Sen. Franken’s Hot Dish Competition Taking Place Wednesday

It's a Minnesota rite of spring just as storied as our first 70-degree day-- it's U.S. Senator Al Franken's annual Hot Dish Competition, and it's finally taking place Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

The annual contest, which Sen. Franken has been holding for the past five years, was originally scheduled for March but had to be postponed due to the nomination of Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Sen. Franken serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and both attended the announcement at the White House.)

But the contest is finally back on, and features all of Minnesota's congressional delegation, along with their favorite Minnesota-based casseroles-- I mean, hot dishes. According to a statement from Sen. Franken's office, the contest is a way to put politics aside.

"The annual Hotdish Competition gives an opportunity for the Minnesota Congressional delegation to take a break from partisanship and come together over a vibrant Minnesota tradition: hotdish," said Sen. Franken said in the statement. "Every year, I'm impressed by the creative dishes that highlight Minnesota's great culinary heritage. I look forward to seeing what's in store this year."

The release says each entry "celebrate a Minnesota culinary tradition," and is judged on taste, originality and presentation. Last year, Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum's "Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Wild Rice Hotdish" was the winning entry.

Here's what last year's Hot Dish Competition looked like...