Family Favorite Vanilla Spinach Casserole
This recipe is my husband's (Ian's) favorite dish; it's what he requests for dinner every birthday. It's delicious on its own or paired with a good piece of ribeye! Ian grew up enjoying this dish made by his mom, and over the years, I've made a few adjustments to make it my own. I hope you enjoy it!
**Ingredients:**
- 6 cups cooked white rice
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 (10 oz) packages of frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
- 2 small onions
- 2 Portuguese sausages
- 1.5 pounds shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 - 2 tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract
**Instructions:**
**Step 1:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the Portuguese sausages and yellow onions into small bite-sized pieces. In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat and add the sliced sausage. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add the onions and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the onions become translucent. Then, add the remaining butter to the pan and remove it from the heat.
**Step 2:** In a separate bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them until well combined. Squeeze the thawed spinach to remove excess liquid, then add it to the bowl along with the eggs and milk. Add the cooked rice, and season with salt and pepper. Mix until combined. Next, fold in the sausage and onion mixture along with half of the cheese.
**Step 3:** Pour the mixture into a 9x12 inch baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the center is set and no longer jiggles. Remove the pan from the oven, top with the remaining cheese, and return it to the oven until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with a drizzle of Aloha shoyu. 😉
With love,
Malia Reddekopp
