ELY- Award-winning TV personality Stephanie Hansen was the guest at the Northwoods Partners’ Tasty Tuesday program on Tuesday, July 16. Hansen packed the west room at the Ely Folk School for her presentation with over 30 attendees.
Hansen is the host of the “Taste Buds with Stephanie” program on KMSP-TV in Minneapolis, “The Weekly Dish” radio show on Talk 107.1, and the “Makers of Minnesota” podcast. She also appears regularly on “The Jason Show,” a daily talk show on KMSP-TV. Hansen won a Regional Emmy award in 2023 for her TV programming.
Hansen is also the author of the “True North Cabin Cookbook,” which features Minnesota recipes gathered over the years from cooking at her family’s cabin on Burntside Lake. Hansen related some of her cabin cooking experiences to the Tasty Tuesday group.
One incident highlighted the occasional downside of visiting with a TV chef. “My little niece asked, ‘Why don’t you make hot dogs like everybody else? And not the kind from the Zup’s either. I mean regular hot dogs.’”
Hansen prepared and presented four recipes in Ely with help from Tasty Tuesday program leader Kathleen Miller and kitchen volunteers Diane Thomsen and Liisa Norman.
The recipes were all from the “True North Cabin Cookbook”: Delores’ king ranch chicken, roasted beet salad with blueberry and balsamic dressing, cavatappi pasta salad with basil pesto, and salted coffee brownies. The 31 attendees were able to sample all four dishes.
Hansen wrapped up her Tasty Tuesday visit with a book signing session for her “True North Cabin Cookbook.”

Tasty Tuesday
Tasty Tuesday is a free monthly program hosted by the nonprofit Northwoods Partners, that is aimed at older adults. Volunteer Kathleen Miller leads the group with the help of a guest chef and culinary volunteers. Each class introduces three to four recipes, including a demonstration on how to prepare the dishes. The 90-minute program ends every month with generous samples of the completed recipes.
The program started in June 2021 as an Ely Community Health Center pilot project funded by the Northland Foundation. Tasty Tuesday’s goal is to provide nutrition and cooking tips for those on a budget. Today, the program is sustained with smaller grants and other fundraising by Northwoods Partners. There is no cost to attend the class, however, donations are gratefully accepted.
Tasty Tuesday is usually focused on a key ingredient, a holiday, unique flavors or ingredients. The themes are not announced in advance. “Participants expect a surprise each month,” Miller said.
“(The Tasty Tuesday) class was particularly important to the older adult community as we emerged from the social isolation after COVID,” Miller said. “The popularity of the program continues through word-of-mouth advertising.”
Tasty Tuesday meets on the third Tuesday of the month. So they can order appropriate food quantities for each class, Northwoods Partners asks that those who want to attend to please register in advance.
To register, call 218-302-1778 and leave a message with your name, phone number and the class you wish attend. You can also send an email to tastytuesdayely@gmail.com. Northwoods Partners will confirm your registration.
Beginning in August, Tasty Tuesday will be held at the new Ely Community Hub located on Miners Drive.