Tour of Fifty States: Minnesota's meal

Minnesota, chosen by Brandi, is another state that Laura Ingalls Wilder lived in!  That’s just too funny.  She is re-reading the books one at a time, just like I did at her age. 

Food Network is on just about all the time at our house, and one of the shows we don’t really like but we can’t stop watching (LOL) is Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.   We recently saw an episode that made us all say we want to try what Guy Fieri was eating – Juicy Lucys (MMM hamburgers stuffed with molten cheese!) That is exactly what I picked for Minnesota.  J

With the burgers we’re having Hotdish, which is cooked and served hot in a single baking dish and commonly appears at family reunions and church suppers.  Senator Al Franken holds an annual Hotdish competition.

Dessert will be Kolackys (also spelled Kolach and Kolache) due to Minnesota being the “Kolacky Capital of the World” and the state holds an annual Kolacky Days festival. Hmmm…what jam to choose for the filling?   

Menu:  Juicy Lucys, Hotdish, Kolackys

Outcome:  Oh, the burgers were so good!  Everyone really liked the Hotdish and the kids asked us to make it again.   The Kolackys filled with strawberry preserves were just right.  Not too big and very easy to make. 

Next up:  Bridget’s turn!  She chose Massachusetts!

Minnesota's Meal!

Juicy Lucys

The Juicy Lucy burger was invented in a south Minneapolis bar sometime in the 1950s and can also be seen spelled “Jucy Lucy” from a cross-town rival who also claims to have invented it.

Ingredients:

·         2 ¼ lb. ground beef

·         2 ½ Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

·         1 tsp. garlic powder

·         1 ½ tsp. black pepper

·         6 slices cheese

·         6 hamburger rolls

·         Toppings of choice (onions, lettuce, tomato, etc.)

Directions:

1.      Combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Form 10, thin patties from the beef. Each patty should be slightly larger than a slice of cheese.

2.      Cut each slice of American cheese into 4 equal pieces; stack the pieces. Sandwich one stack of cheese between 2 ground beef patties. Tightly pinch edges together tightly seal the cheese within the meat. Repeat with the remaining cheese and patties.

 

No cheese is showing!

3.      Preheat a cast-iron or other heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Cook burgers until well browned, about 4 minutes. It is common for burgers to puff up due to steam from the melting cheese. Turn burgers and prick the top of each to allow steam to escape; cook until browned on the outside and no longer pink on the inside; about 4 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns with toppings and condiments of choice.

WARNING: The cheese inside a Juicy Lucy is extremely hot.  Let burgers rest for a couple minutes before eating.  Makes 5 burgers.

Hotdish 

Ingredients:

·         1 lb. lean ground beef

·         1 small onion, finely chopped

·         10 3/4 ounces can of cream of mushroom soup

·         ¼ cup milk

·         8 -10 oz. frozen mixed vegetables

·         1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

·         16 oz. tater tots

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 375°F.

2.      Brown ground beef with onions until cooked. Drain thoroughly and put in bottom of a 2 qt. casserole dish. 

3.      Mix mushroom soup and milk. Pour over ground beef.

4.      Sprinkle 2-3 cups of frozen mixed veggies over ground beef/mushroom soup.

5.      Top with half of the cheese, tater tots and the remaining cheese.

6.      Bake (uncovered) for 45-50 minutes or until tater tots are crunchy.  Serve with ketchup.

Serves 4-6

Hotdish!

Cream Cheese Kolacky

Ingredients

·         3 oz. cream cheese

·         1 cup all-purpose flour

·         ½ cup butter, softened

·         ½ cup any flavor fruit jam

·         1/3 cup powdered sugar for decoration

Directions

1.      Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Add flour slowly until well blended.  Shape into a ball and chill overnight or for several hours.

2.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll dough out 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface.  Cut into 2 ½ inch squares and place ½ teaspoon jam or preserves on top.  Overlap opposite corners and pinch together.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets. 

3.      Bake for 10 -12 minutes in the preheated oven.  Cool.  Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar.

Makes about 2 ½ dozen cookies.

Kolackys!