THE HUMBLE HOTDISH

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 116

What’s the weather like where you live? Here in Southwest Minnesota, Mother Nature’s been acting a bit schizophrenic lately; honestly, she needs some meds, IMHO. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous, but naturally, I was stuck inside all day prepping for our Lenten service. Today? Today is just... blech. It’s cold, it’s windy, and the only thing missing is a soul-chilling dampness. It is, however, the perfect day for some ooey-gooey comfort food.

Now, for you non-Minnesotans, a bit of education is required. In the south-central suburbs of our Canadian neighbors, we have a very specific vocabulary. A “hot dish” is not a ceramic baking vessel; that physical object is known as a casserole dish. The “dish” inside the dish is what we locals call—with appropriate reverence—THE Hotdish.

There are countless varieties, but the Holy Trinity usually involves a creamy soup, a protein, a starch, and a healthy mountain of cheese. Vegetables are strictly optional, unless you’re crafting the legendary Tater Tot Hotdish, where the tots are the undisputed stars of the show. Dinner couldn’t come quickly enough tonight.

I can already hear you thinking: “For Pete’s sake, Jason, you’re writing about food again?” Well, yah. But I haven’t written about the Hotdish before, so this definitely counts as an original. Don’t you think? And besides, this is my blog, and I can be thankful for whatever I want. So there—Pbbbbt! I’m in full snark mode tonight. Can you tell?

In this house, the only hotdish we acknowledge is the celebrated tater-tot variety. I suppose you could design your bowl your way, like some fast-food joint, mixing any meat, soup, and veggie combo your heart desires, but why mess with perfection? The Hotdish can be whatever you want it to be, but it’s never high-falutin eating. It’s blue-collar, simple, and designed to be a one-dish, stir-it-all-together, shovel-it-in kind of meal. That’s what makes it the masterful centerpiece of tundra living—it’s the easy-peasy crowd-pleaser fit for potlucks, funerals, and Tuesday nights at home.

We just finished our one-bowl supper, and my tummy is satisfied and feeling all warm and cozy. Tonight, I’m genuinely thankful for the succulent hotdish: for the bovine hero that sacrificed its life to become the hamburger; for the farmers who grew the onions, corn, and taters; for the dairy farmers whose Holsteins provided the milk for the cheese; for the soup company who did their thing; and for the potato processors who turned those nugget nightshades into the golden tots we all love.

I suppose I should be thankful for my wife, Danielle, who put it all together, and most importantly, the Lord who provided it all. Truly, without any hint of snark, I am thankful for the delicious meal in my bowl. It’s a blessing to have three squares a day, especially when one of them warms not just your body, but also your soul.

So… let me ask you: what’s your favorite Hotdish? Comment down below!