this blog, I can now post a more friendly version of it!  

What you'll need:
4lbs of hamburger
1 32oz jar of sauerkraut
1 large onion or two medium onions
4 cups of shredded cheese
2 cans of mushrooms (optional)
1 loaf of frozen bread dough
1 egg, beaten

Thaw loaf of bread according to instructions - but instead of putting it in a loaf pan, put it in a bowl. Spray the bowl with non-stick spray or coat the loaf in olive oil once it's begun to thaw to prevent sticking. Allow the bread to rise. Once the bread is thawed and risen, then roll it out on a floured surface so that it is big enough to cover a 13x9 casserole/baking dish.

Brown hamburger in skillet and drain. Salt and pepper the hamburger to taste. While the hamburger is draining, put the saurkraut and onions into the skillet to sautee. Return the hamburger to the skillet with the sauerkraut and onions and mix together evenly.

Place the hamburger mixture into the 13x9 casserole/baking dish and top with the shredded cheese. You can use any cheese you prefer. You could use american cheese slices instead of shredded cheese (however, I've never tried this). Place the rolled out dough over the mixture and make sure the edges are slightly tucked around the sides of the dish. Brush the beaten egg over the bread with a pastry brush. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, checking every so often to make sure that the crust is not burning. Serve, and enjoy!

Cheesy Sausage and Rice Breakfast Casserole

My dad used to make us this mixture of rice, eggs, mustard, and sausage for breakfast when we were kids.  It sounds like an odd combination, but it was always really good.  I decided to make it into a casserole and I think it’s even better this way.

What you'll need:  

3 cups of water or chicken stock

1 and ½ cups of uncooked, brown rice (not minute rice)

1 pound tube of pork sausage

1 medium onion

1 small can of mushrooms

3 to 4 tablespoons of yellow mustard

1 ½ cup of shredded cheese (for this recipe I used mild Cheddar)

10 eggs

1 tsp of salt (approx.)

1 tsp of pepper (approx.)

Combine rice and water or chicken stock into a 2 quart sauce pan.  Make the rice according to the directions – I used a combo of water and chicken stock, and I used about a cup more than what the directions called for.  Remove the rice from the heat when there is about ¾ cup of water remaining – the rice should be slightly under cooked.

Cook the mushrooms, onions, and sausage together in a frying pan. Combine the rice and the sausage mixture into a 9 ½ by 11 glass baking dish.  Place in the refrigerator to cool. 

Beat 10 eggs (you can add about a tablespoon of milk or water – I used coconut/almond milk blend – if you typically do this).  Add the mustard, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of the cheese to the eggs and mix well. 

Remove the sausage and rice mixture from the fridge and add the egg mixture, making sure the rice and sausage mixture is cool enough not to cook the eggs.  Mix thoroughly and cover with aluminum foil.  Place in an oven that has been pre-heated to 375 degrees.  

Cook for 30 to 45 minutes, checking periodically to make sure the casserole isn’t over cooking.  When the casserole looks firm and “fluffy” but there is still a little moisture remaining, remove the foil, top with the remaining cheese, and place back into the oven for about 15 minutes or until cheese is cooked and the casserole is golden brown.  Remove from the oven, serve, and enjoy!

Welcome

I love to share things that make my heart smile.  One of those things is my love of food.  In my opinion, one of the best ways to nourish the soul is sharing a meal that not only tastes good, but warms the soul.  One of the greatest feelings in life is to see others enjoying something you've made.  Some of our best memories can be related back to the foods we enjoy throughout our lifetime.  I have a serious love (and small obsession) with all things food related.  I love cooking (especially making things from scratch), kitchen gadgets, and eating out!  I started this blog because I wanted to be able to share a recipe on Pinterest.  It was a recipe I had put together based on something that my father used to make for my brother and I for breakfast when we were children.  Since I didn't have a link online for it and the Pinterest box wouldn't allow as many characters as I needed for the recipe, I decided to create this blog.  This is not the first time this has happened to me and I thought this blog would be a great way for me to be able to share my favorite foods and recipes along with other things that make my heart smile.  May the things I share with you here bring a smile to your heart and some warmth to your soul as well.
-- Melissa