On this episode of The Recipe Box, we're heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to talk about the pasty, the handheld meat pie that Cornish miners brought to the US in the 1840s. The pasty has been one of the region's defining foods ever since. We're joined by Sarah Conery, an Ishpeming, Michigan native, to talk about what it's like to grow up in pasty country.

We trace pasty origins and traditional preparation, including the crimped “handle”. We talk with Sarah about regional variations, family traditions, and the ultimate pasty debate: ketchup or gravy?

Sarah Conery is a Midwest travel and lifestyle blogger who writes at Creative and Ambitious. She is also the author of 100 Things to Do in Green Bay Before You Die. You can connect with Sarah on her blog:

https://creativeandambitious.com

Production: Benjy Jeffords, SIU School of Journalism and Advertising

Marketing: Salukis AdLab

Music: MisunderStudios www.misunderstudios.com

Find Hosts Niki and Stephanie at: rootedinfoods.com and https://ourlocaltable.co/

The Recipe Box on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RecipeBoxPodcast

The Recipe Box on Instagram: @TheRecipeBoxPodcast

This week on The Recipe Box, we're digging into the story of America's favorite frozen treat, from George Washington's ice cream to the Iowa scoop shop that's been dishing ice cream since 1931.

We trace ice cream's path from a rare dessert only the wealthy could enjoy to the everyday treat it is now. Along the way, we talk about the inventors who made it possible.

Then we sit down with Michelle Murray, co-owner and operator of Birdsall's Ice Cream Co. in Mason City, Iowa. Michelle and her husband, along with two friends, took over Birdsall's in 2021, keeping a nearly 100-year-old tradition alive for a new generation. Michelle shares what it means to carry family recipes forward and how she thinks up new flavors while still honoring the classics.

• Birdsall's Ice Cream Co: https://birdsallsicecreamco.com
• Amazing Iowa (book): https://reedypress.com/shop/amazing-iowa
• Follow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazingiowa

Production: Benjy Jeffords, SIU School of Journalism and Advertising

Marketing: Salukis AdLab

Music: MisunderStudios www.misunderstudios.com

Find Hosts Niki and Stephanie at: rootedinfoods.com

The Recipe Box on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RecipeBoxPodcast

The Recipe Box on Instagram: @TheRecipeBoxPodcast

If you live in the northern Midwest, you likely have been to a Supper Club at least once. The Supper Club is a Midwest tradition, but they seem to exist only in certain parts of the region. On this episode of The Recipe Box, we talk with Megan Bannister, author of Iowa Supper Clubs, about these once well-known eateries that harbor their own unique spirit.

Megan helps us explore the history, culture, and enduring charm of Midwest supper clubs, especially those in Iowa. We discuss origins and the communal atmosphere that defines these classic restaurants. Our favorite part of the conversation is all about the supper club menu - prime rib, pork tenderloin, relish trays, classic cocktails, and ice cream drinks.

Have you ever been to a supper club? Let us know in the comments. We want to hear about the relish trays, the Old Fashioneds, and what you loved most!

Olio in Iowa: https://olioiniowa.com

Iowa Supper Clubs: https://olioiniowa.com/iowa-supper-clubs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olioiniowablog/

Production: Benjy Jeffords, SIU School of Journalism and Advertising

Marketing: Salukis AdLab

Music: MisunderStudios www.misunderstudios.com

Find Hosts Niki and Stephanie at: rootedinfoods.com

The Recipe Box on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RecipeBoxPodcast

The Recipe Box on Instagram: @TheRecipeBoxPodcast