Taste Buds

Season 2

Season 2 of Taste Buds brings more fun with my Emmy-nominated take on foodie fun throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. I’m joined by foodies, food producers and chefs as we explore the food creators in our community, get inspired by them and head back to my home to make dishes that even the most intrepid home cook can try with success. Each 30-minute episode can be found on the Fox 9 local app and the show airs every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on Fox 9. Get all the episodes and show recipes below.

Never Miss A Recipe

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel to get all my recipe videos. You can also find every episode of Taste Buds here in descending order. 

Or, keep up with the latest Taste Buds episodes and all my latest happenings by signing up for my newsletter. And find all of my favorite recipes here!

Halftime Edition – BLT Dip

Stephanie Hansen is serving up a fresh take on a BLT but this time its a dip in this special halftime edition of Taste Buds. 

Halftime Edition – Bacon Cheeseburger Muffin Cups

Stephanie Hansen is serving up another game-day recipe in this halftime edition of Taste Buds. This week, kick your football party apps up a notch with Bacon Cheeseburger Muffin Cups.

Recipes

• Layered BLT Dip
• Bacon Cheeseburger Muffin Cups

Episode 3 – Spring Rolls & Noodle Bowls with Christina Nguyen

Stephanie Hansen explores flavors from Southeast Asia with Hai Hai Chef Christina Nguyen in this episode of Taste Buds.

Recipes:

• Turmeric Noodle Bowls with Shrimp
• Spring Roll in a Bowl with Peanut Sauce Dressing

Halftime Edition – Buffalo Chicken Dip

Taste Buds is tackling another halftime recipe for your game-day parties! Stephanie Hansen makes her Buffalo Chicken Dip this week with a protein-packed twist: Kemps cottage cheese.

Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Dip

Episode 4 – Cocktail wizards, marinated olives, and roasted shrimp

Stephanie Hansen is shaken, stirred, and spellbound in this cocktail-themed episode of Taste Buds as she visits Earl Giles Distillery, Tattersall Distilling, and then welcomes Erik Eastman of Minnesota Ice into her kitchen.

Recipes

• Walnut Infused Vermouth
• Roasted Shrimp
• Marinated Olives

Halftime Edition – Hot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Stephanie Hansen brings her Crocktober tradition to Taste Buds with a new halftime recipe for game day! Make these Hot Italian Beef Sandwiches and pile them high with fixings for a hearty party favorite.

Recipes

• Hot Beef Sandwiches

Episode 5 – Pumpkin Bites

Join Stephanie as she visits Al’s Breakfast in Minneapolis for the perfect pumpkin pancakes. Next she heads to Yum! Kitchen and Bakery for a decadent pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting and a pumpkin spice latte with real pumpkin.

Back at home, Stephanie shares her own pumpkin bar recipe. Plus, she goes savory with a creamy pumpkin rigatoni, topped with crispy prosciutto and sage.

Recipes

• Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Creamy Pumpkin Rigatoni with Crispy Prosciutto and Sage

Episode 6 – Free-Range Turkeys and Thanksgiving Sides

Stephanie Hansen checks out life on the farm at Ferndale Market, where they raise free-range turkeys in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Back at home, Stephanie and her daughter Ellie make their favorite Thanksgiving sides: cranberry caramelized onion butter, roasted carrots with honey brickle, and baked mac and cheese.

Recipes

• Roasted Carrots with Honey Brickle
• Cranberry Carmelized Butter
• Ellie’s Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Halftime Edition – Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Stephanie Hansen is serving up something sweet for your game day buffet! These Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are made with cream cheese frosting sandwiched between two fluffy pumpkin cookies.

Recipes

• Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Episode 7 – Sweet, savory and soulful pies

It’s pie season and Stephanie Hansen is on the hunt for all things sweet, savory, and special in this episode of Taste Buds. First up: premade pie crusts at Vikings & Goddesses Pie Company. The next stop is Rose McGee, who runs Sweet Potato Comfort Pie.

Back at home, Stephanie switches to savory flavors with pastry chef Alicia Hinze, founder of The Buttered Tin. Alicia shows Stephanie how she creates her chorizo, egg and cheese hand pies with local ingredients, before Stephanie finishes off with her own recipe for chocolate peanut butter pie made with Vikings & Goddesses’ crust. 

Recipes

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
• Rose McGees Sweet Potato Comfort Pie

Halftime Edition – Sheet Pan Quesadillas

Stephanie Hansen whips up a big game day crowd pleaser in this halftime edition of Taste Buds. Layer large tortillas on a sheet pan and fill with your favorite ingredients to create a crispy, flavorful, and shareable app for your party guests.

Recipe

• Super Size Sheet Pan Quesadilla

Episode 8 – Holiday Sweets with Zoë Bakes

Macaroons, gingerbread houses, and salted caramels are on the menu in this holiday episode of Taste Buds.

Join Stephanie Hansen as she visits Zoë François, a celebrated pastry chef, best-selling cookbook author, and the Emmy-nominated host of Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network and HBO Max.

Zoë whips up two recipes from her latest cookbook, Zoë Bakes Cookies. The first is a simple way to bring flavor, texture, and color together with coconut macaroons. Then, she has a fun challenge for Stephanie: gingerbread cookies constructed into tiny houses.

Back at home, Stephanie makes her grandma’s salted Christmas caramels, which are one of her favorite hostess gifts. 

Recipes

• Zoes’s Macaroons
• Stephanie’s Salted Caramels
• Zoe’s Gingerbread

Episode 9 – A Swedish Holiday with Meatballs, Gravlax, and Herring

Stephanie Hansen dives into a smörgåsbord of Swedish cuisine on this holiday episode of Taste Buds.

First up, she stops by the American Swedish Institute with Patrice Johnson, aka the Nordic Food Geek. Of course, it can’t be a Swedish holiday in the Twin Cities without a trip to Ingebretsen’s. 

Back in the kitchen, Stephanie creates meatball appetizers with a meatball mix from Ingebretsen’s, accompanied by a creamy horseradish sauce.

Recipes

• Swedish Meatballs

Halftime Edition – Walking Tacos

Stephanie Hansen is serving up one of her most popular recipes in this halftime edition of Taste Buds. These walking tacos are made in the crockpot with Doritos, beans, seasonings, and enchilada sauce. Crock it on low for five hours to get a savory base to fill your chip bag.

Recipe

• Walking Tacos

Bonus Edition – Kitchen Fails Mini Episode

Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares is back on FOX and to celebrate, Stephanie Hansen is sharing some of her never-before-seen kitchen fails.

Episode 10 – Hearty Soups & Southern Gumbo

Stephanie celebrates soup season with two of her favorite homemade soups: Beer Cheese Wild Rice and Chicken Chili Verde. But first, she heads up north for a taste of New Orleans at Krewe Restaurant, run by Mateo Mackbee and his partner Erin Lucas (Flour and Flower, named NYT best bakery)

Recipes

• Green Chicken Chili
• Beer Cheese Wild Rice

Episode 11 – Homemade Pasta and Easy Ravioli

Stephanie Hansen visits her go-to destination for incredible pasta: Dario in the North Loop of Minneapolis. There, Chef Joe Rolle has brought in Chef Rachael McLeod (@corneliuspasta) to create artisan pasta shapes to complement his one-of-a-kind dishes.

Chef Rachael and her team prep fresh pasta daily and show Stephanie how to create three distinct shapes: Cappellacci, Doppio, and Garganelli. Chef Joe then welcomes Stephanie into his kitchen as he uses the pasta to make menu items that include butternut squash, sunchoke, ricotta, and pork ragu.

Inspired by all the artisan pasta action at Dario, Stephanie heads home to try making homemade pasta for the first time. For anyone looking to do something a simpler, try Stephanie’s ricotta wonton ravioli recipe. Both pastas pair perfectly with her roasted cherry tomato sauce. 

Recipes

• Fresh Egg Noodle Pasta
• Easy Ricotta Ravioli with Wonton Wrappers

Episode 12 – : Chocolate Bonbons, Brownies, and Bundt Cake

Stephanie Hansen’s love of chocolate takes her across the Twin Cities to visit some of the area’s best chocolatiers and bakers in this episode of Taste Buds.

First up, bite-sized bonbons by Denny Rain, who founded Cocoa Flake in Robbinsdale. Originally from Italy, Denny grew up fascinated by her aunt’s cakes and pastries and developed her love of sweets into a career as a pastry chef, eventually opening her own business specializing in hand-painted bonbons. See more of Denny’s work on her Instagram, @cocoaflakemn.

Nearly 50 miles northeast in Marine on St. Croix, Robyn Dochterman is also serving up beautiful bonbons and chocolate creations at her shop, St. Croix Chocolate Company. Robyn’s award-winning confections are celebrated internationally, including a 2023 Gold Award at the International Chocolate Awards (Americas) for her Macadamia Bonbon. Robyn’s team also creates 3D structures with chocolate, often with detailed airbrushing and edible embellishments. Check out everything happening at St. Croix Chocolate company on their Instagram, @stcroixchocolateco.

Back at home, Nicole Aufderhar joins Stephanie in the kitchen to make a decadent blackberry chocolate bundt cake. Nicole was a finalist on The Great American Baking Show in 2024 and shares all her creations on her Instagram, @tenthousandbakes. She loves to combine her passion for foraging with baking to build unique recipes that encourage the home cook to explore. 

Stephanie caps off this chocolate-lovers episode with her gluten free bourbon brownies, a simple recipe for any home cook to try.

Recipes

• Gluten Free Bourbon Brownies
• Chocolate and Blackberry Bundt Cake

Episode 13 – Saucy Chicken, Whipped Feta, and Baked Pasta with the Food Dolls

Stephanie Hansen visits the Food Dolls to celebrate the launch of their debut cookbook, “Pretty Delicious”, which features colorful Mediterranean recipes packed with fresh herbs and flavor.

Alia and Radwa Elkaffas are sisters who’ve built a massive online following, including more than 1.6 million followers on their Instagram, @fooddolls. Their specialty is simple social media videos crafting original recipes, including a variety of whipped feta cheese dips, one-pot savory meals, and lush desserts.

The Food Dolls give Stephanie an inside look at how their dishes come together by demonstrating two recipes from their new cookbook: Marinated Tomatoes with Whipped Feta, and Saucy Chicken and Potatoes. Both recipes combine fresh herbs, flavorful spices, and creamy yogurt to achieve a bright, exciting, and comforting bite. 

Back at home and inspired by her time with the Food Dolls, Stephanie whips up the Egyptian Orzo Pasta from their cookbook and then puts her own spin on their whipped feta dip by making a cheesy tomato and feta pasta bake.

Recipes

• Egyptian Orzo Pasta
• Baked Cheesy Tomato and Feta Pasta

Episode 14 – Strawberry Delights with @sweetGirlTreatsMn

Stephanie Hansen goes big for strawberry season with showstopping recipes and family favorites in this episode of Taste Buds.
First, she heads to Jackie Thesing’s @SweetGirlTreatsMn house to make strawberry pie cookies and strawberry angel food cake ice cream.

Jackie’s popular Instagram, @sweetgirltreatsmn, features all her unique recipes and fun moments with her three kids (who love to lend a hand in the kitchen). Find the recipes for Jackie’s cookies and ice cream at sweetgirltreatsmn.com. Back at home, Stephanie whips up a simple strawberry salad with buttermilk dressing, and her famous strawberry cake – a family favorite during her birthday at the cabin. Grab the recipes at tastebudswithstephanie.com or here:

Recipes

• Strawberry Lemon Cake With Whip Cream Frosting
• Strawberry Buttermilk Salad

Episode 15 – Ballpark Bites and Dressed Up Dogs

Stephanie Hansen is slinging ballpark hits in this hot dog-themed episode of Taste Buds. Go behind-the-scenes at CHS Field with the St. Paul Saints to craft their epic six-foot dog, dubbed the Land of 10,000 Calories, created by Professional Sports Catering Executive Chef James Cross.

Then head to the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins at Target field in Minneapolis, where the Kramarczuk’s Sausage Sampler draws the crowds to Gate 34 on game day. Kramarczuk’s co-owner Mike Gordienko gives Stephanie the inside scoop on the sausage flight before chowing down at the ballpark. Back at home, Stephanie whips up dill pickle potato salad before her daughter, Ellie, comes over to demonstrate barbecue cross hatch hot dogs, and quirky kid-friendly octopus dogs.

Recipes:

• Dilly Potato Salad
• Meaty Baked Bean Chili for Hot Dogs
• Cross Hatch and Octopus Dogs

Episode 16 – Baking T-Rex Cookies and Monster Bites

Stephanie Hansen is teaming up for an epic cookie collab in the latest episode of Taste Buds. Partnering with Tina Rexing, owner of the nationally renowned T-Rex Cookie bakery, Stephanie helps create a bold, sweet-and-spicy treat that gives back in a big way.

The “Thai It You’ll Like It” cookie is a flavor bomb made with creamy peanut butter, warm ginger, crushed Thai pepper, shredded coconut, sea salt, and sanding sugar in Stephanie’s signature orange color.

For every cookie sold, T-Rex Cookie will donate $2 to No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit working to ensure every child in the U.S. has access to three healthy meals a day, all year long. Order your Cookies Here.

Then, back in her kitchen, Stephanie goes big—baking a giant monster cookie and whipping up ice cream sandwiches with fudgy brownies and coffee ice cream.

Recipes:

• Monster Cookies
• Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Episode 17: Farm Fresh Pizza and Easy Dough

Stephanie Hansen crafts woodfired pizzas at Alpha & Omega Pizza Farm, a beloved family-owned farm that features local ingredients and friendly goats. Kim Hayes shows Stephanie her popular recipe for the Tuscan Tart rhubarb jam pizza, and a fresh take on dill pickle pizza dubbed the Dilly Goat. Alpha & Omega hosts pizza nights, goat yoga, and glamping through the summer in Princeton, Minnesota.

Back at home, Stephanie’s husband Kurt demonstrates his juggling skills – and his favorite homemade pizza – with a simple, quick-rising dough topped with mozzarella, pepperoni and onions.

If you want to skip the yeast, try Stephanie’s spin on a 3-ingredient pizza dough, cooked in a cast iron skillet and finished in the oven with fresh pizza sauce and sautéed vegetables.

Recipes:

• Kurt’s Pizza Dough
• No Yeast 3-Ingredient Pizza Dough
• Easy Pizza Sauce

Episode 19: Taste Buds: New York-Style Bagels and Viral Two-Ingredient Recipe

Stephanie Hansen visits St. Paul Bagelry to watch them roll, boil, and bake their New York-style bagels and craft them into sandwiches named after rock and roll icons, including the John Denver and the Joni Mitchell. St. Paul Bagelry has two locations in the Twin Cities metro and continues to expand in grocery stores and markets around the region. See what they’re up to at stpaulbagelry.com.

Back in her kitchen, Stephanie puts her own spin on a viral two-ingredient bagel recipe before piling them up with homemade gravlax and easy veggie schmear.

Recipes:

• Bagel
• Veggie Cream Cheese
• Gravlax (Cured Salmon)