Tinfoil Chef

Ok, the first thing I have to say about this is that it isn’t technically a casserole in terms of how most people think of what a casserole recipe is, I’m calling it a casserole simply because I made it in a 2 quart casserole dish. Besides, I did a quick definition search on Google and from what I found, it looks like the term refers more to the cooking dish than the recipe itself. Go figure.

Anyway, having pretty much had my fill of ramen noodle type recipes for a while, I wanted to do something different. When I got to looking around at what was available to work with, I found several boxes of a generic Rice-A-Roni-alike and thought “Hmm, Now there’s something I haven’t had in half of forever.”

Naturally, I couldn’t just leave well enough alone and make the thing up according to box directions and leave it at that. No, I just had to “kick it up a notch” to borrow a phrase from Emeril.

Because I was doing something else at the same time, I decided to use the microwave directions for the rice-a-roni part instead of doing it all on the stove. This part is pretty basic. Open up the box, set the packet aside and dump the rice vermicelli mix into a 2 quart microwave safe dish. Measure off the required amount of butter on a stick and cut that into pats and spread them around on top.

This goes into the micro on high for two minutes. When the time is up, give it a stir and back in for another two minutes. When that’s done, take it out and let it cool for a minute or two, then add the 2 3/4 cups of water the package directions call for and the contents of the packet you set aside earlier.

Once the spice packet contents are fully dissolved and mixed in, it’s back to the microwave for another 8 minutes. When that time was up, I opened up a can of vienna sausages, cut them up and mixed them into the roni. That then gets a final 8 minutes in the microwave.

At this point, it’s time to get a skillet warmed up, melt a few pats of butter in it and crack open six eggs into the melted butter. Cook the eggs slowly at a medium to medium high heat. When they’re firm enough, about 5 or 6 minutes in, go ahead and flip ‘em over. I try for intact yolks that aren’t cooked solid all the way through but to each their own preference. Just about the time the flipped over eggs are done, the microwave will be finished. Take the casserole out and set it on a heat safe surface (I used a kitchen towel).

Here’s where things come together. Take the eggs and layer them on top of the rice a roni & vienna sausage dish. Top this with some soy sauce and maybe a bit of ketchup and you’re good to go.

This makes a great main dish for lunch or dinner and I found it to be an absolutely awesome breakfast as well. I’m pretty sure that you’re going to get requests to do this one again. I know I’m gonna do it again … Soon.

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