Originally published on September 6, 2016
This summer was not the best for us. It was all going fine with sun and sand and everything else, and then my grandma fell. She’s 94 and broke her hip, so it was off to Niagara for us where it was a bunch of hospital visits and other stuff to go along with it. So needless to say, Gram has been on my mind.
During one of my hospital visits, Grandma and I got talking about a casserole she made us when we were kids. It’s very simple, with just pasta, hot dogs, and some eggs, but man – was it good! I don’t remember a time when I would see this on my plate and not have the entire thing gone in 60 seconds. It was so good as a matter of fact, that after we talked, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That pasta, those hot dogs, and those eggs that nestled into all the nooks and crannies like suction cups, just waiting to be cajoled out. Mmm, delicious!
This version does modernize my grandma’s a bit, mostly just with fresh herbs, and I don’t remember if she actually put bread crumbs on it. But just like when I think of her meatloaf, when I think of Grandma’s Casserole, I think bread crumbs.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 package macaroni, or other short pasta (about 5 cups)
- 5 eggs
- 4 hot dogs
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup butter
- Salt
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Pepper
Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.) Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. When boiling, add pasta, stir, and cook until just al dente. Drain, and set aside.
3.) While the pasta is cooking, cook the hot dogs as you usually would, either on a grill or in a pan. When finished cooking, slice them thinly and set aside.
4.) Melt the butter in a small saucepan on the stove. Remove from the heat, then add the bread crumbs and a pinch of salt and stir to fully combine.
5.) Add the pasta, hot dogs, parsley, chives, cheese, salt and pepper to a large bowl and stir to combine well. Pour into a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish and distribute evenly.
6.) Beat the eggs slightly and pour over the entire casserole. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over top. Place the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until the bread crumbs are golden brown and toasted. When removing from the oven, allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it.
7.) Serve and enjoy!