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We're starting the new year right with a hearty soup recipe you can whip up in time for January 1, or anytime you want something warm and comforting in the cold winter days ahead. IHC host Susan Mintert is in the kitchen to demonstrate her mom's Vegetable Beef Soup, using a few simple ingredients.

As summer slips away, host Susan Mintert celebrates tomatoes and sweet corn. Tomato harvest began in August for commercial growers, and Susan visited the Red Gold corporate headquarters and packing facility in Elwood, Indiana, to get the story on one of the nation's top tomato processors. Also on this episode, a visit to the National Sweet Corn Festival in Hoopeston, Illinois. Our neighbors to the west have a 76-year tradition going, shucking, boiling, and buttering thousands of pounds of sweet corn during this Labor Day event. Music is by The Underscore Orkestra and Slainte at The Free Music Archive.

Host Susan Mintert visits the Indiana State Fair in this episode of the Indiana Home Cooks Podcast. She shares the stories of an Indiana pork producer and home cook, and some pioneer cooks doing things the old fashioned way. It's a cracklin' good time. Pictures and more are at the blog, indianahomecooks.com. Music is by The Underscore Orkestra and Slainte at the Free Music Archive.

A unique food gaining the attention of professional chefs and home cooks alike has its origin right here in Indiana. On this episode, we learn how Dr. Torbert Rocheford's original mission to improve diets in underdeveloped countries lead to a new specialty food product here in the U.S.--Professor Torbert's Orange Corn Grits. Host Susan Mintert talks with the professor and his son Evan about the orange corn story, and with Torbert's wife Katie who shares recipes and interesting uses for the orange corn grits. Recipes, pictures, and more are on the blog, indianahomecooks.com. IHC music is by The Underscore Orkestra and Slainte at The Free Music Archive. Closing theme is by Leon Mercer.

In this Bonus Track of the IHC podcast, host Susan Mintert demos her Vegetable Tian on the Grill. It's a delicious combination of summer vegetables, easily prepared with minimal fuss. The recipe and pictures are on the blog, indianahomecooks.com.

June is Indiana Wine Grape Month and on the Indiana Home Cooks podcast, host Susan Mintert is sampling Indiana's official State Wine--Traminette. Meredith Easley of Easley Winery in Indianapolis and Thom England, Culinary Arts Program Director at Ivy Tech provide the wines and food pairings, as the three discuss and sample the versatile Traminette. See pictures from the episode and other information at indianahomecooks.com or on the Indiana Home Cooks Blog link on the Podbean player.

Now that it's grilling and barbecue season, we are taking Indiana Home Cooks outdoors and firing up the grill with Andy and Michelle Schwindler of the Sandy Beach Barbecue Company. Situated on Lake Freeman just south of Monticello, Indiana, Sandy Beach has its own outdoor kitchen, plus retail space for Big Green Egg Grills, accessories, seasonings, etc. Andy and Michelle share the story of how their business evolved from building outdoor kitchens to selling the grills and other products needed to get the most from the outdoor cooking experience. They also share several barbecue techniques, tips, and tricks that apply to the Big Green Egg, or to gas or charcoal grilling. See pictures and more from this episode at indianahomecooks.com.  

In this bonus track of the IHC Podcast, Susan demonstrates her Italian Pot Roast, a low-fuss meal you can prepare in a slow cooker or in the oven. Recipe and pictures are on the blog: indianahomecooks.com.

Indiana Artisans are the top tier of artists, craftspeople, and food makers in the state. Their annual Artisan Marketplace was held recently at the State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Susan Mintert met several food artisans there and profiles them on this edition of the Indiana Home Cooks podcast. We cover barbecue, German inspired baked goods, and barrel aged maple syrup! Learn more about the Indiana Artisans program, see pictures from the podcast and links to the artisans at Susan's blog, indianahomecooks.com. And share this podcast with a friend! Just click the share button on show's page. Thanks!  

In this episode we take a peak inside Sweet Revolution Bake Shop, in downtown Lafayette, as host Susan Mintert visits with owners Sarah McGregor-Raye and Jonathan McGregor. This sister and brother are an unbeatable combo at cranking out pies and a wide assortment of pastries for their Lafayette customers. Hear how they combined their skills and drive to make Sweet Revolution a sweet success. Learn more and see pictures at indianahomecooks.com.

The number of wineries in Indiana continues to grow and the quality of the wine they're making continues to improve. During the cold winter months grape growers and wine makers are learning ways to keep the momentum going in their industry. One place they do that is the annual Horticulture Congress, put on by Purdue University, in Indianapolis. Host Susan Mintert attended the Congress this month and visited with several wine makers, grape growers, and members of Purdue's Wine Grape Team.

The Indiana Home Cooks Podcast is undergoing some updates. Host Susan Mintert has a brief message to explain where and how to listen here on the new host site Podbean, and elsewhere. Get more details on the IHC blog, indianahomecooks.com.

In this IHC bonus track, host Susan Mintert cooks a family favorite dish that will warm your insides on a cold winter evening. Hear how her Cincinnati-Style Chili comes together, and find the recipe at the indianahomecooks.com website.

Holiday celebrations center on food. There is no denying it. Whatever time of year the holiday falls, there is some food or other that is central to the celebration and to the gathering of family and friends. In the midst of the Christmas holiday season, Susan Mintert and her daughter, Christine Hack, sat down and talked about some favorite holiday foods they love to prepare, as well as eat. Music is by The Underscore Orkestra and Borrtex at freemusicarchive.org.

In this bonus track, Susan and her daughter Christine whip up a sweet and addictive treat--homemade caramel corn. It's super quick, utilizing the microwave oven and a paper grocery bag, and great for gift giving, parties, or for munching in the kitchen the minute it's done! The recipe is at indianahomecooks.com.

Home brewing is in the spotlight in this edition of Indiana Home Cooks. Host Susan Mintert visits the home brewery of John Blichmann, in Lafayette, IN. John talks about how his experience brewing his own beer lead to a career in designing and building pro level equipment for home and craft brewers alike. Music by The Underscore Orkestra and Sláinte, at freemusicarchive.org. (CC-BY-NC-SA) Closing theme by Leon Mercer.

In this bonus track, host Susan Mintert and her mom, Barbara Mercer, whip up a family favorite that is never absent from their Thanksgiving table--Fluffy Yeast Rolls. Music by The Underscore Orkestra and Sláinte from freemusicarchive.org. (CC-BY-NC-SA)

Barbecue takes many forms across the USA and most regions have their own signature styles. At one BBQ spot in West Point, Indiana, you can savor the best of Texas-style barbecue and Tex-Mex dishes. Indiana Home Cooks host Susan Mintert visited with Lee Stanish, who brought his meat smoking talents from Pennsylvania to the Hoosier State and is making his mark at Eddie Joe's Icehouse, in downtown West Point. Music by The Underscore Orkestra and Sláinte at freemusicarchive.org (CC-BY-NC-SA). Closing theme by Leon Mercer.

A chilly fall afternoon, and a short prep time, inspired this delicious Italian Sausage & Lentil Soup. Indiana Home Cooks host Susan Mintert explains it all, and husband Jim offers a thumbs up, in this BONUS TRACK. The recipe is at indianahomecooks.com. As always, theme music on the IHC podcast is by The Underscore Orkestra at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Underscore_Orkestra/.

Over wine and a caprese salad, Stephanie Hainje talks with host Susan Mintert about foods we loved this summer, what's around the corner for fall cooking and baking, and where in the world we find all these recipes. Music is by The Underscore Orkestra at freemusicarchive.org. (CC-BY-NC-SA) Closing theme by Leon Mercer.