Tag Archives: We Heart MN

Books

We Heart MN: Hotdish!

1 Comment

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!) 

Favorite MN thing: Hotdish! 
Whether you like to make it, eat it, or had never heard of it before coming to Minnesota, hotdish is a yummy part of being a  Minnesotan!

Hotdish Haiku: 50 Haiku, 30 Hotdish Recipes by Pat Dennis “Get this marvelous collection of 50 haiku that honor hotdish. As a bonus, the book includes 30 oriental-style hotdish recipes including Seven Samurai Five Can Hotdish, Mama San(derson) Hotdish and Buddhist Temple Basement Hotdish.”

 

Hotdish Heaven by Jeanne Cooney
“Cub reporter Emerald Malloy is assigned to gather “church food” recipes from the owner of Hot Dish Heaven, a cafe in a small town in the Red River Valley. Upon her arrival, she learns of a local, unsolved murder. Confident that solving the case will catapult her from newspaper “gopher” to investigative reporter, she questions the locals while attending a benefit dinner-dance at the VFW. By the end of the night, she’s consumed lots of hotdish and bars while talking to everyone from the Irish, Catholic priest who lives among these Scandinavian, Lutheran farmers to the cafe owner’s eccentric aunts. She’s also met a hunky deputy sheriff and learned some tough lessons about herself. But the question remains, “Will she live long enough for any of it to matter?”

The Great Minnesota Hot Dish by Theresa Millang “Called casseroles in most parts of the country, the Minnesota hot dish really does come in more varieties than noodles, tuna and crushed potato chips. This best-selling cookbook will teach anyone how to master the one-dish-complete-meal system.”

 

Books

We Heart MN: State Fair books

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!) 

Favorite Thing: The MN State Fair!
Didn’t make it to the Great MN Get-Together this year, or already looking forward to next year? Read on:

Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History by Kathryn Strand Koutsky “State fairs are cornerstones of the American tradition, and few are as beloved as the Minnesota State Fair. Since 1854, Minnesota has reveled in promoting the rich bounty of its land and the magnificent talents of its citizens. From the legendary horse Dan Patch, whose record-breaking races kept the country on the edge of its seat, to Teddy Roosevelt’s famous grandstand speech suggesting that America should “speak softly and carry a big stick,” and from the invention of mini donuts to the discovery of batter-fried cheese curds, the Minnesota State Fair has captured the imagination—and the taste buds—of the entire nation.”

Fair foods : the most popular and offbeat recipes from America’s state & county fairs by George Geary This book is “packed with 120 original recipes created by award-winning chef, best-selling author, and renowned educator George Geary, Each page in Fair Foods is lavishly illustrated with both vintage and contemporary photographs of America’s most beloved fair foods, as well as fun and lively images of rides and attractions and nostalgic ephemera. Fair Foods is not only mouthwateringly addictive, it also captures the joy and spirit of America’s greatest state and county fairs.”

Minnesota State Fair: Deep Fried Thoughts on Cheese Curds, Carnies, and The Human Condition by Ben Nesvig
The author “shares his stream of consciousness journey at the Minnesota State Fair with readers as he explores everything from deep fried cookie dough, the thrill of a giant yellow slide, and ultimately, what prompts Minnesotans to make the greasy pilgrimage.”