Is that a fun name or what?!
This is something I grew up eating. Every visit to my grandparents involved eating this at least once. Strangely enough, it wasn’t something I attempted for my family…prior to the Olympics.
We were watching some food around London type show and they featured Bubble and Squeak with Bangers. Yum, and fond memories. The wee beasties thought it sounded worth a try. As any parent knows, strike when the iron is hot!
(That’s actually a Bratwurst, which I had on hand, not a Banger. Now, here’s the crazy. That Man, who is of German ancestry, can’t stand Bratwurst. Who knew? LOL)
First off, there is no true recipe for this dish. It is very much a way of using leftovers. But I remembered having a hand written scribble of Nana’s process. So here goes…
I didn’t have leftovers so pulled out a package of California blend frozen veggies, thawed, and ran a knife through to chop.
Approximately 4 tablespoons of butter, or 2 of butter with 2 of olive oil
Onion, finely chopped
Leftover veg, finely chopped
Leftover mashed potato
Salt and Pepper
Clove of garlic, minced, if preparing for dinner
In a large frying pan saute the onion, add veggies and garlic, turning to warm the veggies. Add potato, fry about 10 minutes, turning a couple times to coat with butter — Goal is to brown the outside edges like hash browns, not to burn. Then press mixture into the base of pan and cook 1 minute, flip and repeat. This is the part where you’ll see where the name comes from 
My memory of this dish was that it came out of the pan whole, almost like a pancake, but I wasn’t able to achieve that. So I may have been impatient — no surprise there — didn’t have the heat high or low enough, or was simply using the wrong frying pan. The lack of presentation didn’t effect the taste…yum.
Wee Beastie Rating:
Note: This is also a great dish for breakfast, or breakfast for dinner, and lunch when served with a fried egg.
(Psst, Joely, no one complained about the dreaded cauliflower, well, except for the one wee beastie who didn’t like the dish, LOL)
Aug 21, 2012 @ 07:22:49
When I first started reading it in my email (no pics) I thought you were making a different version of Shepherd’s pie! This looks good. May have to try this
Aug 21, 2012 @ 08:35:52
Yeah, with the mashed potato, I can see where you thought Shepherd’s Pie. Yum. Haven’t made that for awhile, I’ll have to add that to the meal plan soon
Thanks for stopping by Melanie.
Aug 22, 2012 @ 08:49:58
Even better is to cook the meat with stew seasoning. Don’t have to add anything other seasonings. Hubby LOVES it and I make shepherd’s pie at least 4 times during the cold months.
Aug 21, 2012 @ 09:14:06
Looks delicious! Yum
Aug 21, 2012 @ 09:46:52
It’s delicious. You’ll have to let me know how Chipmunk likes it
Thanks for stopping by Angela.
Aug 21, 2012 @ 09:16:33
While I have heard mention of this dish, I’ve never eaten it. Thanks for featuring the recipe. And you are sooo right…you must strike when the iron is hot! Ha. My boys are loathe to try anything new – and getting veggies into them (that aren’t on their favorites list) is akin to leading a camel through the eye of a needle. Oy!
Aug 21, 2012 @ 10:02:12
Leading a camel through the eye of a needle
So, so true! This was enough of a hit it’s now on the rotation 
Thanks for stopping by Nadja.
Aug 21, 2012 @ 09:33:21
I. Must. Make. This!
It sounds fabulous.
Aug 21, 2012 @ 10:06:14
You say that like I say I must make X, Y, or Z pair of socks you tease me with on your blog
Thanks for stopping by Nicole.
Aug 21, 2012 @ 19:59:12
Um. Well, I don’t cook new recipes nearly as often as I start a new pair of socks or mitts…
Aug 21, 2012 @ 15:46:49
So do brats taste differently from other sausages? I don’t think I’ve ever had one–or if I did, I didn’t notice the difference.
This is a recipe my man would like–especially with extra potato.
Aug 21, 2012 @ 16:04:18
They do taste differently but I’m not sure I could say exactly what the difference is. I think of brats as a beer sausage (and they are often cooked in beer). That Man isn’t much of a sausage eater. In fact, it’s only been in the last 7-8 years I’ve gotten him to eat the Hillshire Farm’s Kielbasa, which is a very mild sausage compared to the Johnsonville Bratwurst I did, LOL.
He actually had the leftovers of this dish with some bacon and eggs for breakfast the next morning and he was a happy camper with that combo!
Thanks for stopping by Maria.
Aug 22, 2012 @ 08:16:36
That looks yum! I’ve actually heard about this before.But only because there are a lot of Brit transplants in my town.
Aug 22, 2012 @ 08:33:26
Aren’t there a lot of Brit transplants Canadian coast to coast? LOL, a good chunk of my family among them
Thanks for stopping by Elena.
Aug 22, 2012 @ 10:40:32
It certainly looks good! Since I’m not supposed to eat potatoes, I would have to swap the mashed potato with mashed cauliflower. Will have to try it!
Aug 22, 2012 @ 11:25:48
You’ll have to let me know how it works with the bulk being cauliflower. I’d probably never get that much cauliflower past the wee beasties, LOL, though they do like it when I steam a head of cauliflower and mash it with cream cheese.
Thanks for stopping by Angela.