Family Tree Food Stories

Natural Remedies, Healing Foods, and the Traditions Families Trust . As cold and flu season always seems to creep up on us soon after the New Year. In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , the question we ask is: Can food be medicine? Join Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely as they merge family remedies with old and new science and unpack how everyday foods make us feel better. Learn how chick...

Pizza wasn’t always welcome at the table— And it certainly wasn’t always American. So how did a seemingly simple immigrant street food become the most shared, argued-over, and emotionally loaded meal in the country? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely uncover some surprising facts about the history of pizza in America, tracing its journey from Italian an...

New Year’s Leftovers: What to Toss, What to Transform, and Why It Matters What stays, what goes, and what gets reinvented with style and taste? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , your award-winning hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely take on the post-holiday refrigerator—one container at a time, with how-to ideas and a recipe that will turn your holiday leftovers into a fancy homesp...

Why do families leave cookies for Santa? What do people in other countries leave for Santa on Christmas Eve, and why have those foods become part of the holiday? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Mrs. Claus and Rudolph step in for Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely to examine the origins of Christmas treats and food traditions around the world. How have history, economics, and cultural...

Best Christmas food gifts, explained and shared. What makes a Christmas food gift unforgettable? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy and Sylvia explore the best Christmas food gifts , sharing true stories behind fruitcake traditions, Hickory Farms boxes, homemade holiday drinks, and regional favorites that turn simple food into lasting memories. What regional holiday traditio...

Bringing the holidays together: stories, shared recipes, and easy ideas for mixing Hanukkah, Christmas, and even Scandinavian Yuletide flavors at your family table. What happens when Jewish and Christian traditions come together in one kitchen? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May talks with Magdalena Dryberg , a Swedish-born Jewish mom who blends Hanukkah, Christmas, and...

Why do some manners survive for centuries while others disappear overnight? And which one still matters today? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely uncover the surprising truths behind the rules we follow, the ones we break, and the embarrassing moments we all secretly Google. From medieval knife etiquette and Victorian orange-cutting rules to restaurant...

Home for the Holidays: The Lost Art of Decorating with Food What if your next holiday centerpiece wasn’t from a store—but from your pantry? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely help you rediscover the forgotten art and easy ways to decorate with food. It’s been a long-standing, even ancient tradition that’s fun and everyone can join in and help . From han...

Thanksgiving Traditions & The Stories That Feed Us What makes Thanksgiving more than a meal? There’s a lot more of the old and new traditions that, when combined, can make this celebration one you’ll remember for years to come. In this  episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely explore how food, family, and traditions shape our sense of gratitude and belongin...

How Cooking Mistakes, Burned Meals, and Starting Over Can Teach You More Than Any Recipe Book Why are so many people afraid to cook?  It’s easier and more fun, even than you might think.  In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely dig into the big reasons and excuses behind avoiding cooking.  Learn how even the most devout non-cook recently turne...

Oatmeal: The Comfort Food That Connects Generations & More! Oatmeal: it's a simple bowl with a story that spans continents, centuries, and countless family tables. In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely share the interesting history, folklore, forgotten traditions, and a few recipe ideas behind one of the world’s most comforting foods. From ancient Scot...

Ever wonder what bone cookies, charcoal embers in a turnup, and candy corn have common? In this ghostly episode of Family Tree Food & Stories, hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely stir up the history, humor, and hidden meaning behind Halloween’s more interesting and fun traditions. From ancient Celtic rituals to good luck brew, and a lover’s prediction, this episode shares how food, folklore, and...

The Hidden Power of Everyday Food Rituals to Connect Family, Friends, and Colleagues In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Sylvia Lovely turns interviewer and invites Nancy May to reflect on and share her experiences in going home to New York and Connecticut. The interview turns into a food story about going home and finding new friends, while creating new memories and connections Th...

How family traditions, food memories, and simple kitchen smarts can help us eat well, waste less, and reconnect around the table. In this Family Tree Food & Stories episode, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely celebrate World Food Day by diving into how food traditions, family stories, and old-fashioned kitchen wisdom can help us better manage our family’s budget today.  From McDonald’s Happy Mea...

🌽 Did you know that Native American Foods Sill Influence What You Eat Today? How many of the foods you eat every day have roots in Native American foods and traditions?  A lot more than you might realize, so start counting and testing your family and kids now! In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely share a list of indigenous foods, along with their hi...

Learn why your body—and heart—craves stew, pasta, and pancakes in the fall . Ever wonder why mac and cheese, beef stew, lasagna, or even a slice of fruitcake creates cravings in the fall? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May & Sylvia Lovely dive into the cozy world of comfort foods —and trust us, there’s a lot more to it than just wanting that warm brownie or an extra...

Let’s talk Mushrooms: from Shitake stories, and magic mushrooms, to the People’s “shrooms”  and more.  This week, we’re talking about foods you probably wouldn’t expect to get too excited about: mushrooms . However, those funky spongy fungi have stories, secrets, and flavors that will give you something different to talk about at your next dinner table conversation.  In this ep...

Fermented Nuts, Pickled Eggs & Appalachian Moonshine: How We Preserve More Than Just Food, and Why it's Important. Fall is more than a season—it's a reminder to preserve what matters , from seasonal foods to family recipes passed down through generations . In this richly layered episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely share forgotten preservation technique...

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? How did America come together in the days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks? And why did food—from cornbread to clam chowder—become a powerful symbol of comfort, resilience, and remembrance? In this special Family Tree Food & Stories episode, we reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001 , and the extraordinary ways people found heal...

🍴 Mystery, Murder & Meals: When Food Turns Deadly Could the food on your plate become a deadly weapon?  In this week’s episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy and Sylvia stir up the darker, and questionably juicy side of food culture, history, and culinary revenge—where poisoned banquets, chef scandals, and real-life true-crime stories collide. If you’ve ever wondered about the...

✍️ Ink, Ingredients & the Power of Food Writers Who do you think shapes the way we eat, cook, and talk about food today? Well, you'll find some of the answers in this episode of  Family Tree, Food & Stories , as co-hosts   Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely reveal the history of  food writers and critics —from the Mesopotamian food writers who carved their stories on clay tablets t...

From our family's original alehouses (think medieval times) to modern gastropubs, hear how your favorite watering hole and social hangout has shaped society, from birth to passing. and why. In this episode about “Bars and Pubs,”  your Family Tree Food & Stories Podcas t hosts, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely, raise a frosty pint and share some of the most timeless traditions, history, colorfu...

New ideas for creating a family food tradition that’s right in your back, or front yard. The Growing Craze for Edible Insects: From Crickets to Tarantulas and the health, wellness, and eco-friendly benefits that could help you, your family, neighbors, and the planet. Family Tree Food & Stories, Ep. #46 Tune in as this episode of the Family Tree Food & Stories podcast crawls straight into t...

From presidential obsessions to dog treats, how ide cream has made the dog days cool. What do Thomas Jefferson's 18-step ice cream recipe, Fidel Castro's 18-scoop binges, and a failed assassination attempt have in common? They're all part of ice cream's surprisingly scandalous past that Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely share in this week’s episode of F amily Tree Food & Stories.  This week, we...

The Art, Science, History, and Stories of Sourdough: From the Start to Now In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories , we’re rising to a new level with sourdough. What began as an accidental blend of flour and water over 4,500 years ago, sourdough has evolved into a global obsession—and in this episode, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely delve into the rich story of how it all started and its su...