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

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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