Retro Chow Mein Casserole
By Dennis Linden
Byran Grimm, Melissa’s man in Michigan, shares this month's team recipe. It’s from his own mother’s recipe box—a creative twist/solution to Bryan’s father’s narrow culinary preferences. (It was good enough to break his “no casseroles” rule.) Bryan has since tweaked this family favorite with a few of Melissa’s fresh ingredients, all the while retaining the retro spirit of this dish that harkens back to the 1950s and 60s.
“My mother was an amazing cook with a wide range of recipes. However, my dad only wanted meat, potatoes, and vegetables for dinner. There were four growing boys in my family, so obviously, my mom was constantly looking for something to feed us,” recalled Bryan. My dad also definitely did NOT enjoy casseroles of any kind! Except for when what we boys called a “Worm Casserole” was put on the table; the dish was named “Worm Casserole” because of what the Chow Mein Noodles look like after cooking them. There were never leftovers and even my dad had seconds every time it was served. Many years later, after I married Ellen, this recipe was handed down to our family. Our son and daughter became fans and ask for this casserole often. We still prepare this dish today for family dinners!”
Despite his boyhood alternative name for this dish, the combo of hamburger, noodles, two flavors of canned soups, laced with the heat of jalapeño, the distinct accents of Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Seasoning and topped with the salty crunch of potato chips just works. Yep, potato chips! It is understandable why a household of always hungry growing boys and a finicky father adopted this dish no matter culinary prejudices. While it is not recommended to entice a fussy eater with not the healthiest of toppings, one cannot overlook the comfort-food goodness embodied in this dish. Besides, an occasional decadent departure from a personal culinary discipline can be mentally freeing. It’s called cheating, and we all do it; just do not make a habit of it. Bryan’s family favorite provides us with that occasional tasty detour, and for many whose metabolisms are not governed by doctors’ orders, this is a great one-dish meal. No longer a boy, Bryan says he now enjoys this dish with a quality cold beer to go with his “worms”!
Bryan Grimm is a career professional in the retail side of the grocery industry. He joined the Melissa’s family after 30 years in the business, working his way up from bagger to stocker, then store director, merchandiser and supervisor. As the company’s representative in Michigan, Bryan works exclusively with Melissa’s largest account in the region, a company that is comprised of a multi-faceted group of operations that span a diverse group of independent and chain grocers, e-commerce retailers, U.S. military commissaries and exchanges as well as the company’s own brick-and-mortar stores. Bryan is a busy man keeping himself and his clients posted on seasonal opportunities and availability of Melissa’s product.
Working with a customer that has so many kinds of venues can be challenging. Not all items are a good fit for the clientele my customer is servicing. It is up to me to be aware of the all the details, so I am not wasting my client’s time and adding value with my knowledge of their various business operations. I have always been fascinated learning about and tasting the products that we sell. Sometimes that means staying only one step ahead of my customer with a crash course in where a new item comes from, how it grows and tastes – all quite fun and challenging.
Bryan and Ellen have been married for 44 years. They have two children, Josh and Erin, plus two grandchildren, Austin and Claire. The whole family enjoys camping together in the many nearby parks and national forests of Northern Michigan and the Lake Superior region. As a grandfather, chasing grandkids never gets old and Bryan also enjoys working in the great outdoors of any kind.
Dare I say it—thanks for the worm casserole, Bryan!
Chow Mein Casserole *(aka Worm Casserole)
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 pound ground sirloin steak
Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Seasoning to taste
1 large can or 2 small cans Chow Mein Noodles
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Chicken with Rice Soup
1 medium Melissa’s Organic Sweet Onion, chopped
½ cup Melissa’s Jalapeno peppers, chopped (option: Hatch Peppers in season)
4 celery ribs, finely chopped
½ can water
Crushed potato chips topping
Preparation
Brown ground sirloin & season to taste with Hatch Pepper Seasoning. Add celery, organic sweet onions, and Hatch peppers or Melissa’s Jalapeno Peppers to the meat and continue to simmer together.
In a large baking casserole bowl combine soups and water. Add meat mixture to baking dish stirring together.
Finally add and combine the Chow Mein Noodles.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes covered with foil. Then remove foil and cover the top of casserole with crushed potato chips. Do not stir. Return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
“My mother was an amazing cook with a wide range of recipes. However, my dad only wanted meat, potatoes, and vegetables for dinner. There were four growing boys in my family, so obviously, my mom was constantly looking for something to feed us,” recalled Bryan. My dad also definitely did NOT enjoy casseroles of any kind! Except for when what we boys called a “Worm Casserole” was put on the table; the dish was named “Worm Casserole” because of what the Chow Mein Noodles look like after cooking them. There were never leftovers and even my dad had seconds every time it was served. Many years later, after I married Ellen, this recipe was handed down to our family. Our son and daughter became fans and ask for this casserole often. We still prepare this dish today for family dinners!”
Despite his boyhood alternative name for this dish, the combo of hamburger, noodles, two flavors of canned soups, laced with the heat of jalapeño, the distinct accents of Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Seasoning and topped with the salty crunch of potato chips just works. Yep, potato chips! It is understandable why a household of always hungry growing boys and a finicky father adopted this dish no matter culinary prejudices. While it is not recommended to entice a fussy eater with not the healthiest of toppings, one cannot overlook the comfort-food goodness embodied in this dish. Besides, an occasional decadent departure from a personal culinary discipline can be mentally freeing. It’s called cheating, and we all do it; just do not make a habit of it. Bryan’s family favorite provides us with that occasional tasty detour, and for many whose metabolisms are not governed by doctors’ orders, this is a great one-dish meal. No longer a boy, Bryan says he now enjoys this dish with a quality cold beer to go with his “worms”!
Working with a customer that has so many kinds of venues can be challenging. Not all items are a good fit for the clientele my customer is servicing. It is up to me to be aware of the all the details, so I am not wasting my client’s time and adding value with my knowledge of their various business operations. I have always been fascinated learning about and tasting the products that we sell. Sometimes that means staying only one step ahead of my customer with a crash course in where a new item comes from, how it grows and tastes – all quite fun and challenging.
Bryan and Ellen have been married for 44 years. They have two children, Josh and Erin, plus two grandchildren, Austin and Claire. The whole family enjoys camping together in the many nearby parks and national forests of Northern Michigan and the Lake Superior region. As a grandfather, chasing grandkids never gets old and Bryan also enjoys working in the great outdoors of any kind.
Dare I say it—thanks for the worm casserole, Bryan!
Chow Mein Casserole *(aka Worm Casserole)
Serves 6
1 pound ground sirloin steak
Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Seasoning to taste
1 large can or 2 small cans Chow Mein Noodles
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Chicken with Rice Soup
1 medium Melissa’s Organic Sweet Onion, chopped
½ cup Melissa’s Jalapeno peppers, chopped (option: Hatch Peppers in season)
4 celery ribs, finely chopped
½ can water
Crushed potato chips topping
Preparation
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