Austin, Minnesota—A small city in southern Minnesota that is the home of Hormel Foods Corporation.
Bars—Any dessert that is baked in a pan and cut into squares. They are a staple at potlucks.
Blame—“Those blame kids!” It’s a very good substitute for “damn,” but for when you can’t swear.
Edina, Minnesota—A first-ring suburb of the Twin Cities. It is often considered the most affluent community in the state.
Hotdish—An all-in-one meal cooked in a casserole dish. In other parts of the United States, a hotdish may be known as a casserole or a hot dish, but in Minnesota, it is most decidedly a one-word phenomenon.
Pop—This is what Minnesotans call soda pop.
Spam—A canned meat product made mostly from ham that is produced by Hormel Foods, located right in Austin, Minnesota. Since 2001, the Spam museum has been educating the world about the history of Hormel and its canned ham.
Twin Cities—The nickname of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, which are separated by the Mississippi River.
Uffda—An expression that can take place of a curse word or fill in for phrases like “goodness gracious” or “holy moly.” If “uffda” isn’t quite enough, you can say “uffda mada” (pronounced may-duh) for a little extra punch.
Uptown, Minneapolis—An eclectic, vibrant neighborhood in Minneapolis that is well known for its entertainment, the Chain of Lakes, and unique stores. Artists, musicians, hippies, and hipsters feel very at home in Uptown.