Quick note before we get started: The So-Cal chapter of the DFO (KSK Originals) will be getting together next Saturday 10-10-15 at Eatalian Cafe in Gardena, CA at 2:00 PM. This place makes it’s own fresh pasta, they make their own cheese for Christ’s sake. There will be many plates consumed and many pints lifted. Join us if you can!

If anyone has paid attention, as if anyone really cares, I have mentioned before that I am not the youngest of the DFOers. A little background, I have watched (on TV) every single Super Bowl game. I don’t remember the first two very well but I have lucid memories of III when the Jets upset the Colts. I mainly remember every kid in the neighborhood walking around waving their index fingers and saying “We’re number one” like a buncha little dipshits. What I’m getting at is I was raised and went to school in the late 60’s and early 70’s. My Ma, no I’m probably not going to rag about her cooking today, was famous for her one dish meals and casseroles. Growing up, I was in little league from T-ball to Pony league, I was also a Junior Bowler for about 10 years and we basically lived the white-bread middle class dream. My dad was always our coach and was involved in all of our leagues and my Ma organized the various year-end parties and family socials. We were always going to pot lucks.

You remember pot lucks don’t you? That’s were everybody brought a home made dish (important note: buckets of KFC were not acceptable) and usually two or three people brought one of those neon green Jello casseroles with the little bits of fruit cocktail suspended in the gelatin. That shit was just nasty. The dads all drank beer from tin cans that had been opened with a “church key” while the ladies sipped sangria (and every damn one of the parents smoked) and the kids all rampaged around and basically acted like little assholes.

It was at one of these get togethers where my family discovered the glory and the majesty of today’s dish. Motherfucking Tater Tot Casserole!

stock photo courtesy of fortheloveofdessert.blogspot.com

The woman who brought it called it a “Hot Dish” which I believe is a term of Minnesota origin. Fitting! Does this casserole have cream of mushroom soup in it? Yer gat damn right it does. It’s one of the easiest recipes on the planet. Really. I want to challenge anyone out there who says they can’t cook well to try this. It’s just a couple of ingredients, ridiculously easy to put together and dear sweet Sonny Jesus is it tasty. This is one of the first dishes that I made by myself once I left home, at the dear age of 18, and struck out on my own. Struck out more times than I care to mention if you know what I mean (nudge nudge say-no-more). Part of the reason for this recipe today is the Vikings start time. Usually they play in the first game window (10:00 AM out here on the West Coast) which gives me time to watch the game, have some beers and put together a tasty dinner. Since they are starting later against the Broncos (more on that to follow) the timing is off for preparing a meal. This bad boy can be put together in about 15 minutes, or even prepared ahead of time prior to cooking. Then when ready, pop this mofo in the oven and watch the game while it finishes cooking.

Now about the “theme” since we’re playing the Broncos. I researched for foods specific to Denver and was not encouraged by my results. Denver is famous for several things including “game”. I don’t really have much access to elk, moose of venison but I did stalk the wild cow with my bow and arrow. Really! I hunted it for days in the wild of… Bullshit. I took down the ground beef with my debit card at the local Ralph’s grocery store. I also read about Mexican food as a specialty, green chile in particular. Dude, I live in L.A. Plus I’ve dropped a few Mexican recipes here already. And finally Denver is known for Rocky Mountain Oysters. Yeah. Well, I’m refuse to put any more testicles in my mouth thank you very much.

Did that come out right?

Anyway menu time!

Ready! Cuz this one is a challenge!

Motherfucking Tater Tot Casserole!

1 lb ground beef (you can use ground turkey)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup shredded jack cheese

frozen tater tots.

1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Brown the ground beef in a skillet, add in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Drain the fat from the cooked beef. Stir in the can of cream of mushroom soup and put in a 13″x 9″ baking dish. Put the jack cheese over the top and place the tater tots on top. I like to put the tots in little regimented columns and rows. I may have some issues. Also it’s important to put the tots on top of the cheese so the cheese doesn’t harden, kind of like putting bread crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. Bake in a 375 degree oven until tots are browned and delicious and the cheese is bubbly. Serve with a can of Green Giant french cut green beans. Prepare to overindulge.

There are of course some variations you can use but I found this one to be the best. I have used many different types of cheese but jack cheese has the best type of melt and it’s a little less greasy.

Vikings Broncos Game Preview:

This is going to be a hard hitting bastard right out of the gate. I’m some tough sledding for both running games, including Adrian Peterson so most of the damage will be done via the passing game. Both of these teams have a solid defense and both can bring the fucking thunder. I know we have a lot of Denver fans on this here site so I won’t be too graphic. My only complaint about the team is the idiotic, childish “in-com-plete” chant that the fans use. They need to stop doing this. Remember when they had the sad trombone after the “in-com-plete” chant? Charming.

Anyway what I alluded to in the featured image for this post and what I’m going to allude to again is Manning is going to get his ass hit if he doesn’t get any protection. He’s going to get his ass hit hard. Just ask Matt Stafford and Philip Rivers how they are feeling. I’m not saying this to be an ass but if you have enjoyed watching the career of Peyton Manning you may want to tune in to watch him this one last time. Everson Griffin, Brian Robison, Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr have been flat out getting after bitches these last two games and all I’m saying is if they get to Peyton it’s going to be “You sunk my battleship!” He could be on his way to retirement. Just protect him is all I’m saying.

Game prediction: Broncos 16 Vikings 10