When Grandma invited the whole family over for Sunday lunch, it was either jauhelihaperunaviipalelaatikko (minced beef and potato casserole) or lihamureke (meatloaf) that she served. Accompanied with pineapple and Chinese scrappage salad, lingonberry jam, and grated carrot salad with raisins and beetroot. Lihamure (meatloaf) had mashed potatoes and peas as a side. Brown sauce of course. Her dessert was always strawberry quark. Followed by coffee and cakes.

My grandma is now 102 years old. She still lives alone in her own apartment in a nursing home and cooks for herself daily. Whenever I go to Finland, I try to visit her at least two or three times if possible. A wonderful and very still active woman who has taught me so much about life, cooking, and crafts.

This is her recipe for this simple but very tasty Finnish comfort food.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 10 (approx. 700 g) medium-sized potatoes (choose starchy; they cook better in casseroles)
• 400 g minced beef
• 200 g onions diced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tbsp whole all-spice kernels
• black pepper from the mill
• 2 tbsp butter
• Egg milk mixture,4 dl milk, 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 bay leaf

1. Peel the potatoes and slice them thinly.

2. Brown the minced beef in a pan in its own fat. Add the diced onions and let them sauté. Season the mixture with salt.

3. Grease a shallow oven dish, spread a thin layer of potatoes on the bottom, then add half of the meat-onion mixture.

4. Sprinkle half of the peppercorns and the bay leaf on top, then add another layer of potatoes. Spread the remaining meat mixture and peppercorns, and cover the dish with the rest of the potato slices.

5. Beat the eggs until frothy, then add the milk and salt. Pour the egg-milk mixture into the dish and bake at 200 degrees Celsius for about 1 hour until the potatoes are cooked.

6. Press the potato slices down into the milk with a spatula about 20–30 minutes into baking to moisten the surface of the potato layer. Before serving let it set 10 minutes. Serve with beetroot or lingonberry jam.

Tip! Add herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano to the casserole for extra flavor.