Sausage and Gravy Hot Dish

* 1 pound ground  italian sausage

* 1 package onion soup mix

* 2 packages tater tots (32oz each)

* 1 can country gravy (or make some yourself, I'm not your supervisor)

* 1 can sweet corn, drained

* 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

* salt and pepper or other good seasoning blend to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Add 1/2 cup or so of hot water to the onion soup mix and give it a good stir and set aside til needed.

3. Spray 2 quart casserole dish with a non-stick spray

4. Spread one layer of tater tots on the bottom of dish; warm at 350F for about 10-15 minutes while you prepare the meat. Set aside remaning tots.

5. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the meat. Drain well.

6. Stir in the country gravy, onion soup mix, and corn.

7. Take dish from oven and spread the meat mixture evenly over the layer of tater tots.

8. Sprinkle on some nice spice/seasoning blend or salt/pepper to taste.

9. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the mixture.

10. Put another layer of tater tots over mixture.

11. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese evenly over the top.

12. Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown.

This recipe was inspired by the great Mary Jo Pehl's grandmother's tater tot hot dish. Which is more or less the same except with ground beef instead of sausage, and cream of mushroom soup instead of country gravy.

The basic premise here is tater tots + meat + savory goop + tater tots + cheese. If some other ingredient appeals to you, let your freak flag fly.

Obviously you can make your own gravy, onion soup mix, sausage, hash browns, fire, whatever pleases you. I feel it is in the true spirit of the hot dish to involve as little prep work as possible. So mote it be.