9/27/2009:
The Fargo Forum reported on this day in 1974 that, in an effort to save money and conserve food, First Lady Betty Ford had introduced the White House to the Midwestern casserole. Although most North Dakotans are extremely familiar with the mighty casserole, the dish appeared to be a novelty among East Coast politicians. However, in the mid-1970s, the nation faced a myriad of economic problems that plagued Ford's presidency. Inflation forced many Americans to cope with rising food prices. Mrs. Ford extolled the many virtues of the casserole while attending the Consumer Food Dollar Conference in Washington, which was held to discuss ways of dealing with the rising cost of food.
Just as other areas of the country look at North Dakota's example when it comes to the unemployment problems of today, it appears they looked into our cookbooks over thirty years ago.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Sources:
The Fargo Forum. Friday, September 27, 1974: p. 9.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32627425/ (2009 August. "What's North Dakota Doing Right? Business Week, Reisner, R.)