Friendsgiving started as a practical solution for three families juggling hockey schedules—but it grew into a treasured annual feast and eventually a monthly dinner club.

In this episode, Ann Park, Lisa Svobodny, and Michelle Bouchard share how their Friendsgiving tradition began, who gathers around their tables, the stories that make it unforgettable, plus two recipes they bring each year—including sugared cranberries and butternut squash with bacon and spinach—and a recipe for an apple pie–inspired cocktail.

Cheers to a cozy celebration of friendship, food, and creating traditions that last.

Get the recipes and photos at RandomSweets.com.

If anyone knows how to host a cozy, joyful Thanksgiving dinner, it's my friend Leah Brink. She's been welcoming anywhere from 10 to 29 family and friends around her tables for the past 15 years. Her holiday spreads could be straight out of Better Homes & Gardens or Martha Stewart Living, yet her heart for hospitality is all about warmth, gratitude and joy.

In this cozy and practical episode of Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens, Leah shares how she plans for Thanksgiving weeks (and even months) ahead—from scheduling her PTO and deep cleaning her home to baking desserts for the freezer. She talks about making her table welcoming with a flower centerpiece from Shari at Hand Tied Floral Boutique in Brookings, South Dakota, setting the mood with simmering cinnamon and cloves on the stove, and playing her favorite soft jazz and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown soundtrack in the background.

We also dive into the heart of the meal—homemade gravy. Leah walks us through her step-by-step approach to making perfect gravy every time, plus her secret to a juicy, flavorful turkey: a 24-hour brine. You’ll hear about her signature dishes like mashed potatoes and gravy, Red Lobster-style Cheddar Bay Biscuits from scratch, and her must-have baked mac and cheese.

Leah also shares her family recipes, including:
• Her mom’s creamy fudge
• Her grandma’s ginger snaps
• Her stepmom’s Snickers bars
• Her cozy beer cheese soup
• And a link to festive cranberry Brie bites

Get each recipe at https://randomsweets.com/thanksgiving-hosting-and-homemade-gravy-with-leah-brink/, along with Leah’s hosting and gravy-making tips—including using a Thanksgiving day “cooking template,” how she journals notes for next year, and why she believes “prep equals confidence.”

So, this Thanksgiving, if you’re the one making gravy, bring someone into the kitchen to learn alongside you. Or, if you’re eager to learn, step up and take notes—you’ll be grateful you did next year.

I hope you pick up a few new ideas and feel a little more confident — and maybe even excited — about hosting Thanksgiving this year. Big thanks to my friend, Leah Brink, for sharing her warmth and wisdom around the table.

Host and Producer, Staci Mergenthal

⁠RandomSweets.com⁠

#ourSweetMidwestLife

Website ⁠randomsweets.com⁠

Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠

Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠

Facebook: ⁠Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens⁠

Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠

Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠

Email: ⁠staci@randomsweets.com⁠

I’m joined by Darla Bakker and her three daughters—Andrea Kolstad, Danielle Brandt, and Laura Feller. Darla and her husband, Jeff, live on a farm near Ruthton, Minnesota, where they raised their girls. Today, their daughters are raising families of their own in Minnesota and Nebraska—but one thing hasn’t changed: their love of gathering around the table.

This spring, Darla published her third cookbook—Darla Bakker’s Family Favorites, 3rd Edition—and this one is truly a family project. Her daughters helped organize, edit, and contribute recipes of their own, making it a generational reflection of Midwestern cooks. Within 349 spiral bound pages, they share more than 830 recipes. What a treasure to be handed down to generations to come.

From classic Midwest comfort foods to gluten and dairy free updates for a new generation, this episode celebrates the love and laughter that fill the Bakker family kitchen. And stay tuned for a surprise message from Darla’s seven grandchildren that’s sure to melt your heart.

You’ll find all of Darla’s recipes in her cookbook, but here are a few we talked about in the episode that are on my website randomsweets.com:

• Turkey Pot Pie with Cream Cheese Crust
• Goulash
• One-Pot Sausage & Penne Pasta Dinner
• Asian Meatballs
• Darla’s Potato Salad Dressing (Cooked Dressing)
• Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake

The Bakker family’s story is a reminder that recipes aren’t just about ingredients—they’re about community and connection. Whether it’s rhubarb slush on a summer day or hot dish in the dead of winter, food is how we remember, celebrate, and love one another.

And if you ever wonder whether one of Darla’s dishes made it into the book…well, just ask her: “Is this recipe in your book?”

Order Your Copy of Darla Bakker's Family Favorites

Copies are available for $20 plus $5 shipping by emailing Darla at jdbakker@woodstocktel.net, or you can pick one up at Johnson Flower Box, 155 N. Tyler Street, Tyler, MN.

Meet Your Host and Producer, Staci Mergenthal

⁠RandomSweets.com⁠

#ourSweetMidwestLife

Website ⁠randomsweets.com⁠

Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠

Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠

Facebook: ⁠Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens⁠

Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠

Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠

Email: ⁠staci@randomsweets.com⁠

Midwest Food Podcast

In 1987, friends Patty Kratochvil and Carolyn Dotson opened Threads of Memories Antique Mall in Brookings, South Dakota, with a simple idea: combine alterations with the love for antiques—and keep them in the community. Fast forward to 2021, Carolyn’s daughter, Emily Braun, took over the shop and continues the legacy with her own modern touch.

In this episode, Emily and I talk about the journey stepping into small business ownership in the Midwest, how she curates what fills the store, and the difference between antiques, vintage, and thrifted items. She shares why she values supporting local shops that complement hers, how her mom and Patty came up with the store's name, and how her popular “What’s New Wednesday” on social media helps connect treasures with new homes.

You’ll learn about design trends—like the ever-present enthusiasm for Mid-century modern, the comeback of record players, vinyl, and green Depression glass—and which items have phased out. Emily offers advice for downsizing or inheriting family heirlooms (including why some things aren’t worth as much as we hope), and a few lesser-known suggestions for where to donate pieces you might not be able to keep.

Of course, we talk food too. Emily shares memories of her mom’s deviled eggs, her dad’s famous meat marinade, apple crisp, and Thanksgiving at the farm. You’ll find her dad’s recipes for buttermilk waffles and the meat marinade, and Emily’s modified Pioneer Woman recipe for spinach dip on randomsweets.com. Plus, Emily lets us in on a hidden gem where she enjoyed a delicious chicken salad sandwich and the best pickle spear—a cozy spot off Highway 19 in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.

If you love antiques, small business stories, Midwest living, or simply the memories tied to the things we treasure, this conversation will feel like wandering the aisles of your favorite antique shop with a couple of friends.

Threads of Memories, Emily Braun owner

525 8th Street South, Suite 1, Brookings, SD

605-697-7377

Website: threadsofmemories.com

Facebook: Threads of Memories Brookings

Instagram: @threadsofmemoriesbrookings

antiques, vintage, repurpose, antique store, South Dakota

#midwest #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #southdakota #recipes #midwestern #midwestliving

Host and Producer, Staci Mergenthal

⁠RandomSweets.com⁠

#ourSweetMidwestLife

Website ⁠randomsweets.com⁠

Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠

Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠

Facebook: ⁠Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens⁠

Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠

Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠

Email: ⁠staci@randomsweets.com⁠

Step into the heart of the home in this episode as we explore Cooking Up History: The Evolution of Kitchens and Cookbooks, a featured exhibit at the Old Courthouse Museum in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Host Staci Mergenthal talks with Jill Van Veldhuizen, Education Assistant, Molly Engquist, Curator of Exhibits, and Jessie Nesseim, Curator of Collections about how American kitchens—and the cookbooks that fill them—have transformed over time.

Discover the social, cultural, and technological shifts that turned kitchens from open hearths to modern hubs of the home. We discuss the rise of community cookbooks, how immigrant traditions and holiday treats influenced South Dakota’s food culture, and why vintage cookbooks were once filled with everything from recipes to stain-removal tips. Whether you’re a history buff, cookbook collector, or a curious cook, this episode is a flavorful journey through time.

Old Courthouse Museum

The Old Courthouse Museum is part of the Siouxland Heritage Museums system: https://siouxlandmuseums.com

Old Courthouse Museum Website: https://siouxlandmuseums.com/index.php/welcome-to-the-siouxland-heritage-museums/old-courthouse-museum/

Current Old Courthouse Museum Exhibits: https://siouxlandmuseums.com/index.php/old-courthouse-museum-exhibits/

Facebook: Old Courthouse Museum, Sioux Falls, SD

200 W 6th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

605-367-4210

Admission is free, with an option to give a free will donation.

Mentioned in This Episode

“The Buckeye Cook Book and Practical Housekeeping”

“The White Ribbon Cook Book”

“The Kitchen Front” by Jennifer Ryan

#midwest #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #southdakota #recipes #midwestern #midwestliving

Host and Producer, Staci Mergenthal

RandomSweets.com

Website randomsweets.com

Instagram @potatoesandmittens

Instagram @randomsweets

Facebook: Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens

Facebook Random Sweets

Pinterest @staciperry

Email: staci@randomsweets.com

#ourSweetMidwestLife

If you’ve ever found joy in a perfectly rusted garden gate, an old Pyrex bowl like Grandma’s, or the thrill of repurposing a forgotten item into something useful again—this episode is for you.

In Season 3, Episode 9 of Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens, I head to rural Tracy, Minnesota, to visit with Sharon Hohler, the creative and kind-hearted owner of ⁠Homeless Treasures⁠. Tucked away on an acreage just south of town, Homeless Treasures is a vintage wonderland filled with antiques, oddities, DIY-ready furniture, and Sharon’s signature charm.

Sharon shares how her passion for old things—and the people who love them—turned a simple Father’s Day weekend yard sale into a thriving seasonal business that’s now in its 14th year. She talks about the “junking angels” who helped her along the way, the stories that shoppers bring with them, and the magic of seeing an old item reimagined in a brand-new way.

We also chat about our emotional attachments to belongings and the one item her husband says she cannot bring home anymore. And, of course, Sharon shares three of her favorite recipes, including the giant banana muffins she perfected after giving up on banana bread.

Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, a vintage collector, or just someone who appreciates a good story and a quirky treasure, you’ll love this heartwarming conversation with Sharon Hohler of Homeless Treasures in Tracy, MN.

Homeless Treasures, Sharon Hohler owner

Facebook: ⁠Homeless Treasures⁠

1964 230th Ave., rural Tracy/Currie

507-227-1198

antiques, vintage, furniture, unique treasures

Host and Producer, Staci Mergenthal

⁠RandomSweets.com⁠

#ourSweetMidwestLife

Website ⁠randomsweets.com⁠

Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠

Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠

Facebook: ⁠Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens⁠

Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠

Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠

Email: ⁠staci@randomsweets.com⁠

Born and raised in South Dakota, Alice Klopstad stayed for college and the start of her corporate career. Then Alaska captured her heart and now she calls it home.

Join me as Alice tells her adventurous and inspiring story of moving to a place where she’s embraced the outdoor lifestyle—hiking, snow machining, fishing, foraging, and filling an entire freezer with fresh-caught halibut and salmon.

When she’s not exploring Alaska, Alice is baking sourdough bread, sewing and quilting, cozying up with books from the Anchorage Public Library, planning her next international travel adventure, visiting family, or responding to “moose down” texts from friends, summoning her to help when their hunt is successful.

In 2024, Alice squeezed in reading 39,862 pages in 110 books! Find her on Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/52706555-alice.

Alice shares three of her favorite recipes and the stories behind them: roasted shrimp enchiladas, her Grandma Joyce’s Danish butter cookies, and a comforting classic from her friend Jill—potatoes Romanoff.

Alice also shares what tattoo she has in honor of her grandma. And grab a couple of Kleenex for her introduction to her beloved dog, Rambo. May he rest in beautiful peace.

View this episode’s photos and recipes on my website randomsweets.com.

Staci Mergenthal, Host and Producer

RandomSweets.com

#ourSweetMidwestLife

Website randomsweets.com

Instagram @potatoesandmittens

Instagram @randomsweets

Facebook: Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens

Facebook Random Sweets

Pinterest @staciperry

Email: staci@randomsweets.com

Step into the warm and inviting kitchen of Minnesota native Leah Rodriguez, where baking isn’t just a pastime for her, it’s a way to honor tradition, celebrate family, and embrace joy and faith even in life’s hardest seasons.

Get ready to laugh and cry in this episode as Leah shares what she puts in her pumpkin bars that make them extra special, a recipe for funeral hot dish with an Asian flare, and how growing up in a family of 11 kids played a part in raising six children alongside her Juan & Only husband.

She also explains how her magical oven got its nickname, and she takes us on a flavorful journey of her favorite bakeries near New Richmond, Wisconsin where she lives, including a Mexican bakery and restaurant in Chaska, Minnesota.

Photos of Leah, her magical oven, goodies, and recipes for banana bread, pumpkin bars, funeral hot dish, and Crisco chocolate chip cookies are on my blog for you randomsweets.com.

In this episode:

Keys Café & Bakery 9 locations in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area and Hudson WI.

Knoke’s Chocolates & Nuts

El Paisano Bakery, 117 W. 4th St., Chaska, MN, 952-361-9337

Staci Mergenthal, host and producer

RandomSweets.com

#ourSweetMidwestLife

Website randomsweets.com

Instagram @potatoesandmittens

Instagram @randomsweets

Facebook: Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens

Facebook Random Sweets

Pinterest @staciperry

Email: staci@randomsweets.com