The Recipe Box

On this episode of The Recipe Box, we talk about one of our favorite comforting dishes. Bread pudding started as a practical way to use stale bread in medieval kitchens and eventually turned into the rich, regional comfort food you’ll find all over America today. We’re joined by Sara Broers, from Travel with Sara and the Midwest Travel Network. Sara has a habit of hunting down bread pudding whenev...

On this episode of The Recipe Box, we dive into the story behind gnocchi. We’ll talk about where it comes from, how it’s made, and how it’s served. We welcome our guest, Maggie Stacy, who shares her family’s gnocchi recipe that uses potato flakes, which is such a smart twist on the traditional method. More than anything, we end up talking about how recipes connect us to the people who taught us to...

On today’s episode of The Recipe Box, we’re talking with Brian Croft, Director of the Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in Southern Illinois, about a long‑running Southern Illinois University food tradition. The Buffalo Tro was started more than 60 years ago by outdoor‑education pioneer and SIU professor L.B. Sharp. Guests at the event enjoy steaks cooked over hot coals, storytelling, and a...

On today’s episode of The Recipe Box, we’re spooning up the history of cornbread and how it became a staple in American cooking. We talk about early Native American meal breads, the simple versions baked in colonial kitchens, and even those mid‑century mixes so many of us keep in the pantry for a quick shortcut. We talk about different regional styles like savory Southern skillet cornbread, sweete...

We love celebrating strawberry shortcake as one of the truest signs that summer has finally arrived in Southern Illinois. In this episode, we trace the dish from its early European biscuit‑cake roots to the versions we grew up with.  Then we sit down with Austin Flamm of Flamm Orchards to talk about why nothing compares to strawberries that ripen right here at home. You’ll hear stories about the s...

On this episode of The Recipe Box, we’re chatting with Will and Keesha Lo about the journey of noodles, from a 4,000‑year‑old Chinese noodle to the Americanized dish we call Asian spaghetti. We talk about the popular Chinese noodle dish Zha Jiang Mian and how fusion foods evolve as cultures and kitchens meet. Along the way, we all learn a lot about each other, find out some tidbits from our pasts...

On this episode of The Recipe Box, we’re talking with local Spice Lady and owner of The JAY Effect, Yemisi Anderson, about mac and cheese. We dig into recipes from boxed and stovetop versions to indulgent baked dishes while exploring cheeses, techniques, seasoning blends, and creative add-ins that elevate this Midwest favorite. Alongside practical tips like shredding your own cheese and using crea...

This week on The Recipe Box, April Summers calls in from Chicago to tell us about one of the most memorable food moments when she made spanakopita to impress a crush, told a little white lie about the ricotta, and, well... things did not go as planned. Giggles ensued, and what follows is a heartfelt conversation about how cooking can be its own kind of love language.   From the Recipe Box of April...

This episode of The Recipe Box is all about the many iterations of goulash. Hosts Niki Davis and Stephanie Rhodes explore  Hungarian goulash and the Midwestern version many of us grew up eating. Their long-time foodie friends, Jill Johnson and Jenn Sorrell jump in to share their family recipes and the stories behind each. Along the way, you’ll hear how the dish made its way across the ocean, why i...

Show Notes With decades of baking experience under her belt and a lifetime of lessons learned from a legendary home cook (her granny), Kim Emery knows the true secret to a perfect recipe is tradition. While she’s mastered the art of baking, her most cherished title is 'Gram' to her grandson, Nate. In this episode of The Recipe Box, hosts Niki Davis and Stephanie Rhodes sit down with Kim to explore...

Welcome to The Recipe Box with hosts Niki Davis and Stephanie Rhodes, a podcast that explores beloved family dishes, the variations that spark debate, and the stories behind them. In this trailer episode they share childhood food memories, discuss how recipes travel and change over time, and invite listeners to join as they compare, confess, and celebrate the recipes that connect us.   Production:...