Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens

• Junking Angels and Vintage Finds: Meet Sharon Hohler of Homeless Treasures, Tracy, MN

  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 ownerFacebook: ⁠Homeless Treasures⁠ 1964 230th Ave., rural Tracy/Currie507-227-1198antiques, vintage, furniture, unique treasuresHost and Producer, Staci Mergenthal⁠RandomSweets.com⁠#ourSweetMidwestLifeWebsite ⁠randomsweets.com⁠Instagram ⁠@potatoesandmittens⁠Instagram ⁠@randomsweets⁠Facebook: ⁠Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens⁠Facebook ⁠Random Sweets⁠Pinterest ⁠@staciperry⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

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• Fishing, Foraging and Exploring: Midwestern Alice’s Alaskan Adventures

  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: [email protected]

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• Leah Rodriguez’s Magical Oven and How Joy, Faith, and Family Rise Together

  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: [email protected]

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• Whirlygigs and Watermelon Pickles: Keeping Family Traditions Alive with Stacy Brallier

  Today, I’m introducing you to Stacy Brallier, a South Dakota mom, grandma, and keeper of family food traditions. Stacy shares recipes that hold a special place in her heart, including Funfetti cookies, her mom’s peanut butter whirlygigs cookies, and her great-grandma Elsie Edgecomb’s watermelon pickles, and a co-worker’s more updated recipe for watermelon pickles—each one tied to cherished memories.    For Stacy, food isn't just about flavor; it's about the people and moments that make life sweet, in all seasons of life. Whether it's making Elsie’s watermelon pickles or baking cookies with her own grandchildren, these recipes celebrate the joy of family and connect generations to come. Get Stacy's recipe at randomsweets.com. Staci Mergenthal RandomSweets.com #ourSweetMidwestLife Website randomsweets.com Instagram @potatoesandmittens Instagram @randomsweets Facebook: Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens Facebook Random Sweets Pinterest @staciperry Email: [email protected]  

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• Cooking Without Loving It: Inherited Recipes from the Heart with Amanda Runia

  Today’s guest is Amanda Runia, a busy mom, South Dakota business owner of In-House Ally, and self-proclaimed non-cook who has still managed to gather an abundance of beloved Midwest comfort food recipes from her family. Drawing from the kitchens of her mother-in-law, grandmother, and mom, Amanda shares her approach to keeping mealtime manageable and delicious, plus her go-to resources for recipes that bring a little warmth and nostalgia to the table—even though she doesn’t inherently love cooking. See photos and get the recipes and links on my website randomsweets.com. Amanda shared recipes for chicken divan, a few versions of goulash, rhubarb juice, Grandma Jo’s casserole, baked oatmeal, hamburger rice skillet, beef taco skillet, and her alfredo sauce that has ruined it for all other alfredo sauces when dining out, plus a few more.  Amanda Runia In-House Ally (Amanda's business website) Instagram: @inhouseally Instagram: @amanda.runia   Goodreads LinkedIn Facebook Substack Mentioned in this Episode Mother-in-law's hash brown baked potatoes Mel's Kitchen Cafe Mel's Kitchen Cafe baked oatmeal recipe Mel's Kitchen Cafe chocolate pots de creme recipe The Lazy Genius The Lazy Genius change your life chicken podcast episode The Lazy Genius change your life chicken recipe Instagram @thelazygenius Canoe Bay  Bri McCoy The Cooks Book The I Hate to Cook Book The Ettlin's Cafe (Harry Potter flights) The Nook Rabbit Den's Gaming Author John Mark Comer Author Stuart Turton Staci Mergenthal RandomSweets.com #ourSweetMidwestLife Website randomsweets.com Instagram @potatoesandmittens Instagram @randomsweets Facebook: Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens Facebook Random Sweets Pinterest @staciperry Email: [email protected]

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