In honor of book club this week (yes, I’m in a book club. Wooo, nerds!!!) for which we’re reading a modern classic, I thought I’d make an updated version of one of the classic meals of my childhood.
Mom and Dad- this one’s for you.
I was a fairly picky eater as a kid. (Try to contain your shock and horror.) I wasn’t super picky or anything, but I wasn’t all that fond of vegetables or meat- unless it was fried and came out of a happy meal box, of course. One of the go-to dinners that my mom would make is one that I never refused. (Well, at least I don’t remember ever refusing it. I had my ornery moments as a child, so I’m sure I threw a fit and zipped my mouth shut at least once for this meal.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Fried hotdogs, potatoes and onions.
Nope, it’s not the food equivalent of a hot yoga class, but it sure did taste good- arteries clogging and all. Basically the dish was prepared by combining chopped up hot dog, potato and onion in some butter in a fry pan and cooking until everything was softened.
Tonight, I made an updated (and healthier) version. I started with a meat upgrade. Remember the chicken sausage I bought at Trader Joe’s last week? I split them open and threw them on the grill. They’re already fully cooked (and minimally processed- I love you TJ’s) so all I needed to do was get some pretty grill marks going.
Mission accomplished. For the rest of the dish, I sliced a potato and about half of an onion fairly thinly and tossed them into a skillet with just a bit of oil on medium-low heat. Once they started to brown, I added a tablespoon or two of water to the pan and let them steam a bit (to soften). Once most of the water had cooked off, I cranked the heat to medium-high and added salt and pepper.
Oh man, even better than I remembered. The jalapeño in the sausage added a layer of flavor that I loved.
On the side, I roasted some broccoli tossed in a teeny bit of oil and sprinkled with Cajun seasoning in a 400° oven for about 20 minutes.
Incidentally, this is another updated classic from my youth. The only way I really remember broccoli from when I was a kid was boiled. I did not enjoy it. Once I started cooking for myself, I realized that I actually love broccoli! Just not boiled. 😉 I’m also not the only one who likes broccoli this way- Caitlin, Kath and Holly are also lovers of the roasted.
Now, where can I find some rainbow sherbet?
What were your favorite dishes growing up? Do you still make them now that you’re all growed up?
Some of my favorite dishes were mac and cheese, english muffins with PB and honey, and cheesy grits. Do I still make them? Heck yes!! Just healthier versions 😉
I’m not usually a big hot dog eater, but that was enough to convert me.
If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I highly recommend their chicken sausages. They have about a hundred varieties (these are spicy jalapeno, but they’ve also got sundried tomato, mushroom, basil, etc). You should definitely give them a try! 🙂
OOOHHHH this looks amazing! and i *LOVE* roasted broccoli. in fact, i think it might be my favorite way of eating it.
and my fave childhood dish remains beef stroganoff – every once in awhile, i make my mom make it…egg noodles and all 🙂
I love making the classics that I grew up with! It always makes me think of being at home and with my family.
Yours looks great. Potatoes and onions are so good!
i find that you can roast anything and it will taste delicious. i love cauliflower too! rainbow sherbert, that brings me back – i don’t think i’ve had it since i was a kid!!!