It was two months of quite an exciting ride! A dream come true to cook on T.V., to share my love for creating recipes, and to share my joy, my story with viewers, friends and family. Today, join me on my GREAT MN RECIPE reflection along with delicious recipes & delicious people!!
The audition:
(I actually thought I wouldn't be selected because my Nana & Nanu and my grandma were all born in Michigan and moved to Nashwauk, MN when they were teens/young adults! This is funny now because the cooks they selected have been in Minnesota for 13 years and 3 years - so my 50 years, of course, qualified.)
The email:
After I received the above email, I think I read it a few dozen times. You see, I have auditioned for cooking shows and competitions for decades! Several shows on the Food Network. There were a few times when I thought - "This is it!!" Only to never get the call. One Food Network crew even called for a Skype interview which I did in my classroom one year. They sounded so excited about selecting me. I also auditioned at least four times for Master Chef. One year, I drove to Chicago, kept my sauce on simmer in a tiny crockpot in my hotel room and when I plated my dish the next day, I got through to the next round! It was a big deal because they'd take like 40 people at a time to plate their dish, then they'd say, "thank you and good luck next year", to more than half. This system would go on all day and it was rare to go on to the next round. That year, I went through all of the rounds and I truly thought I was going to get a shot that year!
Anyway, I called my mom and dad and a few close friends and I texted all of my brothers. I was so excited to get an opportunity to cook while being filmed. What if it is a way to open more doors? What if I can really realize my dream to offer some unity and joy in the kitchen and share my philosophy that kids thrive when they're immersed in the arts. What if?
The first step was to have a zoom meeting with one of the producers. She was so lovely and that initial meeting made me more excited and eager to be a part of this pilot grant with WDSE-WRPT Duluth. When I gave Megan (the producer) some options for where to film my episode, she said the team unanimously voted for my hometown of Buhl, MN. We had recently lost a community member in Buhl before my zoom meeting so emotions were running high while I chatted with Megan about the details and what to expect.
Sharon, Megan & Jason! The Buhl episode 2 team made our wonderful community shine!
The Great MN Recipe - Episode 2 - click below:
We started off by meeting in Buhl for a weekend. I flew into Minneapolis and drove to Buhl on a Friday. I checked into a hotel, took a bubble bath and headed to Super One for groceries! After that, I headed to Billy's Cafe. Carla, the owner, and her staff had the kitchen beautifully clean and ready for me to take over. My friend Julie hung out with me that evening as I made a batch of gnocchi, sauce and meatballs. If it wasn't for her, I would've been there all night because she cleaned like a power hero while I was cooking. I invited as many friends/family as I could think of so I knew that I would need to have some sauce, meatballs, and gnocchi already prepped. Not to mention, sauce and meatballs taste much better after cooking for the day.
On Saturday, I met the crew at Billy's and after they set up, we got busy. There wasn't a single preparation, script, or preview of questions. It was all very natural and Megan and Jason made it fun and easy. Sharon was the interviewer and we just visited while preparing the dish. It was as though I knew these three for such a long time. I just cooked and reveled in serving everyone some homemade food. It was one helluva day and I'll treasure it always! I am so glad that my brother Joe drove my mom down for this. She is still raving about it. Lots of reuniting and....
TEARS OF JOY!
On Sunday, I met up with Megan, Jason, and Sharon again on Memorial Drive. This is the street that I grew up on in Buhl with my brothers and mom and dad. We filmed the interview portion of the episode on a quaint bench on Memorial Drive, headed for a walk by our school (Martin Hughes) as it was the heart of our city for many, many years, and then we ended by walking down Memorial Drive and passing by our little house & several neighbors that happened to be out and about. It was pretty indescribable to bump into the same neighbors that were there in the 60s or even before. Although some of our friends have passed, many of their children are now residing in the homes they grew up in. There were a few times during the interview that made me a bit emotional. So if you're wondering if I was crying in episode 2, the answer is I might have been. It was a nostalgic, warm feeling to be home.
Recipe one: gnocchi with red sauce & meatballs (Recipe: https://wdse.org/greatmnrecipe/ )
Also pictured on Table for Sue home page. ox
Recipe 2: stuffed pepper soup - on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17870377016684390/
Highlights from filming in Buhl, MN
Always a Buhl Bulldog
Filming at Billy's Cafe in Buhl, MN
Interviewer - Sharon Yung
Huge love and thank you's to Carla and the Billy's Bar staff! They opened their place to us like family!
Shirley & Me - She & Richie still live across the alley from the house I grew up in. Shirley gave me my very first haircut. When the crew and I went up to their house, they were both outside. Shirley told Megan and Jason a story about when I made her quit everything she was doing to join me for "mud water" tea in my playhouse. She closed the story by saying, "...she was such a little shit." I think there are so many Buhlie's out there that would agree with her on that! In Buhl, "Little Shit" is a term of endearment. So it's quite an honor to be a "little shit" to so many. Oh, the Swanson's use a different term for me - "fucking Susie!" LOL oxox
Me & Todd - Shirley & Richie's son & my brother Tony's classmate. Dear friends/neighbors.
I'm Todd's little shit.
Another classmate of my brother Tony - Larry and me - Dear friends - oxoxo
So happy to be Larry's little shit!
Me & Mary - Buhl friends for 1/2 a century!
"Yup!" says Mary - "You sure are a little shit!"
Nina, Laura & Teddy - My high school classmates & Laura's awesome son! - oxox
Jag, Denise, & Julie - Buhl friends
And yes, I'm little shit to all three.
My ride or die....
Auntie Marlene! oxox
DEFINITELY Auntie Mar's little shit! Especially Uncle Bill - may he Rest In Peace. oxoxo Gosh he would've loved all of this so much!
High school classmates MIB (Mt. Iron-Buhl) oxox
I saw lots of Tony's classmate's! Love Julie & Mike! oxox
"Now get out of our car you little shit!"
Yup, it wasn't planned either! Another one of our neighbor's and Tony's classmates! Love you Alan! oxox "Love you too Seuss - you little shit."
Martin Hughes School - Buhl, MN. 2022
I love this road - it always means I am just 3 miles away from home.
Meeting the cooks & filming the final episode!
Click this link below to view episode 4:
A few weeks later, I hopped on a plane again and headed to Duluth. I was so excited about meeting the other cooks and filming the competition episode! I created a Hotdish that I was so excited about! So in love with! My Godmother, Tona, used to make amazing pierogi! Although I have tried many hot dishes, they weren't in my house growing up. I asked my mom about this and she said that my dad did not like hot dishes. Good old poppa! No wonder why I have always kind of turned my nose up to the Minnesota Hotdish. Ever since I was a kid. I remember thinking that I hated cream of mushroom soup and I hated eating something with no texture that could pass for "slop." So coming up with an idea, I wanted to be unique. I wanted to create something homemade. I wanted the cream of mushroom soup in a can to be replaced by a cheesy sauce. Then I knew. I knew that a great, MN hotdish could be inspired by Tona's pierogi and I'll garnish it with some unctuous, pulled Porketta! Iron Range style!
I was so confident about this hotdish! It is so comforting! I wish I could make one for every hot dish lover out there! I knew I was going to win. I couldn't wait to meet the other cooks and hear their stories. So - we walk into the greenhouse in Esko, MN where the competition was going to be filmed. First, I meet Tomorrow Tanksley and her sister, Tuesday! I mean, we instantly had this connection. I suspect we were both so excited to meet and share our common experience of already filming our individual episodes. When she told me she was an executive chef, I thought it was cool! It didn't intimidate me because, "I have the heart of a teacher, but the confidence of a chef!" LOL Maybe I should say "ego" instead of "confidence." But I'd like to think I am more confident than egotistical. I sure hope so anyway. Anyway, there was a lot of set up, make up, crew buzzing around trying to get things going. It was exciting and something I had always dreamed about since I was big enough to watch Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers. To be a cast member on a set! There I was! It was like being somewhere I have been my whole life. After quite some time, the other cooking team arrives. Lol - since I used to live in Namibia, Africa, I know exactly what "African time" is. I thought hmmm, maybe they will be an African team? (None of our episodes had aired yet and we had ZERO clue about the other cooks. The station wanted us to be surprised.) Then, I spotted their station and I said to my friend & sous chef, Mike, "uh, oh!!!" Mike was like, "What?" I said, "Mike, there's turmeric and other Indian spices! Crap!! I think they're a couple from India!! I love Indian!!" Well, that was that. I knew all of the hot dishes were going to be great. I knew it was all going to be an awesome weekend just like filming in Buhl! I met Anusha & Kannan and instantly fell in love with them as well. I think all of us cooks felt as though we were long time friends. So I realize anything I say can be equated to "Things Losers Say," but I'll say them anyway: 1. The competition was a small part of the joy this experience brought! 2. All of the hot dishes were great! Those judges had a tough job. 3. The winners did a wonderful job! Congratulations Anusha & Kannan! oxoxo 4. I wonder what the outcome would have been if the crowd at the Final Event voted? LOL I am a bit overly competitive and had to lick my bruises for a minute.
The Great Minnesota Recipe - Season One!
Tomorrow - episode 1; Susie - episode 2; Anusha & Kannan - episode 3
Me & Mike - my friend since 1st grade was my "sous!" Best partner ever!
The Great MN Recipe cast & crew!! 2022
Jason, Me, Megan (These two are the creator's of episode 2. They produced a beautiful representation of our town - Buhl MN) oxox
Chef Tomorrow Tanksley & Me (I think we're soul sisters!!! Instant love!)
Beautiful set at Sitio in Esko, MN! What a beautiful place & staff!
My GREAT MINNESOTA Hot dish was inspired by my Godmother, Tona's homemade pierogi! I layered this 9x13 with four layers of homemade pasta, herby mashed potatoes with onion and sauerkraut, & hand made beer cheese sauce. This is a vegetarian dish unless you choose to have the Porketta garnish. (see next picture)
Recipe can be found here: https://wdse.org/greatmnrecipe/
My Godmother, Tona on the left & my mom, Frankie on the right. Like I said in episode 2, all of my greatest influences were very strong women.
With the Porketta garnish! It is great with some arugula on the side too!
I love making them individually! The only difference is how I shape my pasta. That's a glossy layer of the beer cheese on top! Mmmmm!
To dress her up for Vegas, I paired my Pierogi Hotdish with a Rose' and topped it with some caviar. I think she'd be quite the communal side dish in Sin City!! Let's double down with carb on carb!
Here's a quick video of how I assemble the Pierogi Hotdish - I apologize for the low energy. I was deeply focused! lol.
A table of strong women - growing up in our little town, I was in so many homes, so many kitchens all throughout my childhood. Delicious cooks who served their friends, families & community for years. From left to right: A dear friend, Carol, my Godmother, Tona, my mom, two other dear friends, Sharon & Gloria. May Tona and Gloria Rest In Peace with all of my love & prayers.
The Final Event at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, MN
And again, a few weeks later, I hop on a plane (thanks to the support of my wonderful guy, Lars), and head to Duluth, MN again. This time, the station was having a banquet-type event for the cast, crew and even the viewers! It was held on a Tuesday between 4pm-8pm at a beautiful venue called Clyde Iron Works. So, I had the Buhl filming, the Esko filming and now an evening to celebrate it all. I was so grateful for this! I imagine Isaac had much to do with this because he led this crew in a very short amount of time with the production of a very impressive 4-episode series & planned a celebration to boot!
Producers Isaac & Megan oxox
I have been pestering everyone at the station for weeks to ensure I was going to have time in the kitchen while our hot dishes were being made by the kitchen staff. Much to my joy, we were asked to be at the Clyde Iron kitchen at 8am. Long story short, we multiplied our hot dish recipes by 14 and cooked til 3pm! I LOVED IT!!! The kitchen crew were so awesome! I am proud to say that I executed mine solo aside from the chefs helping with assembly. And Clyde Iron makes delicious pulled Porketta in house that was served along side. I ran to shower and change and was back by 4!
Well, let me give you a run down of this fabulous evening: 4pm - Shmooz & Eat! They had 3 tables set up with all 3 hot dishes. There was also a cash bar. My mom and two brothers and friends were there so it was the best cocktail hour ever! Then, we got to meet a Mpls native, Tony, who spoke to the crowd about his upcoming debut in The Great AMERICAN Recipe on NBC. Very cool! Then, after some words of thanks to the donors who made the Great MN Recipe possible, they showed the full competition episode which would be 2 days before it would air. Sooooo, the room filled with all the folks who just enjoyed the hot dishes, found out first who the big winners were! :). Mike and I both weren't fans of seeing ourselves on the big screen. Yowza - a little too much pierogi hot dish maybe?? But my favorite part, aside from having my family and friends there, was watching everyone eat my hot dish. I got to meet all kinds of new people who just loved my hot dish creation and you can feel their gratitude, you can feel their content tummies, you can feel united by great food.
I didn't get enough pictures of everyone, but my dear cousin, Mardell, did take some great ones! The general manager of the station, Patty, bought me a glass of wine and her hubby was super lovely with a keen palate! Hey Patty......
I am ready, when you are ready, to create a revolutionary cooking show!!
:). My 4-H camp friend was there, high school classmates, my mom, my brothers, family friends, comedy friends, friends from my old apartment, family..... Sitting up front, next to so many I love, and sharing this dream with them was quite a gift. My mom. She was a part of it all. She really needed this. What a blessing! Thank you again and again to the crew at PBS North Duluth! What a joy to have people who I have loved for years meet for the first time.
Mom & Me at the Final Event in Duluth, MN
Me and my oldest brother, Dr. Joe! He's a real, live Saint!
Karen, me, and Julie - these are my Godparent's daughters - family. They're always in my corner.
Rox, me and Ma - Rox has been my friend, comedy producer/mentor for nearly 3 decades! One of the most giving people I know.
Jimmer, Ma, & Joe - two of my three brothers (Tony was preparing for a trip overseas - oxox). I am so happy that I had family there. I was overwhelmed with joy to share this with them.
How special it was that my mom and her long-time friend could reunite after many years. Bunny and her husband stood up for my parents at their wedding 60 years ago this year. Thank you to Bunny's daughter's for making this happen. oxox
Bunny & Mom brought together again by The Great Minnesota Recipe! :)
Shari, Tammy, me, Mike, and Lynn - all MIB class of 1990 classmates! oxoxox
Me & Megan Mcgarvey - an awesome talent at PBS North!
My friend, Spyke, from 4-H Camp Days! He wore his camp shirt to show everyone! He is a real, live Forrest Gump. Pure, self-less, inspiring guy who I am blessed to know and love!
This is the kind of person Spyke is! Just like camp days, he is so thoughtful. To me and the environment. Love you Spyke!
The very FIRST cast of The Great Minnesota Recipe!! It was a blast!
That's a wrap!! (I always wanted to say that...)
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