By Misty I.

Everybody knows the dirtiest pages in a cookbook and the most tattered and stained recipe cards are the ones to treasure!

The above recipe card is a perfect specimen for “keepers.” I’ve been making this recipe for over 25 years. Other versions exist, some with butter, eggs and adding breadcrumbs as a topping. This version is plain and “only easy” just the way I like it. It’s an old recipe and if you live in Hilo I suspect you’ve had it before. It includes sprinkling paprika over the dish before baking which immediately takes me back to the dishes of the totally rad 1980s.

I decided to make this for a family gathering because on top of being a cinch to make, it’s warm and comforting. If you need an easy side dish for your Hilo-style New Year’s Eve celebration, make this!

Crab Casserole

Ingredients:

4 large russet potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
2 white onions, sliced as thinly as you can (this is the best part of the dish)
1 ½ C. mayonnaise
1 pkg. imitation crab sticks (I use Amano brand)
paprika to taste
pepper to taste (I’m heavy-handed)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix mayonnaise with the imitation crab, potatoes, onions and pepper in a large bowl.
3. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle the top with paprika.
4. Bake UNCOVERED in a large baking dish for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. (A 9×13 pan is usually too small.)

That’s it, only easy!