Debut mystery author Kelly Brakenhoff is an American Sign Language
interpreter, scone baker, half-marathon runner, chocolate lover, Hufflepuff,
wife & mom, dog petter, and Husker fan. Learn more about her and her books at her website.
When Cassandra Sato,
the main character in Death by
Dissertation, moves from big city Hawai'i to rural Nebraska, she expects
the food to taste foreign. After all, growing up on an island, she was used to
fresh seafood, sushi, and Spam— the comfort food in a can. The only fish she's
likely to find in Nebraska comes from a stream or the freezer.
One of the first
unusual meals she encounters is a German concoction called a Bierock. They're
meat and cabbage stuffed in yeast bread hand-pies. Cassandra is surprised to
discover there's a Midwest-famous restaurant chain with a devoted fan base of
Bierock-loving Nebraskans called Runza. (Definitely stop there if you're ever
driving I-80 through Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, or Colorado.) Cassandra's hesitant
at first, but soon grows to like them, especially when she realizes one can
double as a hand-warmer during chilly fall football Saturdays.
If you're not from the
Midwest, likely you've never heard of Bierocks either, but I promise they are
delicious. They also freeze well and make for easy picnic or potluck food. No
fork required.
When my family didn’t
live in Nebraska, our first stop after arriving at the airport was always the
Runza restaurant drive-thru for a hometown meal of delicious, hot Runza and
Frings (a genius combination of fries and onion rings).
Occasionally, we hosted
a football watch party or got a craving for them when we couldn't buy the real
thing. Over the years, I’ve tried many different Bierock recipes. This one
incorporates whole-wheat flour and Greek yogurt to make a quick, healthy
breaded crust for a traditional, Nebraska Bierock. My favorite are the Swiss
Mushroom Bierocks, but you can change up the cheese if you want a different twist
using American, Provolone & peppers for a Philly Bierock, or Pepperjack for
a more southwest flavor.
Quick & Healthy Bierocks (homemade Nebraska Runzas)
Featuring a
whole-wheat, no-yeast dough, these Swiss Mushroom Bierocks take less than an
hour start to finish. They are great for football tailgate parties, potlucks,
or Husker ex-pats who miss eating our beloved Runzas.
Serves 8
Ingredients:
Dough
3 cups whole
wheat flour
3 cups plain
Greek yogurt
1-1/2 T. baking
powder
1-1/2 tsp. salt
Filling
1 lb. ground
beef
1 med. onion,
chopped
1 bag coleslaw
mix
1 tsp.
Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. seasoned
salt
8 slices Swiss
cheese (optional)
8 small baby Portobello
mushrooms, chopped (optional)
Preheat oven
to 375. Prepare a large baking sheet with foil and cooking spray or parchment
paper. (Less clean-up later, you’re welcome.)
Brown the
hamburger and onions in the largest frying pan you own. You might need 2 medium
pans if you don’t have one large enough. If you decide to add the mushrooms,
throw them in with the meat and onions.
In a large
mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt, and mix well. Add the yogurt
and mix until all of the flour is incorporated into a batter. Knead the dough until
it’s dry and elastic (this will take about 1 minute—if it’s super-sticky, you
can always add some extra flour). Then, divide the dough into 8 equal size
balls. Using your hands or a rolling pin, spread the dough rounds into 6”x4”
rectangles.
Once the meet
is browned and the onions and mushrooms are soft, add Worcestershire, oregano,
seasoned salt, and pepper to taste. Now add the whole package of cabbage to the
skillet. It might not all fit at once, but stir the bottom bits to the top
frequently until the whole thing is lightly stir-fried. Do not overcook the
cabbage.
Place one
slice of Swiss cheese on each of the rolled dough pieces. Some people like
American, Provolone, or Pepper Jack cheese instead. Spoon 2 generous spoonfuls
of meat on each dough. Roll up the longer sides of the rectangle and pinch them
together, then gather the short sides and pinch together. Flip the pinched
seams to the bottom. The finished Bierocks should be fairly large and rectangle
shaped.
Bake at 375
degrees for 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for
about 5 minutes before serving. They are good plain or with ketchup.
Death By Dissertation
Ambitious Cassandra Sato
traded her life in Hawai’i for a dream position at Morton College in rural
Nebraska. She expected the Midwestern church casseroles, land-locked
cornfields, and face-freezing winters would be her biggest challenges, but it’s
her job that’s rapidly becoming a nightmare.
A deaf student is dead and
the investigation reveals a complicated trail of connections between campus
food service, a local farmer’s beef, and the science lab’s cancer research.
Together with her few allies, Cassandra must protect the students caught up in
the entanglement.
Dealing with homesickness,
vandalism, and a stalker, Cassandra is trapped in a public relations disaster
that could cost her job, or more. No one said college was easy.
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