Episodes

  • Vineyard Visionary: Jim Schade of Schadé Vineyard & Winery on Pouring Connections and Pioneering a State Industry

    Vineyard Visionary: Jim Schade of Schadé Vineyard & Winery on Pouring Connections and Pioneering a State Industry
    Nov 15 2024

    If you drink South Dakota-made wine or beer, Jim Schade and Eldon Nygaard are the guys to thank. Because prior to the South Dakota 1996 Farm Winery Act legalized commercial production of wine in South Dakota, you couldn’t make an alcoholic beverage in South Dakota and sell it since Prohibition.

    So, Eldon came up with the idea to start a legal license for making and selling wine, wrote the legislation and Jim took it to the legislators at the state capital in Pierre. The bill passed.

    Eldon got the first license and began the state’s first winery, Valiant Vineyards of Vermillion.

    Four years after the bill passed, Jim and his wife, Nancy, founded Schadé Vineyard and Winery west of Volga. In this amusing episode, Jim shares where they first fell in love with the wine industry and why he quit his job in Pierre before he applied for the third winery license in South Dakota. Plus, you’ll learn why they hosted inventory reduction parties at their house, which two fruits don’t work well for winemaking, the funny story about how their winery got its name, how they became sponsors of The Iditarod, and how caller I.D. killed their original approach to picking grapes.

    Jim has handed the vineyard reins over to Dillon Ringling, even though Dillon broke all three of Jim’s rules and now hosts weddings and events at the vineyard with the most beautiful sunsets as a backdrop.

    Jim is still pretty involved with the business. And having been on the ground floor of South Dakota wine since the late 90s, Jim admits that what he loves most about the winery hasn’t been the wine, is has been the people and relationships behind the pours.

    Schadé Vineyard & Winery

    21095 463rd Avenue, Volga, SD

    https://schadevineyard.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schadevineyard/

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

    Airbnb listing: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/50269250?guests=1&adults=2&s=67&unique_share_id=9d8fa87b-13ed-42d5-9c18-be1aac27f316

    Staci Mergenthal

    RandomSweets.com

    #ourSweetMidwestLife

    Website randomsweets.com

    Instagram @potatoesandmittens

    Instagram @randomsweets

    Facebook Random Sweets

    Pinterest @staciperry

    Email: staci@randomsweets.com

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Frosting the Heart: For Goodness Cakes Twin Cities Chapter

    Frosting the Heart: For Goodness Cakes Twin Cities Chapter
    Sep 21 2024

    Today’s story is a reminder that not all kids have the luxury of celebrating their birthday with a fun cake, but it’s also a reminder that just one small act of kindness, and a little frosting and sprinkles, can light up a child’s special day, showing them that people care about them and they are not forgotten.

    Meet ⁠For Goodness Cakes Twin Cities⁠ co-chapter leads Carolyn McGovern and Katie Lipe, plus five sprinkle squad volunteer bakers—Audrey Hyatt, Kenzie Taylor, Tiffane Gayle, Tom McGovern, and Emily Beckmann, and Chris Bernard from Jeremiah Program and Melissa Westphal from Missions Inc.'s Home Free Shelter, two agencies served by the nonprofit.

    ⁠For Goodness Cakes⁠ is a nationwide non-profit organization that gives underprivileged youth the chance to have a birthday celebration by matching volunteers to bake special cakes just for them. To date, there are nearly 30 U.S. chapters and they have hand-delivered more than 32,000 cakes.

    View photos and links at https://randomsweets.com/for-goodness-cakes-twin-cities-chapter/

    For Goodness Cakes® is an officially recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Tax ID # 81-10383832118 Wilshire Blvd #826Santa Monica, CA 90403

    ⁠⁠https://www.forgoodnesscakes.org⁠⁠

    Email Carolyn McGovern and Katie Lipe from the Twin Cities chapter at twincities@forgoodnesscakes.org.

    Instagram: @forgoodnesscakestwincities

    Jeremiah Program ⁠https://jeremiahprogram.org⁠

    Home Free Shelter, Missions Inc. ⁠https://www.missionsinc.org⁠

    Lynn’s Cake, Candy & Chocolate Supplies, ⁠https://lynnscakeandcandy.com⁠

    Kenzie Taylor on Instagram ⁠⁠@kenziespastries⁠⁠

    Host, Staci Mergenthal

    ⁠RandomSweets.com⁠

    #ourSweetMidwestLife

    Website ⁠randomsweets.com⁠

    Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠

    Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠

    Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠

    Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠

    Email: ⁠staci@randomsweets.com⁠

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Recipes, Rhubarb Muffins, Roseville Restaurants and Mississippi River Road Trips with Shannon Thomasser

    Recipes, Rhubarb Muffins, Roseville Restaurants and Mississippi River Road Trips with Shannon Thomasser
    Aug 28 2024

    This is a classic story of two Midwesterners becoming friends over a grandma's handed-down rhubarb muffin recipe.

    Growing up in New Richmond, Wisconsin, Shannon's grandmothers, aunts and mom were great Midwestern cooks. Even so, she didn't watch or pay attention to how they worked their culinary magic in the kitchen or with recipes. Her job was to set the table and clean up after dinner.

    Eventually, they rubbed off on her.

    Get the recipes, photos and links https://randomsweets.com

    What we talk about in this episode:

    • Growing up and living in Wisconsin
    • Why Shannon didn't own a pair of jeans until eighth grade
    • Entering and winning ribbons at the Pierce County Fair
    • How she organizes her recipes, especially the ones from the internet
    • Ho Ho cake, roasted spaghetti sauce, potato and ham soup, everyday sandwich bread, Jen G.'s cheesy potatoes, rhubarb muffins, and pumpkin bars
    • Is it hot dish or casserole?
    • Gardening and canning—her husband planted 800 sweetcorn seeds this year
    • She's not really a crazy chicken lady
    • Cocktails and maple syrup
    • Where to eat the best coney dogs in St. Paul
    • Roseville, Minnesota restaurant and bakery recommendations from bread and pastries to Mexican and Vietnamese
    • Day trip itineraries along the Mississippi River highways in Wisconsin

    Shannon lives on an acreage near Prescott, Wisconsin and works just across the Mississippi River in Minnesota as the Director of Sales at ⁠Visit Roseville⁠.

    Connect with Shannon:

    Instagram: @shanphotos17

    Email: sthomasser@visitroseville.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonthomasser/

    Staci Mergenthal

    RandomSweets.com

    #ourSweetMidwestLife

    Website randomsweets.com

    Instagram @potatoesandmittens

    Instagram @randomsweets

    Facebook Random Sweets

    Pinterest @staciperry

    Email: staci@randomsweets.com

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Fresh Pickings with Jan Sanderson of Sanderson Gardens

    Fresh Pickings with Jan Sanderson of Sanderson Gardens
    Jul 23 2024
    He had a self-checkout long before Walmart and Target and he still updates his telephone hotline with garden patch conditions and produce availability. Just call 605-693-4871. Meet Sanderson Gardens owner Jan Sanderson, the Rhubarb King and developer of the Sanderson Red rhubarb variety. A visit to Sanderson Gardens on the I-29 corridor just four miles east of Brookings, South Dakota, can mean a quick stop for a pail of strawberries, or hours long in the pumpkin patch letting the kids find the perfect jack-o-lantern and play on the playgrounds, taking fall family photos and enjoying a picnic in the cool fall air. For nearly five decades, generations of families have come to Sanderson Gardens for asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, raspberries, aronia berries, pumpkins and more. It's a mostly U-pick commercial garden, but they try to make some pre-picked produce available in the mornings. We talk about how technology has changed the way he gets the word out about what's available and how you can best pick/harvest strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus, raspberries, pumpkins, and aronia berries. Sanderson Gardens supplies fruit to a handful of local wineries and rhubarb roots and horseradish to most seed catalog companies in the country, like Gurney's Seed and Nursery. You'll learn what Jan's dad and an experimental rhubarb patch being plowed up at South Dakota State University had to do with the beginning of Sanderson Gardens. He also shares an interesting story about how he expanded his rhubarb crop in a way that people in a 3-state area had a hand in—in what is now one of the largest rhubarb patches (5-6 acres) in the Midwest. Jan is a three-time state champion high school wrestler who earned a full-ride scholarship to University of Iowa. He was coached by NCAA national champion, world gold medalist and Olympic gold medalist, Dan Gable. Jan was a team co-captain and a two-time all-American and two-time Big Ten individual champion. After graduating, he went on to coach wrestling and teach special education in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. So why did Mr. Sanderson trade the wrestling mat and his classroom to run his own South Dakota, mostly U-pick, commercial gardens 47 years ago? You’re about to find out. Learn more about Sanderson Gardens on their ⁠website⁠ and follow them on Facebook. I also posted a rhubarb custard pie recipe from Jan and photos on ⁠randomsweets.com⁠. Jan Sanderson, Owner, Sanderson Gardens, 47657 US Highway 14, Aurora SD, 57002 ⁠https://sandersongardens.com⁠ Hotline: 605-693-4871 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/SandersonGardens⁠ “The Johnson Family” story that Jan wrote: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/p/VMEpzBU5JcU86rFp/⁠ Facebook Video of the tiny stalk on rhubarb: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Cekkea4DREDTcozP/⁠ Facebook video of Jan picking rhubarb: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/v/sQaoCJBiyxrEXhwQ/⁠ Facebook video of Jan’s brother Dell picking asparagus: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Tz9cQMotrAg9v8kC/⁠ #ag #agriculture #garden #gardening #farmer #farmtotable #produce #vegetablegarden #rural #ruralSD #midwest #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #southdakota #midwestAg Staci Mergenthal, Host ⁠RandomSweets.com⁠ #ourSweetMidwestLife Website ⁠randomsweets.com⁠ Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠ Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠ Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠ Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠ Email: ⁠staci@randomsweets.com⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • Faith and Family at the Center of Growing Veggies with Berndt Family Produce

    Faith and Family at the Center of Growing Veggies with Berndt Family Produce
    May 29 2024
    What began with a tent purchased from an anonymous $200 donation and Dawnna Berndt’s idea to grow a garden to bring in more income, turned into a family-based vegetable farm market business (Berndt Family Produce) that’s been serving their community of customers in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota for 24 years. At the time, she and her husband, David, had five young children and even though she admits she knew zilch about gardening (she told me she was the “inside girl” and her sister was the “outside girl” when they were growing up), she leaned on David’s knowledge as a lifelong farmer to start growing and harvesting veggies on less than two acres and selling the produce at their local farm stands and self-serve stands. Since their start in 2000, they’ve grown to six children, eight grandkids, 30 acres of sweet corn and 25 acres of some of the best vegetables, CSAs and canning and salsa shares around! And Dawnna says that along with all that growth and change, faith and family have always been at the center of what they do and how they treat people. Berndt Family Produce grows everything from broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, onions, pumpkins, gourds, sweet corn, squash, cauliflower, potatoes radish, carrots, watermelon, cucumbers, beans, muskmelon, and more. While you’re listening, learn more about Berndt Family Produce at Berndtproduce.com. I also posted photos and the recipe links from Dawnna for their favorite corn salsa, potato soup, copycat KFC coleslaw, roasted garlic parmesan potatoes, and 11 easy potato recipes on randomsweets.com. Dawnna and David Berndt, Berndt Family Produce, White, SD Email: berndtproduce@gmail.com https://www.berndtproduce.com Mobile: 605-690-4522 Facebook: Berndt Family Produce Instagram: @berndtproduce Locations: https://www.berndtproduce.com/visit_us Recipes Dawnna mentions in this episode: 11 Easy Potato Recipes https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3588874692004262/ Roasted Garlic Butter Parmesan Potatoes https://www.pinterest.com/pin/241787073737487016/ KFC Coleslaw Copycat https://www.pinterest.com/pin/153403931048621958/ Best Ever Potato Soup https://www.pinterest.com/pin/274086327313603706/ Easy Corn Salsa https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/187625/easy-corn-salsa/ Staci Mergenthal RandomSweets.com #ourSweetMidwestLife Website randomsweets.com Instagram @potatoesandmittens Instagram @randomsweets Facebook Random Sweets Pinterest @staciperry Email: staci@randomsweets.com #ag #agriculture #garden #gardening #farmer #farmtotable #produce #vegetablegarden #farmstand #rural #ruralSD #midwest #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #southdakota --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    1 hr
  • Amber Waves of Anthem Oats with Fifth-generation South Dakota Farmers Taylor and Cassandra Sumption

    Amber Waves of Anthem Oats with Fifth-generation South Dakota Farmers Taylor and Cassandra Sumption
    May 10 2024

    Roots go deep in today’s show. Come with me to meet fifth-generation farmers, Taylor and Cassandra Sumption, the founders of Anthem Oats. The couple grows and packages premium, gluten-free oats for retail on nearly 400 acres near Frederick, South Dakota, 27 miles north of Aberdeen on US Highway 281, just seven miles south of the North Dakota border, and their packing and offices operation in Frederick.

    Taylor’s great, great grandpa homesteaded in the area in 1882 so Taylor and Cassandra are keeping the family agriculture business alive in what’s now 142 years! They’re focused on value-added agriculture and vertical integration to build their legacy-based, farm-to-table company—this means we can count of them for many years of delicious steel cut, old-fashioned, and quick oats and instant oatmeal cups and packets in flavors like vanilla chai, peach and cranberry, dark chocolate brownie, super fruit, pumpkin spice, and my personal favorite, maple pecan.

    Learn more about their products and the family at anthem oats dot com. The photos and recipes that Cassandra shared with us for tiramisu-inspired overnight oats, energy balls, and her bacon cheeseburger meatloaf with secret sauce are on randomsweets.com.

    Taylor and Cassandra Sumption, Anthem Oats

    Taylor@anthemoats.com and cassandra@anthemoats.com

    https://anthemoats.com

    Instagram: @anthemoats

    Facebook: Anthem Oats

    TikTok: @anthemoats

    Also mentioned in this episode:

    South Dakota Value Added Agriculture Development Center

    Staci Mergenthal

    RandomSweets.com

    #ourSweetMidwestLife

    Website randomsweets.com

    Instagram @potatoesandmittens

    Instagram @randomsweets

    Facebook Random Sweets

    Pinterest @staciperry

    Email: staci@randomsweets.com

    #ag #agriculture #valueaddedag #oats #oatmeal #farmer #farmtotable #oatfarm #oatfarmer #rural #ruralSD #grocer #midwest #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #southdakota

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    54 mins
  • Will Read for Pizza: Apps, Sides and Books with Christianne Beringer

    Will Read for Pizza: Apps, Sides and Books with Christianne Beringer
    May 5 2024

    It’s almost summer, which means pool and lake parties, family reunions and picnics, camping, and smoking out the neighborhood with your backyard grilling. It’s also time to dig out your library card, visit your local indie bookstore, and pack your beach bag with books on your “want to read” list.


    Today I’m bringing back my friend and book goals hero, Christianne Beringer. First, we are talking about easy appetizers and sides delicious enough for sharing, like creamy red pepper dip, Southwest dip with pepperoni, BLT dip, Clara's corn, and green beans with lemon and toasted almonds.

    Then, Christianne catches us up on (and inspires us with) her reading goals, and she tells us about new authors and book series she’s been enjoying, including the one she likes so much she starting checking out two at a time from the library.

    We also talk about the handy book recommendation and discovery website and app, Goodreads, which we use to keep track of books we want to read, books we’ve read, and to browse what’s on our friends’ bookshelves as well.

    So if you are someone who likes simple recipes and celebrates the joy of finishing a good book, this episode is for you!

    I posted the five recipes that Christianne shares on my website randomsweets.com.

    Christianne Beringer on Goodreads

    Staci Mergenthal on Goodreads

    Goodreads

    Libby App (free app for digital reading from your public library)

    Hoopla (borrow and enjoy books and media using your library card)

    Midwest Independent Booksellers Association

    Abe books

    Thrift books

    Also mentioned in this episode:

    • ​Tikka House at Historic City Market, Kansas City
    • ​How to Freeze Green Beans, Good Housekeeping

    #amreading #reader #readinggoals #reading #library #books #appetizers #midwest #midwesterner #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #southdakota

    Staci Mergenthal

    RandomSweets.com

    #OurSweetMidwestLife

    Website randomsweets.com

    Instagram @potatoesandmittens

    Instagram @randomsweets

    Facebook Random Sweets

    Pinterest @staciperry

    Email: staci@randomsweets.com

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    56 mins
  • Sausage Wontons and Crafting a Creative Life with Bobbi Lynn Gaukel

    Sausage Wontons and Crafting a Creative Life with Bobbi Lynn Gaukel
    Apr 26 2024

    Living a life of curiosity and creativity means you will, at times, gracefully let go of things that no longer fuel your passion or serve you positively. This week's podcast guest, Bobbi Lynn Gaukel, and I agree—the earlier in life you learn this practice, the more open and freer you are to being curious and trying new things.

    Throughout her life, Bobbi has weaved in creativity and learning, leaving a trail of beauty wherever she goes. In addition to her professional life as a graphic artist, she gardens, crochets, writes, takes captivating photos, thrifts, repurposes, bakes desserts, crafts and so much more.

    Her Grandma Elizabeth taught her to crochet, all while burning through soap operas together. She began her graphic design career without a computer. And she once threw away a paint-by-number because for her, the whole experience was awful.

    She's the friend you give your funeral plants to when they start to die and you feel too guilty to throw them away.

    The recipes Bobbi is sharing with you and photos are on my website, randomsweets.com—sausage wonton appetizers made with ranch seasoning and two kinds of cheese, crock pot apple butter, and Bobbi’s mom’s easy carrot cake with an inch of cream cheese frosting.

    Just like Bobbi and I do when we meet for coffee, we visit here for a long time. So it’s OK to pause the episode when you need a break and resume when you’re ready for more. I hope after hearing from her, you’ll feel inspired to ask yourself the question, “what would happen if…”

    Bobbi Lynn Gaukel, Pie in the Sky Co

    • Website: pieinthesky.co
    • Facebook: Pie in the Sky Co
    • Instagram: @bobbilynngaukel
    • Instagram: @ps_wedesignthings
    • Email: bobbi@pieinthesky.co
    • Bobbi's monthly article in etc. for her magazine. (In addition to the current issue, you can read her articles in the back issues too.)
    • Watch: How to thrift your way to a beautiful, sustainable home with Bobbi

    Also mentioned in this episode:

    • Cindy Lindgren, artist, you may recognize her Midwest vibe http://www.cindylindgren.com
    • Alissa's Flower Farm near Rock Valley and Hull, Iowa, alissasflowerfarm.com

    Staci Mergenthal

    RandomSweets.com

    #ourSweetMidwestLife

    Website randomsweets.com

    Instagram @potatoesandmittens

    Instagram @randomsweets

    Facebook Random Sweets

    Pinterest @staciperry

    Email: staci@randomsweets.com

    #graphicartist #graphicdesigner #southdakota #midwest #midwesterner #oursweetmidwestlife #podcast #foodpodcast #siouxfalls #creativelife #entrepreneur

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potatoesandmittens/support
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    1 hr and 24 mins