“What is todays’ state meal?” my honey asked one day. “Minnesota! Its something called Hotdish…” But before I could explain he says: “Oh, I know all about Hotdish! That’s what you take to your neighbors! At least, that is what they always took to their neighbors in The Prairie Home Companion.” And sure enough, we were talking about the same hearty, filling, delicious casserole that you take to pot-lucks, funerals, or a weeknight supper. It is basically a Midwest shepherd’s pie. Pair that with a yummy salad and an even yummier dressing, and you have an easy dinner fit to be shared!
Tips and Tricks
- Always make sure to drain your ground beef after its cooked. Otherwise, that fat can saturate your final dish and make it greasier/heavier than it needs to be.
- While it is tempting to go for convivence and buy pre-shredded cheese, your final product will ALWAYS taste better if you shred the cheese yourself. This is because pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents (to keep the cheese from sticking together) and its texture will be very different from freshly shredded cheese.
- When making dressing, always use freshly squeezed juice over the bottled juice. The flavor will be clearer and have less preservatives.
Classic Minnesota Hotdish
Serves 6
- 1 lb. Ground Beef
- 1 Small Yellow Onion, peeled and chopped
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Package (32 oz.) Frozen Tater Tots
- 1 Can (10 oz.) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, undiluted
- 2/3 Cup Milk
- 1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Step 2: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the ground beef and onions. Break the beef up with a wooden spoon. Season everything with the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is browned and the onions are soft, 6-7 minutes.
Step 3: Drain the excess grease from the meat.
Step 4: Transfer the cooked meat and onions to a 2 or 3 qt casserole dish.
Step 5: Covered the meat with a layer of frozen taster tots.
Step 6: In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and milk until everything is smooth. Pour the mixture over the tater tots and meat.
Step 7: Spread the shredded cheddar cheese over the casserole. Place the pan in the hot oven and bake for 1 hour.
Step 8: Serve hot.
Blueberry and Walnut Salad with Lime-Honey Vinaigrette
Serves 4
Salad
- 1 Package of Baby Mixed Greens
- 1 Cup Fresh Blueberries
- 1/2 Cup Manchego Cheese, shredded
- 1/2 Cup Walnut Halves and Pieces
Dressing
- 3 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tbs Champagne Vinegar
- 1 tsp Honey
- Juice of 1 Lime
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Step 1: Place the dressing ingredients into small bowl and whisk until well combined.
Step 2: Divide the salad greens evenly into 4 bowls. Top each salad with blueberries, shredded cheese, and walnuts.
Step 3: Serve cold with the dressing on the side.
Fun Facts about Minnesota: 1. Bob Dylan, Prince, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and countless other famous musical acts hail from Minnesota. 2. With 4.3 miles of total store front footage, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota is the biggest mall in the country. 3. Minnesota has a proud literary history. Sinclair Lewis, Tim O’Brien, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Garrison Keillor, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Neil Gaiman are just a sampling of writers who were born or have lived in the state. 4. In 1876, notorious outlaw Jesse James and his gang were thwarted from robbing a bank in Northfield, Minnesota. Several members of his posse were captured and killed, and in subsequent years the group slowly dissolved before Robert Ford finally assassinated Jesse James in 1882. 5. Meanwhile, famous show biz figures like Judy Garland, Terry Gilliam, Chris Pratt, and Winona Ryder were all born in Minnesota. (Ryder is actually named after the town of Winona, Minnesota.) 6. Scotch tape, the bundt pan, rollerblades, Milky Way candy bars, and the world’s first practical pair of water skis were all invented in Minnesota. 7. Nicknames for Minnesota include “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” This nickname is misleading, as the state technically has more than 11,000 lakes.
Edible U.S. 