I wasn't born or entirely raised in North America, so there's a lot on this continent that doesn't make a ton of sense to me. That being said, a good Midwestern casserole is - to borrow Jolen Tsai's wording - a thing of "ugly beauty." The weather's just started to turn a bit and I find myself craving a good, hearty casserole!
This is a classic of North American cookery and a personal favorite! The following is based on the lovely "tater tot hot dish" recipe from the wonderful cooks of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Narol, Manitoba, as recorded in their 2011 Centennial Cookbook. I've made my usual modifications - lets be honest, primarily copious amounts of garlic! - but the core is unchanged. Narol's master chefs dedicated their cookbook to the founders of their parish, Orthodox Ukrainians from what in 1911 was the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. May their memories be eternal! Вічная пам'ять!
