Secret ingredient in Walz first place "Hermann the German" hotdish was bottle of Schell's beer

It's no secret any longer: the secret ingredient in Congressman Tim Walz's first place "Hermann the German" hotdish is  Schell's beer, brewed in New Ulm, Minnesota. Walz's hearty meal won Senator Franken's annual Hot Dish-off today.

The Duluth News Tribune reported in Eh? Franken holds 3rd annual Hot Dish-Off:

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, the Minnesota Democrat and former comedian, will host his third annual Capitol casserole contest today in (appropriately) the Senate Agricultural Committee Hearing Room in Washington.

Casserole? As the late Jared Stene would say, that's just wrong. It's hotdish, people. The news continues:

Franken will be joined by Democrats Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Reps. Rick Nolan, Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz and Republicans Eric Paulsen and Michele Bachmann.

Franken started the friendly competition in 2011 as a way to bring the delegation together to put partisanship aside and celebrate a Minnesota culinary tradition. This year’s event will be judged by former Minnesota congressmen Vin Weber and Gerry Sikorski.

Just as the contest began, Walz press secretary Tony Ufkin tweeted:

Tony Ufkin ‏@ufkina 1h

Walz's "Hermann the German" hotdish is in place. Secret ingredient from New Ulm... pic.twitter.com/fQ8Y4h1rAc

We guessed beer and Ufkin confirmed. The secret's also out on Franken's website:

Walz's Hermann the German Hotdish

Ingredients:
1 package of brats
1 bottle Schell's beer
1 onion
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup of chopped celery
1 can cream of cheddar soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 package tater tots.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, add beer, onions and garlic powder. Submerge the brats into the pot and reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 min. Remove and let cool. Butter the casserole dish. Combine remaining ingredients into a separate bowl, minus the tots. Chop up the brats into bite sized pieces and add to the other ingredients. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish, top with tater tots and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with cheese for the last 10-15 mins of baking.

Photo: The hotdish prior to judging. Twitpic by Tony Ufkin.

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