As I was trying to decide on this week’s recipe, I saw a post on social media that the Hubble Space Telescope was launched this week in April 1990. And…I was sent down a rabbit hole. I learned that the Hubble Space Telescope was named in honor of Edwin Hubble, an American Astronomer, who proved that galaxies exist beyond the Milky Way. This led to the phrase “hubble bubble”, which is according to the online dictionary, has been used in newspaper stories as an allusion to the images of nebulas sent back from the Hubble Telescope which have a bubble-like appearance, a hookah (a water pipe used to smoke tobacco), confused talk (psychobabble), a variant of the bubble and squeak in English cuisine, or Hubble Bubble, a Belgian punk band. This led to recipes for hubble bubble.
Hubble bubble is a dish in English cuisine made from a mixed variety of foods often left over from previously prepared meals such as oven-roasted beef with vegetables, rice, or potatoes. Popular hubble bubble ingredients can be cabbage, carrots, green peas, and brussels sprouts as well as mashed or boiled potatoes and usually the addition of baked beans and either tomato sauce or ketchup to the vegetables for more flavor and protein. The first recipes for these kinds of mixed dishes can be traced to the early 19th century, although they did not become well known until the mid-20th century. Some hubble bubble recipes are rice dishes instead of potato dishes. Precooked brown or wild rice mixed with your choice of meat, vegetables, and baked beans. Many of these recipes can be made on the stove top, others can be made in the microwave if all the ingredients are cooked beforehand. Most recipes are simple, such as: mixing desired ingredients together in a pan and cook until done. We don’t cook hubble bubble like this in the United States, our baked beans are usually a single side and not added to casseroles. I do have some bubble up recipes. Usually made with canned biscuits or frozen rolls, these dishes are sweet or savory. One of my favorites is pizza bubble up. It takes a bit of work but it’s worth it. The leftovers are good too. I also like the chicken alfredo bubble up. I use rotisserie chicken, jarred alfredo sauce, and canned biscuits so it goes together quick and easy.
Pepperoni pizza bubble up
Ingredients:
12 Rhodes Dough Dinner Rolls (frozen)
1 cup of pizza sauce (I think spaghetti sauce would work well too)
1-pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
Turkey pepperoni (20-25 slices)
Directions:
Remove rolls from freezer and allow them to thaw at room temperature for about an hour, but do not allow them to rise. I keep the house pretty cool unless it is summer so in my kitchen it takes about 90 minutes. Pour 1 cup of pizza sauce into a medium to large bowl. Cut each roll into 8 pieces (it helps to squish them down a little) and place into pizza sauce. I like to stir after each roll to make sure the pieces are coated and don’t stick together. Once you have them all stirred together dump them evenly into a well-greased 9×13 pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes. During the 30 minutes of rise time, brown the ground beef. You can add garlic and seasonings if you want. If you want some cooked veggies just throw them in and cook them along with the beef. I kept it simple with a little garlic and salt. Drain your beef if needed. During this time, you should go ahead and preheat your oven to 375 degrees. After the 30-minute rise (they won’t rise a ton so don’t worry!) spread the ground beef on top of rolls. Sprinkle on grated Parmesan. Top with 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella. Layer on sliced pepperoni, then sprinkle on the rest of the cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Check at 20 mins. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then cut into slices!
Chicken alfredo bubble up
Ingredients:
2 cups chicken, cooked, chopped or shredded
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1-2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional)
15 oz Alfredo sauce
16 oz package, flaky, large biscuits
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Remove biscuits from package and cut each biscuit into 6 pieces. Place biscuit pieces into large bowl. Add Alfredo sauce, 1 cup of cheese and cooked chicken into bowl with cut biscuits. Mix well to combine. Add 1-2 cups of baby spinach to mix if desired. Spread mixture evenly into greased pan and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 35 minutes or until the biscuits are brown and cooked through. Let it sit for 5-8 minutes before serving.
Courtesy photos