Cooking Attempt. . . #3

Tator Tot Hotdish

Truth is, is I'm starting to enjoy this cooking stuff!  This weekend we had hardly no plans at all, so I made a few dishes for the kids and have a fridge full of meal options for the nanny to feed them this week.  That is a good feeling!

If you live in the Midwest, hotdish is a must.  The funny thing is, is that I'm not really a fan of hotdishes, at all.  But my kids are, so I cook this for them, although I must admit I don't actually eat it myself.  This dish is probably the EASIEST I've made yet.  Perhaps the dishes are getting easier because I'm becoming such a pro???  Okay. . . sorry, I'm getting all full of myself.  I'm not becoming a gourmet chef by any means, this really IS just an easy dish.

The first step is to brown hamburger.  I used a little more than a pound of beef.  I was thinking that perhaps I could even sustitute turkey instead to be healthier?  Maybe next time.  But for now, I used beef.  I also cut up some celery and threw that in there.  My kids really like celery. 

The wonderful thing about hotdish is that you can really add what you want to make the dish your own.  I was thinking next time I would add some broccoli or something like that for nutrient value for the kids.  My mom also suggested corn, but my kids aren't big into corn yet.

After browning the beef, I poured out the grease and then added two cans of cream of mushroom soup and really mixed it in the beef well.

Then I greased a pan, I think I used a 9x13 but I can't be sure.  It was glass.  It was rectangular.  Need you know more?  I poured the beef/soup mixture evenly, and then I added tator tots on top.  My kids LOVE tator tots, so I applied them liberally, but that is really up to you.

Here are my kids, waiting for the dish to come out of the oven.  Which reminds me. . . we always keep our oven locked because the kids like to hang on the door and it swings open.  Yet, when our oven is on, it forces you to unlock the door.  Umm. . . why can't you have your oven locked while the oven is on?  I get nervous cooking cause my kids are always hanging out in the kitchen.

And here is what the dish looks like right out of the oven.

It is truly the easiest dish ever, and it reheats extremely well and my kids love it.  I mash it up for them real good of course.

Here is a picture of their plates, ready to be served.

Strawberry yogurt, black olives and mozerella, and cut up grapes to go with their hotdish.  I would call this a success! :)

This very same weekend I made chili and homemade soup.  Perhaps I will post about those as well.  I currently have approximately 4 dishes in circulation.  Now to expand on that! :)

Happy Tuesday everyone. :)