Ali's Kitchen Heap on the Hash Brown Taco The humble casserole doesn’t always get the love that it deserves Column and photos by Ali Carter, Growers Auxiliary

In our home hangs a framed letter This meant some creative cooking gifted to me on Mother’s Day by my and yesterday’s leftovers often then eight-year-old daughter. became today’s casserole. Not exactly The letter is filled with the reasons elegant dinner fare, but we always I am loved, sprinkled with a few ate well, enjoyed mealtimes together sweetly misspelled words, and and made some memories with a scrawled in her precious little-girl few of the inspired combinations handwriting. I treasure this letter. attempted over the years. And one line particularly brings a smile each time I read it: “I love my The humble casserole (or “hotdish” mom because she makes the BEST if you’re our neighbor one state !” over) doesn’t always get the love that it deserves. But what’s not to Back then, we ate a lot of casseroles. love about a meal that’s both baked A lot of casseroles. I made it my and served in the same dish (less mission to stretch our food budget dirty dishes to scrub) and filled with as far as possible while feeding our delicious and comforting ingredients? family of six. Ingredients: Three of our four children have now Taco Casserole moved out of the house to begin • 1 lb. ground beef their own next chapters, so I typically • 1 bell pepper (diced) have less people to feed throughout • 1 medium yellow onion (diced) the week. Yet, being a unique way of • 1/2 cup corn • 1 (15 oz.) can black beans (drained) combining flavors and textures, we • 1 (15 oz.) can sauce still enjoy the occasional casserole. • 3 tbsp. taco seasoning *I used eight individual ramakins for • 4 oz. cream cheese this recipe, but a typical casserole • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, dish will be perfect as well. divided • 1 (20 oz.) bag frozen hash brown **If using one large baking vessel, potatoes, thawed allow the casserole to cook in the • 1 tsp. oven a bit longer than I mention in • 1/2 tsp. pepper this recipe to ensure that everything • 1 tsp. cumin is nicely warmed through. • Chopped green onion continued on pg. 70 BC�T March 69 Ali's Kitchen. . . Advertisers Index continued from pg. 69 AgBiome Innovations...... 49 Add the corn, black beans, tomato AgCountry Farm Credit Services...... 55 sauce, taco seasoning, cream cheese Big Iron Equipment...... 45 and 1 cup of the shredded cheese Central Door Solutions...... 21 to the skillet and stir together to combine the ingredients. Chippewa Valley Bean Co...... 39 CliftonLarsonAllen...... 9 Divide the beef mixture equally Compeer Financial...... 23 among the prepared ramekins (or David J. Fleischman Farms...... 33 spread in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish). Fencil Urethane Systems...... 16 Gavin Brothers...... 56 In a separate bowl, combine the Heartland AG Systems...... 14, 63 defrosted hash browns, salt, pepper, Jay-Mar, Inc...... 46 cumin and remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese. John Miller Farms...... 2 J.W. Mattek...... 29 Stir well to combine and then top the Lockwood Mfg...... 41 beef with the potato mixture. M.P.B. Builders, Inc...... 42 Place in the preheated oven and bake Mid-State Truck...... 18 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese DIRECTIONS Nelson’s Vegetable Storage is melty and the tops of the hash Systems Inc...... 70 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. browns begin to brown and become a Nolan Sales LLC...... 50 bit crispy. Lightly grease ramekins (or a 2-quart North Central Irrigation...... 51 casserole dish) and set aside. Remove from oven and top with Nutrien Ag Solutions...... 53 Brown the ground beef over medium- chopped green onions. Nutrien Ag Solutions Great Lakes...... 31 high heat in a large skillet. Add the Enjoy! Oasis Irrigation...... 72 bell peppers and onion and continue to cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, Find more recipes at Omex USA...... 26 until veggies are softened. www.LifeOnGraniteRidge.com Oro Agri...... 3 Potatoes USA ...... 11, 13 R&H Machine, Inc...... 10 Riesterer & Schnell...... 32 ELSON’S N7158 6TH DRIVE P.O. BOX 215 N PLAINFIELD, WI 54966 Roberts Irrigation ...... 47 OFFICE: (715) 335-6660 EGETABLE FAX: (715) 335-6661 Ruder Ware...... 15 V Rural Mutual Insurance...... 52 TORAGE KEEP ON TRACK WITH OUR S Sand County Equipment...... 65 SYSTEMS INC. Schroeder Brothers Farms...... 7 SPROUT INHIBITORS AND DISINFECTANTS Swiderski Equipment...... 35 STORAGE VENTILATION SPROUT INHIBITING ThorPack...... 67 T.I.P...... 5 • COMPUTERIZED CONTROL • FRUIT GUARD United Potato Growers of Wisconsin... 17 PANELS APPLICATIONS Vantage North Central...... 43 • HUMIDIFICATION • SMART BLOCK Vive Crop Protection...... 40 • REFRIGERATION APPLICATIONS • CIPC, CLOVE OIL Volm Companies...... 19 APPLICATIONS Washington State University...... 34 WPVGA Spud Seed Sponsorship...... 37 AGRI-VENTILATION SALES AND SERVICE WPVGA Support Our Members...... 38 24 HR. EMERG. SERVICE WPVGA Thank Industry Sponsors...... 71 WSPIA...... 30 70 BC�T March