Minnesota Delegates Cook Up Bipartisan Hotdish Contest
WASHINGTON (WCCO/AP) — Rep. Michele Bachmann says she hoped the judges would take pity on her. It's her last year in Congress, after all.
But in the end, Bachmann's best effort — a hotdish called the "Polar Vortex-Mex" — wasn't enough.
Democratic Rep. Tim Walz repeated on Wednesday as the winner of the Minnesota congressional delegation's now annual hotdish contest. Walz's "Turkey Trot Tator Tot Hotdish" wowed the judges, former Reps. Gerry Sikorski, a Democrat, and Vin Weber, a Republican.
Bachmann's dish may have had the most distinctive name. But Walz's dish, a blend of Hormel bacon, fresh green beans and Jennie-O ground turkey, was a unanimous favorite.
Sen. Al Franken started the hotdish contest four years ago. He says it is an effort to blend bipartisanship and Minnesota traditions.
"You've got to understand we get together other times to discuss Minnesota issues," Franken said. "For example, in 20 years we don't want every dish to have the Asian carp in it, ya know."
Franken said this is the first year all 10 members of the delegation took part in the contest.
And it's the first year there was a repeat winner.
For a link to all of the recipes, click here.
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