September, Mahnomin Madness Hotdish

[Sen. Franken's Mom's [congressional cook-off winning] Mahnomin Madness Hotdish Recipe here]

September- If you have ever lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or North Dakota, you will be familiar with this month's inspiration.  If you haven’t, keep reading and I will attempt to explain.  

According to Howard Mohr, author of “How to Talk Minnesotan” hotdish is "a traditional main course cooked and served in a single baking dish, commonly appearing at family reunions and church suppers."   Those of us from states other than Minnesota, call this a casserole.  However, the extent to which Minnesotan’s love and honor this "one pan wonder" makes it deserving of it’s own name: hotdish.

In addition to being found on menus from truck-stop diners to trendy restaurants in Minneapolis, hotdish is the subject of musicals, poetic tributes, murder mysteries, and even an annual cook-off between Minnesota Congressional Delegates.

What goes in hotdish

The traditional hotdish contains any starch, plus protein, plus canned or frozen vegetables layered in one pan, mixed with canned soup.  Basically, everything you might eat for dinner, mixed together, then baked.  From there, the possibilities are endless:  Crouching Chicken–Hidden Veggies, Buddhist Temple Basement Hotdish, Seven Samurai Five-Can Hotdish...

So this month, no matter where you are originally from, on Project Cook Night (September 21) channel your inner Minnesotan and bond with your roommates and friends over our strange and beloved hotdish.  Follow one of the recipes, or design your own (perhaps freshening it up with farmers market veggies and homemade soup?).  Then cook together, eat together, and enjoy!  

Endnote:  Other uniquely Minnesotan mannerism identified by Howard Mohr (for you to practice while cooking and eating your hotdish):

-Useful phrases such as "You bet" and "That's different"

-Refusing food three times before accepting

-The art of waving

-Talking about cars and starting cars in the winter.