Last week, we took a crash course on the history of the pasty: a savory pocket of dough filled with beef, potato, and rutabaga. The dish has become distinctly regional food in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Today, we shared the story of one particular recipe that made its way into thousands of homes, and the writer that helped make it happen.

Cover image: The emerald ring gifted to writer Kathy Gibbons by the owner of Lehto's Pasties. Photo courtesy of Kathy Gibbons.

GUEST:

• Kathy Gibbons, Traverse City-based writer

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
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If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

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When tourists visit the Keweenaw Peninsula two things become evident: the strong influence of Finnish immigrants on the local culture, and prevalence of pasties. But while both have been embraced as part of the local culture, they carry different, but parallel, origin stories! Today, we dig in on the Cornish origins of this iconic regional dish.

GUESTS:

• Trisia Narhi, co-owner at Roy’s Pasties and Bakery in Houghton
• Roy Narhi, co-owner and baker at Roy’s Pasties and Bakery in Houghton
• Yvonne Lockwood, folklorist, retired curator of folklife for the Michigan State University Museum, co-founder of the Michigan Traditional Arts Program

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
• Email us: [email protected]

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From Superman in southeast Michigan to a Jersey Mud sundae in the Upper Peninsula, Michiganders know how to enjoy a scoop.

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:

• Mary Jean Raab, Washtenaw Dairy
• Nate and Nova Wilson
• Dale Iverson

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Superman ice cream feels like a force of nature in Michigan. Food and Wine Magazine recently named it the most Michigan-y ice cream flavor. But is it from here?

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:

• Lilly Kraai, Hudsonville Ice Cream
• Mark Harvey, Archives of Michigan 

 

 

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Submit your stories and questions to On Hand!

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
• Email us: [email protected]

We're looking for:

1) Pasty stories! Is there a recipe that you grew up making, and still love to share? Or maybe you successfully completed the Keweenaw pasty trail, and lived to tell the tale?

2) Keweenaw Peninsula stories! Maybe you have an annual camping spot up there that has the absolute best views. Or maybe you’ve weathered the winter up there, and have a story of survival to share?

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A couple from Muskegon, who started dating in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, shared the story behind the special rocks that became a symbol of their love. 

GUESTS: 

Maggie and Ben Reinhard

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
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For many a Michigander, Petoskey stones are way more than just a cool looking rock. They’re a physical reminder of happy memories of Michigan summers past. The Petoskey shares a name with the Northern Michigan city, but their distribution–and the story they tell us about our state’s ancient history–is a lot bigger. On this episode of On Hand, we talk to a couple of rockhounding experts about everything you need to know about our state stone. 

GUESTS: 

Scot and Jennifer Wack, co-authors of Rockhounding: A Beginner’s Guide to Rock Hunting Around Lake Michigan and co-owners of the NorthPort Trading Post

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
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A listener shares his story about the lessons in tenderness, abundance and connection a forgotten cherry tree gave him. 

GUEST:

• Andrew Harmon originally from Rockford, MI but spent many of his young adult years living in Grand Rapids. He now lives in Boston, MA. 

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

Online Submission Form

Call us: 734-764-7840

Email us: [email protected]

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfund

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come July, cherries are everywhere here. Sweet. Sour. Deep maroon, golden yellow and even blush pink. Michigan is the second largest grower of cherries in the nation and we're home to the National Cherry Festival. But why?

In this episode we tell you the story of our favorite little stone fruit, the cherry. How did it get here? And how did Michigan become synonymous with cherries?

GUESTS:

Chris Reiser, president for the Peter Dougherty Society.
Nikki Rothwell, 2025 Cherry Industry Person of the year and Michigan State University's extension specialist in tree fruit integrated pest management.
Jim Eckerle, farmer and owner of Eckerle Farms in Leelanau County & Suttons Bay.
Zach Eckerle, grandson of Jim Eckerle and future owner of Eckerle Farms.

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
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Several of you reached out to argue for adding Lake St. Clair as a 6th Great Lake (or 5th if you count Huron and Michigan as one). On this episode, we hear about one man's love for this "heart-shaped" lake — and the song it inspired him to make. Plus, a story about life in the straits of Mackinac.

LYRICS:

Lake St Clair (Make Her Great)

By Guy Sferlazza

 

In a world that rewards hate

She has always been great

And worth more than a billion billion billion billionaires

 

She surrounds us with her love

How many years

and still she’s young

Mother Earth produced the jewel of Lake St Clair

 

We didn’t have to make her great

She’s the heart of all these lakes

See it for yourself if you dare

 

When the sun is coming up

There’s an ocean full of love

From sea to shining sea,

And she is there

 

All the service to this land

all generations

the grand lake

Of the sweet fresh water sea

Bathed in beauty

 

We, the people shall decide

Make it plain in broad daylight

That’s a great lake

that you may have never seen

 

We proclaimed her a great lake

on this very day

come out and see her here

There’s no compare

 

In this crazy mixed up world.

Take a break from the absurd

find out what she’s worth

Great Lake St Clair.

 

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:

• Guy Sferlazza, Shelby Township resident and musician

• Candace Smith, owner of Tours Around Michigan

Cover image credit: Adam Yahya Rayes

Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here:

• Online Submission Form
• Call us: 734-764-7840
• Email us: [email protected]

 

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