Minnesota has the hot dish. What is your state famous for? [Survey]

ACROSS AMERICA — Minnesota's hot dish makes its grand entrance during the political silly season, the period before Labor Day when people are traditionally too busy having fun to think seriously about the presidential election.

Turns out, people outside of Minnesota had no idea about it until Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, talked about it in a recent campaign video. The Democratic presidential candidate wanted to know from her second candidate if he adds flavors to his 2016 award-winning Turkey Taco Tots in the Minnesota congressional delegation's annual contest, the “Hotdish Off”?

“Black pepper is the spice par excellence in Minnesota,” Walz explained.

Some of Walz's critics took to social media to vent their anger, claiming he lied about his creation and exaggerated its spiciness. Stupid people. Anyone, unless they're brand new to the state or live in the backwoods of the north, knows that this culinary archetype earned its name because it's served fresh out of the oven, not because it's fire-alarm-hot. Instead, a hotdish is usually so gentle on the gastrointestinal tract that it's practically the “Minnesota treat” of casseroles.

This same meal-extending mixture of ground meat and cheese that has been a staple on American dinner tables since the Great Depression might be called a casserole south of Minnesota in Iowa, or even further south in Missouri, a gratin dish. Regardless of the regional name, it is a variation of the same

And because there are still a few summer days before things get real, we're getting to know the Minnesota hot dish and upping it with a pan of Delaware scrapple, whatever that is.

What food or food tradition in your state or region would people in other parts of the country not know about? Simply fill out the informal survey below and tell us why you love it or why you think your state's culinary contribution should be something different, and if so, explain why.

Silliness is encouraged. And don't worry, we don't collect email addresses.