Sunday Subscribers

Cheap Eats, A cookbook preview, Spaghetti Carbonara, Mushroom coffee, Reuben Rolls, Corned Beef and Thousand Island Dressing

Hey there! If you are new here, thanks for joining my Substack! I am Stephaniesdish or Stephanie Hansen. I write and cook from the heart in the Midwest.

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Every Wednesday, the newsletter is free and includes a recipe

On Fridays, I go Live at 6 pm Central, or I send you a podcast from my show “Dishing With Stephanies Dish”

On Sundays, I supersize it for subscribers, including exclusive recipes, videos, personal photos, and recommendations.

Lets get into it ….

What I am thinking about:

We talked about food costs on our radio show this week and shopping your refrigerator and freezer to make meals. (Listen to the show on Saturdays from 9 am-11 am central time on Mytalk 107.1 or the Podcast WeeklyDish)

I finished my taxes, and because I use food as part of my job on TV and writing cookbooks, I use groceries as a write-off. In 2023, I spent $4000 on food for a household of two people. In 2024, the year I wrote my second book, I paid $14,500, which tracks as it felt like every time I went to the grocery store, my bill was over $200, and I was going multiple times a week to prep for the TV shows and to shoot and test recipes for the Cookbook. I am familiar with the costs of food!

People always ask me where I shop, and the answer is all over. I mainly go to Cub Foods because it’s inexpensive and near my house. I also like Fresh Thyme. The costs feel reasonable, but the produce isn’t great. Whole Foods has beautiful produce, but I always pay more for essentials. Kowalskis is my hometown's favorite as it features lots of Minnesota-made products, but there isn't one near my house, so I go to my mom’s favorite place (rest in peace) Lunds/Byerlys, for a quick run or beautiful meats and produce. I have an aversion to the Costco parking lots, legendary in St Louis Park as the third circle of Hell, so I have only gone once (The Jason Show filmed an episode about it).

I need to add Aldi to my list, as I know the prices are reasonable, but I hate making two stops for a recipe, and I feel like they don’t always have what I need. I also shop at Farmers Markets, have a Fall CSA love a good butcher shop and various specialty markets like Golden Fig St Paul and Lakewinds or the other fine Twin Cities Co-ops when they are near me. I have never shopped online. It’s just not for me. I want to touch my food, and I enjoy the experience. I often run into fans of “Taste Buds with Stephanie” when I am shopping, so if you see me, say hi.

We discussed inexpensive food you can make at home on the radio show. Here are some of the ideas that came up:

Eggs:

Costs are for sure rising, as I spent $7.00 on a carton recently but its still an inexpesive protein comparably. My favorite ways to eat eggs as a meal are:

• Frittata

• Torta

• Fried egg on Kimchee Fried Rice

Beans:

A bag or can of beans is still the most economical bang for your buck. I love to make Black Beans and use them in various ways on stacks of crispy tostadas.

Try the following combinations of beans and tostadas:

• Shredded Chicken and a little salad with shredded lettuce, radishes, and cilantro tossed with Salad Girl Chile Limone salad dressing

• One Fried egg. Garnish with your favorite Salsa from El Burrito, A drizzle of Crema, and a sprinkle of avocado crema (blend half an avocado with Crema and Lime juice until smooth and the consistency to drizzle.

• Ground Chorizo. This can either be fried separately and scattered on top of the bean mixture or mixed in with the beans to create a thicker, more stable bed of ingredients to garnish. Top with shredded lettuce, pickled jalapenos, queso fresco, and a drizzle of Crema. Squeeze with a fresh lime before serving.

• Blackened Tilapia or Catfish filets. Brown the filets in butter with Cajun dried seasonings. Spread 1/3 cup of beans on your tostada and put the fish filet on top. Add Cilantro, chopped green onions, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of Crema.

• Peel some shrimp and slice some red and green pepper. Grill up some shrimp and peppers with

Lentils:

Dhal or stewed Lentils is a very inexpensive food for the week My friend Heather Janz’s Recipe is a staple in my house. You make up a pot for dinner, then portion some for soups, fried lentil cakes, and flat breads

• Leftover Dhal

• Whole wheat Flour

• Spices like Cumin, Chili powder or Garam Masala

• Salt

• Water for kneading

• Oil for cooking

  • Instructions
    In a bowl, mix leftover dal with whole wheat flour, spices, and salt. Knead into a dough, adding water as needed.
    Divide the dough into balls and roll them out into flat circles.
    Cook on a hot griddle, applying ghee or butter until both sides are golden brown.

Rice:

I have various ways to use a bag of rice. I buy Medium Grain and I buy big bags. I cook two cups of rice at a time and freeze it in one cup blocks in these Souper Cubes.

• Fried Rice - An awesome way to use of Meat Proteins

• Risotto - I only use arborio rice if I am making Risotto for company. At home I use regular rice and I make it in the Instant Pot more often than not.

• Rice Salads: Add rice to any vinaigrette with veggies and you have a nice inexpensive salad.

• Crispy Rice: Skip the croutons and try crispy rice as a salad enhancer.

What are you eating to save money on groceries right now?

Speaking of my Cookbook:

I finished one more edit this week and we are getting close to being done with version 2 of the “True North Cabin Cookbook”. The book will come out in September. If you have any places you would like me to do a book signing or events you would like me to visit, host, sell books at - let me know. I have met with the team and we are putting the book schedule and tour together right now.

Do you want to see a Cookbook preview?

I am so excited - I love the little details in the design and the recipes are some of my personal favorites. The cookbook picks up the narrative from the last book and completes the year moving from the “True North” to my cozy Twin Cities kitchen with seasonal recipes from October- April.

Here is a Subscriber exclusive recipe from the book that got cut. I love the recipe and make it all the time but I didnt love the final picture so I cut it.

Spaghetti Carbonara

serves 4

Ingredients

1 16 oz package dry spaghetti

2 eggs, room temperature

4 egg yolks

2/3 cup parmesan cheese, room temperature

8 slices center-cut bacon, chopped

2 eggs, room temperature

4 egg yolks

2/3 cup parmesan cheese, room temperature

1 Tbsp kosher salt

1 Tbsp fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Here area few more recipes exclusively for Sunday Subscribers from the recipe archive for Paid Subscribers

• Zuppa Toscana

• Meaty Baked Beans

• Quinoa Greek Salad

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package directions scoop out 1/3 cup of pasta water and drain the noodles when the pasta is done

Chop the bacon into 1/2-inch squares. Cook the bacon in a frying pan until crispy and all the fat has rendered off, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain the bacon.

Whisk the two eggs and the yolks with the parmesan cheese salt in a large bowl and set aside. Make sure this bowl is big enough to hold the entire batch of pasta that you cook.

Using one hand, quickly whisk the egg and cheese mixture while pouring the pasta into the bowl. Make sure to whisk continuously. Otherwise, the eggs will scramble. Add the cooked bacon.

Do not stop whisking until everything is combined. To get a saucier sauce, add reserved pasta water a Tablespoon at a time. Finish with more Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper to taste

My Latest Obsession:

I am not a paid endorser for Ryze coffee *(I did include Amazon affiliate links here) but they did send me some to try. In fact they have sent it to me twice and the first batch I gave away. Originally I was very skeptical about Mushroom coffee and it didn’t taste great - in fact the first time i had it I was not a fan at all but I wanted to stick with it as a way to reduce inflammation so I found a way to make it better:

I take 1 Tbsp Ryze Mushroom Coffee per day in a shake with two scoops of this Vanilla Collagen Protein Powder and blend it in my Blendi. It has about the same amount of caffeine as one cup of coffee and it tastes like coffee with cream made with coconut milk. I chug it down. I have noticed a change in my inflammation in my hand where I suspect I am getting arthritis. I also sprained my ankle at Pickelball a year ago and its recovered but its still puffy and this is helping that puffiness as well. As far as mental clarity I cant say but I am sold on the mushroom coffee for the way its reducing my inflammation and it feels like a harmless but helpful addition to my daily routine. I waited to pass judgement until I was almost through a whole bag as I think it takes time to work.

Anyone else drinking it? Are you taking Protein Powders? Id love to compare notes

Last week I planted my garden seeds and we have a few sprouts!

Where I went:

Kurt is traveling in our van this week - he isheading towards Palm Springs where I will fly out to meet him today. If you have any Must See or Do Suggestions - let me know

While he has been gone I have been getting in as much girlfriend time as possible!

This week I went to

Frenchmans Pub - in Richfield. To call this a Dive Bar is right and I loved it! You know I love a good dive bar where you can get a delicious smashy burger, wings and tots and if there are Pulltabs thats a bonus! The Frenchman delivers on all fronts.

I went to see “The Effect” at the Jungle Theater. The Jungle is a theater that does great thought provoking shows. I have been to two this year and am a huge fan. This show runs through the end of the month. Stop by their neighbor Icono’s gastro cantina for a margarita!

We had a delightful breakfast at St Genevieve - The mimosa flight was fun and the food was very tasty. I loved the perfect French omlette with crab.

“Giants” at MIA is the private collection of musicians Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.

Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, “Giants” highlights nearly 100 significant works by Black diasporic artists, including Gordon Parks (from St Paul)

It is fantastic! An absolute must see! The works are large, the show is immersive and the Art is wonderful.

What I Recorded:

I am editing a video for these Reuben Rolls on YouTube. They are so good and use up the last bits of Corned Beef from your St Patricks Day Feast

All the St Patricks Day Recipes from the show are here including:

Recipes:

• Irish Mule

• Irish Coffee

• Mussels

• Colcannon

• Seedy Brown Bread

Do you Subscribe to my YouTube Channel? I have all my video and Podcast content there.

This week I made Corned Beef Roast

and homemade Thousand Island Dressing is new!

I am adding Video to my Podcast channels!

Watch the latest with Rachel White, a food stylist from @setthetablephotography

JOIN ME ON A FUN TRIP
A Taste of Sicily

October 14 - 22, 2025

Join Stephanie Hansen for an unforgettable journey to Sicily! Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and rich history of this stunning island. Our adventure includes stays in Palermo, Agrigento, and Siracusa, where we'll explore ancient Greek, Roman, and Norman sites, enjoy a local winery visit, and delight in exceptional Sicilian cuisine. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to experience the best of Sicily!