Family Tree Food Stories

How to Manage an Onslaught of Zucchini and Still Enjoy It! In this episode, we take you into the garden of the mighty Zucchini.  From its origins – it’s more interesting than you might think, why they were vital during WWII, to creating a mock apple pie with, yes, zucchini!  There’s so much of it in the garden during the summer growing months that knowing what to do with Zucchini might i...

How one insult created an entire snack industry, and weird recipes, history, and stories about the $32.2 billion American-born potato chip market. It's delicious! In this episode (#42) of  Family Tree, Food & Stories , we’re biting into the crunchy taste of summer picnics and potato chips! Join us, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely as we dip into some of the more interesting history, stories, a...

When Food Makes the Trip Worth It: Eat Well and Wander, or Travel Often Have you ever been on a family road trip, staring out the car window, just waiting to see that giant Big Boy sign? You knew it meant one thing—burgers were coming, and they were going to be good . That’s what we, Nancy Ma y and Sylvia Lovely , are talking about in this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories . We’re going b...

What Do Hot Dogs, Rum, molasses, and a 250-year-old piece of meat have to do with Independence Day? This isn’t your grade school history lesson. This is the Family Tree Food & Stories Independence Day (or July 4th) holiday episode. In this show, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely take a big bite into the real reasons we celebrate with pie-eating contests, backyard grilling, hot dogs, and enough firew...

What Kids Really Eat at Camp (And Why They, and We Adults, Love It Too!). A Dive into REAL Summer Camp Cuisine. Have you ever eaten eggs on a stick? Or discovered that the Tootsie Rolls from your camp care package mysteriously disappeared (spoiler: it probably wasn’t a raccoon)? In this episode of  Family Tree Food & Stories ,  Nancy May  and  Sylvia Lovely  dive headf...

Man's Best Friend: Crazy Dog Stories You've Got to Love~ Hold onto your leashes— because this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories is going to the dogs in the best (and most hilarious) way possible. Join Nancy May, Sylvia Lovely, and The Mighty Quinn as they all dig into the meaty, messy, and downright outrageous history of what our four-legged friends, our dogs, eat, need to eat to stay hea...

This one's for you (and yep, your dad too) — it's the Family Tree Food & Stories Father’s Day 2025 special. Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely are back, talking all things dad while the grill’s heating up and a cold one is cracking open. They're dishing out a full plate of stories, oddball traditions, and yes — lots of meat talk. Because let’s be real: dads + grills = primal joy. This episode serves...

Planning a wedding doesn’t have to feel like you’re scaling Mount Pinterest? At its heart, weddings are really all about celebrating a love story—yours, or another person you care about. In this F amily Tree, Food & Stories episode, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely pop the champagne and dive into the wild world of weddings with the ever-wise Sara Barton— AKA their Wedding Whisperer and planning gur...

The Farmer’s Market Hustle: What They Don’t Want You to Know, and Why. What do Boston’s Little Italy, bourbon-pickled beans, heirloom tomatoes, and escaped snails have in common with today's farmers' markets? Well, you're about to hear the answer and more in this next episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories ! Nancy May and Sylvia roll up their sleeves and dig deep into the quirky, gritty, and d...

What does watermelon have to do with Memorial Day? And how many pounds of hot dogs do we consume over Memorial Day weekend? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely take you from old Civil War battlefields to your backyard barbecue. You’ll discover the surprising origins of the Memorial Day holiday when it was first known as Decoration Day, explore the wartim...

Aged to Perfection: The Bourbon Episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories! Ever wondered how bourbon became such a staple in old-fashioned American family gatherings and even recipes? In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories , co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely take you on a journey through the rich history and personal family stories of bourbon. Here they'll take you on a journey of...

Mother's Day Celebrations, Meals, Traditions, History, and Stories to Last a Lifetime ! Are you looking for some inspiration to make this Mother's Day 2025 a bit more special? In this next episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely delve into the lost stories behind how Mother's Day food and family traditions, some sweet and others wild and wacky. You’ll learn some les...

The 151st Kentucky Derby: Foods, Traditions, and Stories You Might Not Know About! Hold onto your hats—or your fascinators—because in this Family Tree Food & Stories episode, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely are taking you to the 151st Kentucky Derby, The Run for the Roses, or Mint Juleps if you prefer! Picture this : You’ve got your mint julep or bourbon in hand, and you’re surrounded by ladies in...

In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories , Sylvia Lovely learns that after owning a restaurant for 20 years, how to cook a “simple lasagna”.   Her experience in the kitchen takes a few unexpected twists and turns, from battling uncooperative pasta to creating a "lasagna disaster piece" that’s now legendary. Her candid, self-deprecating tell-all may be a dose of reality for some...

Food, Faith & Acts of Kindness: Father Jim's Spiritual Journey Have you ever considered how deeply food connects to our spiritual lives? In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely sit down with Father Jim Sichko , a priest, who tells an extraordinary story of how food became an important part of his ministry.  Father Jim shares the story of his mother...

How food changed the career direction of this law-school-bound college student. Have you ever wondered how the foods we eat shape who we are? In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely pull their mic up to the table with renowned Kentucky chef Ouita Michel , who takes us on a journey through her culinary heritage – from a community garden to owning eight celebr...

A Story for Tracie, and What to do With Leftover Easter Egg Shells. What do a five-year-old’s Easter tale, a magical sugar egg, and a kitchen full of hard-boiled chaos have in common? They’re all part of one rather unforgettable spring food-related memory — a story of how love, loss, and a little imagination helped one family hold on to hope. In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories, co-...

Learn to discover traditions you might not even know you've got! In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories , Nancy May , co-host, helps her guests Heather Dyer and Erin Walker of the Three Kitchen's Podcast discover that they have been unwittingly nurturing new family food traditions. Throughout the episode, they uncover in subtle yet significant ways that their treasured memories—like ol...

Spring Food Traditions You'll Want to Eat In this next episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely explore rather different and interesting springtime traditions, sharing some foods that you might never have heard about before. Have you ever wondered if jelly beans could be part of a balanced diet? Or are you curious about the story behind white asparagus that l...

The Ultimate Guide to Irish Traditions Worth Knowing This St. Patrick's Day Join Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely for a fun-filled St. Patrick's Day special on Family Tree, Food & Stories ! This episode takes you beyond the green beer and shamrock decorations to explore different traditions that make Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day unique. ☘️Ever heard of " drowning the shamrock "? You’ll learn...

This is a Chilling Episode about Food, Family and Refrigeration: Join Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely as they take you on a cool adventure through the history of refrigeration in this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories about the "Refrigeration Revolution: From Ice Blocks and Straw to TV Dinners." As with each episode, there's always a wild food and family story, but in this show, you'll also l...

This episode is dedicated to February and all things F in the kitchen and around the table. What happens when food, family, and February collide? In this Family Tree Food & Stories episode , Nancy stirs up a pot F-related and a few unexpected fiascos. 🧀 This episode explores family, food, and traditions starting with the letter F. From fondue nights to adventures with friends, and a fiery mis...

"I'm not a bad cook—I just don't cook!" Can a Self-Proclaimed Non-Cook Create Meaningful Mealtime Traditions? What does a wedding gift of handwritten recipes, family memories, and a self-proclaimed non-cook have in common? In this Family Tree, Food & Stories episode, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely share these details and more with Meredith Plant. This episode shares how our recollections of the p...

Dive into a decadent world of desire as Family Tree, Food & Stories hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely unwrap the mysteries behind Valentine's Day's most seductive treats. Join chocolate expert Norma Taylor as she reveals how to get thousands of chocolate-covered strawberries out to lusting customers. Nancy and Sylvia dive under the covers to reveal some interesting and lesser-known history and...

One Waitress, One Microphone, a Whole Lot of Regret, and a Story That Became a Family Legend. This true Family Tree, Food Story begins with a simple radio interview that soon spirals into a chaotic comedy of errors. Here, your Co-Host Sylvia Lovely recounts a college indiscretion that involved a local Moorhead restaurant and a disastrous on-air performance that threatened a financial loss and dera...