You can ask anyone around this area and grew up in those days, about the school lunches and I think most would agree that, they served up some pretty good chow. Some of my favorites were the "Toasty Dogs", (hot dogs with cheese wrapped in a buttered piece of bread, then baked) the, "Flying Saucers" (pretty much, a lunch-meat and cheese sandwich on a round bun) served with, "Tater Tots" perhaps. The turkey and gravy with mashed potatoes, there was an American style "Chow-Mein" and "Creamed Tuna" over shoestring potato sticks.
The "Hot Buttered Buns" made from scratch and baked right there, were fantastic! Sure, there were a few things that everybody hated, like the "Lime Green Jello" concoction !
One of my all time favorites was the, "Pizza Burgers". So, I did some searching and with the help of the internet and some old newspaper clippings, I have a recipe that is pretty close to the same taste that I remember. ENJOY !
Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 can grated Spam
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
2 Tbs dried parsley
1 Tbs ground sage
1 Tbs oregano
Sprinkle of garlic powder
2 Cups spaghetti sauce (most of a 24 oz. jar)
8 hamburger buns (split)
Directions:
In skillet, add salt, pepper and onion to ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any fat from pan. Turn heat to low and add garlic powder, sage, parsley, oregano. Add grated Spam and cheese. Cook until warmed through and combined. Add pasta sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Adjust seasonings as desired.
Spread mixture on each bun half and place on cookie sheet.
Place in preheated oven (375 degrees) for, 10-15 minutes or until bun feels slightly crisp. Makes 16 pizza burgers.
1/2 can grated Spam
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
2 Tbs dried parsley
1 Tbs ground sage
1 Tbs oregano
Sprinkle of garlic powder
2 Cups spaghetti sauce (most of a 24 oz. jar)
8 hamburger buns (split)
Directions:
In skillet, add salt, pepper and onion to ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any fat from pan. Turn heat to low and add garlic powder, sage, parsley, oregano. Add grated Spam and cheese. Cook until warmed through and combined. Add pasta sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Adjust seasonings as desired.
Spread mixture on each bun half and place on cookie sheet.
Place in preheated oven (375 degrees) for, 10-15 minutes or until bun feels slightly crisp. Makes 16 pizza burgers.
I was a Spartan (class of '86) from Richfield, but this was one of my favorite lunches and I made this many times for the kids as they were growing up. :)
ReplyDeleteI was a Spartan (class of '86) from Richfield, but this was one of my favorite lunches and I made this many times for the kids as they were growing up. :)
ReplyDeleteClass of 71 RHS. No brown bagging on Pizza Burger day. We make them now but we broil them instead of cooking. Toast the buns prior to adding topping. MMMMM
ReplyDeleteHi! I went to Roseville area schools and this was my all time favorite.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Hamburger gravy over mashed potatos too, I could go on but thanks for the recipe.Can't wait to try it!
Me too! Went to McCarrons Lake Elementary. Loved those pizza burgers!
DeleteClass of 93 Randolph MN. We still talk about the pizza burgers. We would always run back up to see if they had made any extra. Loved them!
ReplyDeleteLincoln Class of 72 loved these burgers
ReplyDeleteLoved them too and make them today as well
DeleteMe too- Jefferson class of 72!
DeleteJefferson class of '81 checking in! My brother still makes these for his son!
DeleteWent to Richfield class of '03. Pizza Burgers were one of my favorites. I also loved Italian dunkers!
ReplyDeleteMy mom bought the recipe book but not sure where it is. I make the hamburger gravey, tuna shoe strings, chow mein. But I cannot remember all the other good food they fed us back then. I would like to find that cook book if anyone knows where. Riverside Elementry 1966 to 71
ReplyDeleteHi, I am sorry it took me so long to see your post.
DeleteI am going to try to find some of the other recipes from there and post them.
I read a article under the same title some time ago, but this articles quality is much, much better. How you do this.. şişli ingilizce kursları
ReplyDeleteI got this recipe fro my friend lou groth whose mother was a cook at the Bloomington school. try it you will like it cliff the cook hastings mn
ReplyDeleteCan pizza burger be frozen
ReplyDeleteYes pizza burgers can be frozen. I do it all the time although the recipe doesn't have spam in it. I have a recipe from a Bloomington MN schools cookbook but I lost the book and have been trying to find another one to purchase. If anyone knows where to get one please reply back. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI made this recipe and found that 2 cups a rego spaghetti sauce overpowered so I think we'll try only one cup
ReplyDeleteThis recipe was taken from a public school cookbook. I just published it as it was written.
DeleteI lived in Bloomington until 1972 so I went to school until 5th grade there the pizza burger was the favorite loved it thank you for finding the recipe
ReplyDeleteBloomington Lincoln Class of '75. This recipe looks pretty realistic based on what I remember. I would like to try the chow mein again too.
ReplyDeleteI am going to try to publish more of those recipes, including the chow mein.
DeleteI have that very old Bloomington Schools Cook Book, it was purchased by my mom back when I was in grade school a very long time ago. I use it often so much that I have scanned the whole thing to preserve it. Interested contact me.
ReplyDeletehanskid9159.ch@gmail.com ref:Bloomington School Cook Book
DeleteHi, I just saw your comment. Sounds good, I think I only have a partial list. I may try to contact you.
Delete