Good morning folks! Welcome back.
A thought passed through my mind awhile back while I was in the middle of a two-day prep, hours long to cook recipe that I was putting together, are some of these recipes I’ve posted a little “too” elaborate? I hope not. The entire idea for Sunday Gravy is to present you with recipes, cooking concepts and tricks to help you out. I really don’t want to scare anyone away.
I thought I would really simplify things today. Yeah, that’s it. It had nothing to do with the fact that I spent an entire day last weekend attending a ballet my granddaughters were dancing in as well as attending the after party.
Saturdays are my grocery store, research and advanced prep days for most weekends. So, shit. I ran out of time and decided to make an easy as fuck, tried-and-true, right family favorite.
Motherfucking hotdish!
Here’s some advance notice, next week is going to be some simple delicious stuff too. Here’s a hint why.
Right! Back to this one.
Many of you may be asking yourselves “The fucksa hotdish?” and I would understand that inquiry. Hotdish is an upper Midwest regional food, popular in Minnesota and North Dakota so get ready for some “Fargo” references.
“Ya, we got that big statue up there!”
Hotdish is usually spotted in it’s native environments of church socials, potlucks and group gatherings where you bring an inexpensive, filling and downright tasty dish that can be served out of a single casserole dish and feed a group of people.
You know where else it can be spotted? Right after a neighbor, friend or family member dies.
Do people still do that shit? Somebody passes away and the neighbors start bringing over an everlovin’ shit ton of food? They used to.
Family story time. A looonnng time ago I had a little brother who died of a brain tumor when he was 2 years old. Forget the fucking “I’m sorrys” and “Oh that’s terribles!” Seriously I was fucking 8 years old and I’ve moved along as they say. If you want to know an exact age and reason when and why I stopped believing in God this should help narrow that down.
It was really strange but the day we came home from his funeral there was a fucking line – I’m not shitting you here – of people waiting outside our front door. Every one of them carrying food. This was back in the day when everyone brought homemade food not a goddamn bucket of fucking chicken either. We had food for fucking days leftover. I don’t remember everything that folks brought but I do remember most everything was a casserole. I still love a good casserole.
I’m pretty certain this ties in to the origin of the term “comfort food.” Goddamn do I hate that term. Ever watch “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?” Every motherfucking body they talk to calls the food they’re eating “comfort food.” This is right before they tell you that they eat at the same place every day.
Motherfucker, are you so fucked in the head that you need to be comforted every goddamn day? Maybe your fat ass should stop eating “comfort food” and take a fucking Prozac instead.
Comfort food my ass.
Sorry. I digress.
Oh yeah one more fun family funeral story!
My Auntie who passed away a couple of years ago in Texas had her funeral service at the family church. No shit, my cousin is married to one of the ministers. This was the only time I’ve been in a church in about a million fucking years for obvious reasons. The parishioners all brought homemade food. Oh my fucking lord was it goddamn delicious. Homemade fried chicken and rolls and potato salad and somebody brought homemade cream corn that I could have killed somebody for just so they could bring it to another funeral.
Made me understand the allure of church suddenly. Doesn’t mean my Hell-bound ass is going to church but I kind of got it.
OK. OK.
Hotdish! Here’s a website that has recipes for about 30 kinds of bona fide (“He’s a suiter!” – sorry wrong movie) hotdish. Page through that shit and tell me that some of that doesn’t look delicious. Fuck yes! Hotdish is super easy and usually involves browning some ground beef, opening some cans, adding a starch and cooking until golden brown and delicious. It is served hot out of the oven in a single pan and there you have the etymology of “hotdish”.
How easy? Here are my ingredients.
That’s some hamburger, some cheese, can of cream of mushroom soup and a bag-o-tater tots!
Other popular items in hotdish include hashbrowns or mashed potatoes instead of tots, sometimes rice, particularly wild rice or pasta is used as the starch. Folks also used canned tuna for a version of hotdish.
Wait. Am I saying tuna casserole is actually a variety of hotdish? “You’re darned tootened!”
Now you understand why I’ve been droning on and on about potlucks and family deaths and all kinds of other morose shit. Because this is about the easiest thing you can possibly make that achieves ridiculously tasty results. The recipe takes about 5 minutes to put together and anyone can make it.
I just wanted to make sure you received your standard “Goddamn he’s a wordy motherfucker” amount of words that you are accustomed to from Sunday Gravy.
“This is MY deal here, Wade!”
Seriously folks. Make this. It’s easy as fuck, inexpensive and I promise you that it will be one of those dishes that you will continue to eat until you achieve a food coma.
HOTDISH!
Ingredients:
1 pound of ground beef. If I had any foresight I would have ground my own beef like Romonobyl did.
1 can of cream of mushroom soup.
8 ounce bag of shredded cheese – I’ll get to the what kind of cheese discussion.
1 bag of Tater Tots. TOTS!
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder.
3 cloves of fresh garlic minced.
Salt and pepper to taste.
That’s it. Some people use a can of vegetables here but I prefer mine on the side.
Get out your skillet and bring it to medium high heat. Add in the hamburger. I used 85/15 hamburger.
Season with the onion powder, garlic powder and salt and pepper. If you have a little “essence” or Creole seasoning on hand go ahead and sprinkle some on. Give this a few stirs until the meat has just lost it’s shade of pink. Don’t fully cook the meat because it will be going in the oven.
Oh yeah, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
The meat should look like this when ready.
At this point add in your minced garlic until just fragrant. Give it a couple of stirs and remove from the pan.
I’ve mentioned this technique before when making my Mother Sauce but open up than can of cream of mushroom soup and spoon it into a bowl for just a moment. Now place that empty can in the kitchen sink, grab a lid and drain the grease from the browned meat into the empty can. When the can cools you have a proper grease disposal vessel.
Get out your trusty baking dish and give it a little lube action. You can use butter or oil here just to make clean up a little easier.
Take your browned beef and dump in the cream of mushroom soup and give that fucker a big ol’ stir to combine. It’s gonna look a little unappetizing but we will be covering this shit up by the time this is done.
Mix like so.
Now if you wanted to add in a can of vegetables, here’s where you would mix it in. I’ve had this dish with a can of corn mixed in, a can of green beans and even some peas and carrots. They were all just fine but I found they distracted from the overall dish. This shit is goddamn perfect as is so again, we will be serving the vegetables on the side.
“I’m not gonna debate you Jerry. I’m not gonna sit here and debate.”
Next thing to do is add a layer of cheese. Ma used to use all Monterrey Jack because of its meltability and I completely agree. She used to buy a wedge of Jack cheese and cut it in thick slices for this layer. All of the cheesy goodness! What I did to save on labor because God forbid we should have to grate some cheese, was to use a bag of shredded cheese. The cheese here is primarily Monterrey jack but I added some shredded cheddar on top to boost the flavor.
Cover this bastard up edge to edge with the cheese.
Choice of cheese is important here. The Jack cheese has a good melt and a nice rich texture without overpowering the dish, which is important. Everything works in harmony here. I HAVE used all cheddar before but I would advise against it due to a much higher oil content when the cheddar melts. We don’t want to deep fry the top of the casserole. Maybe some of you do but that’s another hotdish recipe.
Get out your bag of Tots and let’s layer them right on top. Keep the tots frozen until ready to layer. We are going to take our time here and layer these in rows. Like little tater tot soldiers!
Yes, it’s worth the effort. It adds to the overall appearance and it also allows the dish to cook evenly. We don’t want to just throw the tots on top all willy-nilly here!
Cover completely with the tots.
Place the casserole, uncovered in the pre-heated oven and let cook for 40 minutes or until golden brown and delicious!
Look at the edges there. You get just a little crispy edge from the melted cheese. This is why we don’t want to use all cheddar cheese. You want a few tasty crunchy bits but not the entire top of the dish.
Let this pan of molten fucking lava rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
Of course I didn’t wait that long and had 2nd degree burns on the roof of my goddamn mouth for a few days.
While the hotdish is cooling go ahead and prepare your vegetable of choice to serve alongside. Today I used a can of green beans, We’re keeping this fucker retro dammit!
There it is!
Blow that photo up. That’s some sexy ass shit right there. The program in the picture was from the ballet. The girls did “Beauty and the Beast.” If you’ve never attended the ballet, instead of words they use interpretive dance. It was like watching a really bad – but colorful! – acid trip. Jesus Christ I love my granddaughters and they were completely adorable but…
/shivers
Oh the commitments we must keep.
To summarize, this stuff is stupid simple and stupid delicious. Everything just WORKS. It’s very harmonious the way the rich ground beef combines with the soup. The soup actually works as a binding agent, then the melted cheese covered by the tasty browned tots. Have you ever put cheese on your tots?
No?
The fuck is wrong with you?
Easy as Hell weeknight menu or when you want to serve a delicious family meal without extra expense or labor. Everyone who has ever tried this has loved it. Have kids? Better get ready to add this into the regular mealtime rotation because they will be driving you nuts to make it again.
They will be covering you with sloppy tater tot kisses.
“Aw Norm. You’re getting Arby’s all over me!”
See? We can do the easy shit when needed. I’ll have an easy one for you next week then I will get back to the more adventurous recipes after that. I have a recipe in the works that just might very well blow your goddamn dicks off!
Much love folks!
Thanks for stopping by.
PEACE!
[…] Sunday Gravy with yeah right: Is that Hotdish? Oh yah, you betcha! – May 21, 2017 […]
Best ever cover of a Van Morrison tune-come at me. (seriously, I’d love to hear them)
https://youtu.be/Be3OkvBZaIY
I hate Van Morrison. I even hate Them. The stupid bastard has filled our radio waves, records, cassettes, CD’s, Itunes and various other subscription services with too many songs. “Cleaning Windows” is a transparent Microsoft ad. PATHETIC! He didn’t even bother to name his full force gale. I mean, c’mon even the lousiest of weather men would do so.
Van Morrison is a jerk.
Puppies AND Van Morrison? You really are angry. You should talk to somebody….. or self medicate….. either is fine.
h
ttps://68.media.tumblr.com/dc9a2e9e3ed41de6e8740e57b3523f7e/tumblr_opc2zmpHez1tdhimpo1_500.gif
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6snhZLXXMU
So close.
Shoulda been a ukulele player…..
LMFAO
This is all I’m referencing for the next 24 hours.
http://www.nuklearpower.com/comics/8-bit-theater/040302.png
I plan to hold both of my orbs later.
DON’T NEGLECT THE ORBS!!
DON’T NEGLECT THE ORBS!!
http://www.nuklearpower.com/comics/8-bit-theater/010429.jpg
DON’T NEGLECT THE ORBS!!
Thank goodness THAT’S over.
Hi Sill.
Yep, I know you’re there.
I hate my first love. It was high school! How dare you? I wasn’t ready emotionally AT ALL! That was remarkably selfish on your part. You reaped all the benefits of love-(being treated to some fresh-made fries from a chip wagon, a home-made birthday card, getting to watch me play basketball, getting felt up for the first time) and then went on to your adult life without acknowledging any of these things every time we bump into each other 35 years later in our small town. It’s like you don’t have a heart!
First loves are the worst!
All love sucks.
/might be biased
That was just sad.
I hate the Earth/Mother Nature. She’s got bigger things on her plate what with hurtling through the cosmos, making sure the tides go in and out, (she’s for sure a dominatrix as far as her relationship with the moon, btw), spilling her damn lava all over the place and I get heck for not recycling a single plastic bottle? Screw you! OH!-the planet is going to hell but she gets none of the blame for any mass extinction events that occurred on her watch. If she hadn’t been so passive aggressive in the first place we could be living in harmony with ten ton sloths!
/the earth is the worst
http://www.gifbin.com/bin/032014/1395257730_cars_vs_tsunami.gif
This is awesome
3 pt turns ftw.
“RECALCULATING ROUTE.”
/now wishes he’d written a tsunami into ISoG
Yeah, we’re good, don’t mind the billion a day water bottle habit.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1qT-rOXB6NI/maxresdefault.jpg
*Knows you are being sarcastic.
Hehehehehe…..
ALL GLORY TO THE ORB
The quakes, tsunamis, and rain of sulfur will begin shortly.
The portal to the Realm of Unimaginable Horrors and Suffering would be open by now but they have to keep starting over because Trump keeps thinking of the shiny medal the Saudis gave him.
Guy in the middle to Trump: “You want to do *what* to Ivanka and the orb?!
It’s good Trump can’t remember the launch codes because the world’s self-destruct button can’t work without them.
She needs TP for her bunghole?
THE ORB COMMANDS YOUR UNYIELDING FEALTY and also loves it when you touch it because your hands are nice. 🙂
I hate puppies. They’re completely over-rated. Look up clumsy in the dictionary-it’s a picture of a goddamn puppy. They don’t have a goddamn clue what the hell is going on and they squirt on the floor at every opportunity. “I’M NOT YOUR MAID, PUPPY!” Also, the inherent presumption they have that you’ll feed them… The balls on them-just unbelievable.
/puppies are the worst
http://boredomtherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/03-dogs-being-assholes.jpg
http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k497/animalsbeingdicks/abd-6-30-2014.gif
You sir, can go straight to hell.
We’re gonna need a bigger cab, I guess.
Do you mind? I’m hating *everything* right now.
Fuck those puppies!
*Is legal in 28 states.
Google is your friend. It’s 27.
Just finished a massive breakfast and beer flight at Oskar Blues. Time to hibernate.
Can I hate everything? Because I hate everything right now.
http://bestanimations.com/Military/Explosions/explosion-animated-gif-40.gif
Holy shitburgers. This is getting ugly.
I’m with you on the comfort food nonsense. It’s basically white people trying to rip off the more appropriate soul food terminology. It’s Elvis all over again!
Good shit there. That’s the kind of food where I would forgo a plate and rudely eat straight from the pan with a big serving fork.
http://media.thedailytouch.com/2014/06/tots.gif
http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/16709-Elvis-Gif.gif?1
Don Cherry’s suit isn’t fucking with my rods and cones. Huh.
/has he been ill recently?
You’re thinking of Craig Sager
/Is going to hell
Perhaps we can share a cab on the way down….
This is one of the reasons I come here.
LOL…RIGHT???
One can see why NBC bumped this from prime time ,, smh
Some intermission music, while I seek out the freezer vodka.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOWraVWs5dc
Curse broken!
No Mas, No Mas.
The Curse of 3-0 is now in effect…
nah, Flower ain’t playing no more
Does Pittsburgh have a 4-0 curse?
If Ottawa could just get possession of the puck they’d be quite the handful. That’s too much to ask though.
I think we’re seeing a Victoria Day hangover?
Is there such a thing?
Talk to me tomorrow.
How the hell did that find the net?
Stupid fish.
DAMMIT!!!
https://youtu.be/RJI_szKnDbo
Anyone in for some crazy Japanese movies?
Stupid Pittsburgh. Everyone in Pittsburgh is stupid. Really stupid.
I resent that. I’m more of an idiot than stoopid.
That’s true.
He is an idiot.
😛
I had an uncle that was super fussy when it came to food (couldn’t have items touching each other, had to use his own utensils to take stuff out of the communal bowls)-we’d take turns distracting him in one way or another and stick a finger in his plate and only tell him about it afterwards.
That was great fun.
Hell, now I’m relating to Canadia too!!!!
That’s sick, twisted and hilarious.
Do I have to become a ‘Cuse fan now?
/kills self
(don’t get excited Sill….I didn’t really kill self)
Oof! Stay away from Cuse this year.
I’m so glad I’m not like this. I have trouble understanding picky eaters.
Why sully those delicious tater monkeys with all that other stuff?
/yeah, I’m a tot purist
THIS GUY gets it!!
Wow, you do really do relate to Canadia.
So many questions answered.
😉
Scotchy is my mirror-image twin, in many ways (right down to opposite ear deafness). LMAO
What?
Holy shit, that just made me do a beer spit take.
No shit.
Bland Hippo.
I am indeed, a basic bitch.
fuck, now I’m hungry as shit
Now if we go out for middle eastern food we’ll be on some watch list or another.
oh, I can eat almost everything on teh terrorist menu
There’s a joke in there, but I’m too sober to craft it currently.
Including terrorist pussy.
oh, the Ice Footy is now, not tonite. Huh.
Most Glorious el beisbol Cardinals are willing on MLBN, sticking with that….for now
Why is Curt Schilling singing the national anthem?
GROSS. Super all-in FOAR Canadia now
Hee hee.
http://img.allw.mn/content/o9/hc/ol99x46v554b6313301c8264359188.jpg
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/09/drool.gif
Posting these made me hungry; it’s not supposed to work that way.
Is he giving the Nazi salute?
Nah, he thinks he’s someone else.
(wasn’t really Schilling….just his doppleganger in a pens’ jersey)
http://bryantsmemphis.com/wp-content/uploads/Sandwich-Sausage-Egg.jpg
Sill goes biking….
(OK fine, I’m done…for now)
((but if you’re lurking, you better hear what I’m telling you))
Oh, I almost forgot….
Hi Sill.
<3
<3 means balls in a strong wind, right?
His balls are gonna be in a vice if he doesn’t stop being a pussy and answer me.
Just looked it up; my definitions is much more graphically appropriate. I mean HEART? That’s ridiculous.
Hee hee, nicely played.
But I dunno if it’s his heart as much as his brain.
Sill, I’m presuming you’ve blocked me on twitter by now. Dunno bcuz I don’t give enough of a shit about you to have checked today.
But I’m telling you right now buddy boy….get help. Because the next time you lash out at anyone I care about…..
What idiot called it “balls in a strong wind” and not a “wind sack?”
What idiot would confuse pilots on landing and takeoff?
http://static7.depositphotos.com/1136968/754/i/950/depositphotos_7548093-Old-wind-sack-near-runway.jpg
Although Odysseus had experience with a wind bag, much like we do today.
http://apps.openingtheheartworkshop.com/blog/upload/o/p/openingtheheartworkshop.com/56946a02ac8f9fc660255d2e72add452.jpg
Now eggs too, huh?
smgdh
/if ever cooks for Hippo, fully expects him to stroke out on the spot
Like I would ever trust any of you fucks enough for that!
I have been known to cook sans cheese. We can get you fixed up.
Sometimes I forget cheese at the store too.
There is a guy whom I used to work with who HATED onions and we were in a restaurant and he asked if the appetizer cheese plate touched or was next to onions; the crap I gave him was way worse than today for you. He was at a party at my place and there was guacamole, which was full of onions….. crumbs on chin he said “This guac is great, man!” ….. in about ten minutes I encouraged everyone there to give him a ration of shit. You need to come over; just trust the brisket, whiskey, whisky, beer, and hallucinogenic toads. The stuff on the grill is usually cheese free too.
http://creolecontessa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/bacon-egg-and-cheese-grilled-cheese-sandwich-25284-2529.jpg
I can just use Moose’s pictures as an appetite suppressant. Need to lose some weight FOAR swimsuit season ,, smh
yup, was gonna order a pepperoni, banana pepper, and sausage pizza (cheeseless, natch) but I gots no appetite now. HUZZAH!!
Just throw some Thin Mints on there why don’t cha.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/father-and-son-busted-with-more-than-dollar17m-in-sea-cucumbers/ar-BBBjoL0?OCID=ansmsnnews11
This seems like the embodiment of a mid-north dish…… and certain members of my extended family. It is surprising that it was not brought to any of the gatherings YET.
LET’S EAT
food chain 101,, ppl
http://witcheskitchen.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/broccoli-omelette.jpg
Real question: Does it have to be cream of mushroom? I fucking hate mushrooms. Is there a soup alternative i can use? Cream of corn maybe?
Mushrooms are evil. Agreed.
I agree with these Canadia folk an awful lot. How easy is it to get opiates from doctors there, eh?
http://cookingwithawallflower.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Broccolini-and-Mushroom-Cheddar-Omelet-3-706×1024.jpg
Idi Amin; didn’t like mushrooms.
I fucking LOVE all manner of Agaricales; delicious and expansive, without which one’s palate is deficient. Included are psychoactive mushrooms which are hella fun.
You people are traitors and communists. Hitler didn’t like mushrooms either.
Jeebus, he was a fucking vegetarian, the fuck he manage sans ‘shrooms??
Mushrooms are not quite as vile as eggs, which are not quite as vile as broccoli, which is not quite as vile as cheese, which is not quite as vile as mayo (aka Satan’s jism).
You are like that little picky eater kid who is a pain in the ass for everybody….. you know; the passive aggressive in training who can control mommy and thus others’ food choices by being a little bitch. Eggs too? What a terrible human being; you’ll get caught for killing kittens one of these days. At least they know the ingredients for your prison sandwiches.
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/images/360_broccoli_mushroom_omelette.jpg
yup, will gladly starve!
Sure, sure, keep talkin’….
http://everydayfrenchchef.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/omelet-broccoli1.jpg
http://i2.wp.com/www.feelslikehomeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/broccoli-omelet-roll-recipe.jpg?fit=500%2C667
But I am very, very polite in that I don’t make a fuss. I just eat beforehand or eat fruit or salad. Also not a big “gathering” person to begin with.
/also a crazy cat person, otherwise the sociopathy concerns are quite valid
Keep those secrets…. those secret desires…. well hidden……. they will bust out one day.
I don’t put ketchup on my steak, though (and I only cook it medium to medium-well)
WOW! WOW! He RUINS steaks too!!
Stalin liked his steaks medium well!
I wrote an early article for DFO as Uncle Joe! COINCIDENCE??
Papa Joe Purge, comrade …..
http://cookingwithawallflower.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Broccolini-and-Mushroom-Cheddar-Omelet-9-1024×683.jpg
Pol Pot hated mushrooms too.
He prolly had some good ideas ,, smh
Didn’t like grilled cheese either.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOisAYJTwWE/TrCPTTspz9I/AAAAAAAAM8Y/RIqSBVtAx88/s800/The%2BPerfect%2BGrilled%2BCheese%2BSandwich%2B800%2B1581.jpg
Cream of broccoli or cream of cauliflower work well as replacements for mushroom in most cases.
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!
By the way “Hot Dish? Who Died?” is my new favorite tag.
No made-from-scratch tots? 2/10, would not bang this casserole, donchaknow.
Throw your shade, Horatio!!
10-man Arsenal up 2-nil over Everton.
Just asked how you were taking this over on Slack. Better than expected I see.
It’s a Pyrrhic victory at best. Liverpool’s running away with their game so Arsenal’s in 5th no matter what. And Everton seems locked into 7th no matter what.
See you in the Europa!
Not you Wegner.
If we keep playing like this, we won’t get through the July qualifying rounds! Good luck in the FA Cup final next week.
http://cookingwithawallflower.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Broccolini-and-Mushroom-Cheddar-Omelet-10-1024×683.jpg
Anything with that much cheese and then tots to boot?
Count me in!!!!!!
Well done, my friend.
OH, and please don’t blow my dick off next week.
Just because I may not use it anymore doesn’t mean I’m not still partial to it remaining attached.
😛
Masturbation counts as a use…
Sometimes overuse…..
Sometimes I’d really like to be able to get mad at you folks for the shit you say to me, but I’m usually too busy laughing.
Chafing heals, man,,,, chafing heals.
You pee out your butt like a chick?
http://www.customonlinesigns.com/images/u/05774228d3a442f684656099c869f3f2-800.png
Hee hee. Ummmm….no, just no.
Pee is stored in the butt.
– According to Kansas, Texas, Alabama, etc. school text books.