U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer is the reigning hot dish champion of Minnesota's congressional delegation after capturing the top prize in the annual competition Wednesday.
Emmer's dish, entitled Hotdish of Champions, combined a can't-miss collection of all-star ingredients in what is known elsewhere in the world as casserole.
He had tater tot crowns, cream of mushroom soup, eggs, Cheddar cheese, sausage and bacon, topped with cereal — preferably Chex or Total from Minneapolis-based General Mills, the Republican's recipe noted.
DFLer Rep. Rick Nolan finished second with his spin on Tater Tot Hotdish.
And then there were the also-rans:
DFLer Rep. Tim Walz tried the tots too in his Tariff Tot Hotdish, which called for sweet potato tots.
Former DFL U.S. Sen. Al Franken started the good-natured competition. Now that he's out of office, his appointed successor, DFL Sen. Tina Smith, has carried on the tradition — for now.
Smith made 10,000 Island Cheeseburger Hotdish Surprise. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar offered Gold Medal Curling Hotdish.