Three Lil Fishes

This week, the Fishes are serving up wisdom, laughs, and a big ol’ side of reality as they tackle what it means to be part of the Sandwich Generation — that squeezed-in-the-middle season of life where you're caring for aging parents while still raising (or launching) your own kids. Special guest and longtime friend Jane Mlenar joins the pod to share her candid, moving, and often hilarious experience navigating elder care, college kids in crisis, and the emotional load that comes with it all. Plus, we talk sourdough starters, Cuban sandwiches, and why jalapeños do not belong in your wine.

💛 Lynne’s Care Package Picks

When her in-laws needed support, Lynne sent love in the form of food — and she highly recommends both of these services:

• Spoonful of Comfort – Gourmet soup, rolls, and cookies delivered in a beautifully packaged box. It’s thoughtful, comforting, and ideal when someone’s going through a rough time.
• Southern Baked Pie Company – Delicious savory and sweet pies, including quiche and pot pies, that ship beautifully and taste homemade (without the cleanup).

Whether someone’s recovering, grieving, or just plain overwhelmed, these are two solid go-to’s for sending something that says “I’m here for you.”

🥪 What’s For Dinner: Cuban Sandwiches

Inspired by our conversation on sandwiches (literal and metaphorical), here’s a crowd-pleasing Cuban sandwich recipe to add to your meal plan this week.

Cuban Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1 loaf Cuban bread (or French bread, if you must)
• Yellow mustard
• Sliced dill pickles
• Swiss cheese
• Sliced cooked ham
• Roast pork (leftover or store-bought works!)
• Butter for grilling

Instructions:

1. Slice the bread lengthwise and spread mustard on both sides.
2. Layer ham, roast pork, pickles, and Swiss cheese.
3. Close the sandwich, brush the outside with butter, and grill it (panini-style if you can) until golden and melty.
4. Press it hard — the flatter, the better.
5. Slice, serve, and watch it disappear.

Perfect for a weeknight dinner that feels special but doesn’t require a full kitchen takeover.

This week, the sisters are cooking up more than just dinner — they’re diving deep into family traditions, cherished recipes, and the sweet stories that keep generations connected. From legacy apple pies and strudel to the hilariously disastrous tale of a DIY patio project gone wrong (spoiler: there were scissors and spray paint involved), this episode is full of laughter, warmth, and a few tears. They also weigh in on meaningful gifts for teenage boys, share their thoughts on the new Pope, and test out some fancy new nail polish. Come for the Eggs Benny, stay for the Crisco cookies. It’s classic Fish.

Head to http://www.threelilfishes.com/shownotes for this week's recipes.

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Graduation is near, the dorm checklists are growing, and the Fishes are deep in their feels. This week, the sisters are joined by special guest Hanna Bankier, founder of Birdy Launcher, who shares wisdom and real-world tools for moms navigating the emotional rollercoaster of launching kids into college, adulthood, and beyond.

They unpack:

• Why “empty nest” doesn’t fit
• How to prepare your kids and yourself for the launch
• Letting go without losing the connection
• Managing the grief, guilt, and (yes) unexpected joy of this life shift
• And reimagining who you want to be in this next phase

Plus, they toast Mother’s Day with a mimosa recipe, discuss Eggs Benedict ambitions (and potential disasters), and share a sweet holiday jingle that might just make you cry in your car.

It’s a love letter to moms in the thick of change. Pour the coffee, grab a cinnamon roll, and jump in.

Head to http://www.threelilfishes.com/shownotes for this week's recipes and find more about Hanna at http://www.birdylauncher.com/freeoffer

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Your kid gets a tattoo. Or disappears on a 12-hour solo road trip. And doesn’t tell you either one’s happening. Sound familiar? This week, the Fishes tackle the tough stuff—what it feels like when your kids are technically adults, but still your kids, and they start making big decisions you’re not part of.

They get honest about:

• Navigating “adulting” kids and the grief of being needed less
• Supporting choices you might not agree with (hello, surprise ink)
• Building trust for the real conversations
• Promposals, dorm prep, and the emotional chaos of senior spring
• And yes, the Amazon wish list is back—and it’s dorm-ready

In What’s for Dinner, it’s a comforting, creamy Chicken Tetrazzini straight from Nancy’s mother-in-law Judy. One pan, freezer-friendly, and full of love.

Letting go isn’t easy. But talking about it helps. Jump in.

Head to http://www.threelilfishes.com/shownotes for this week's recipe and the 3LF dorm checklist

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

This week, the sisters dive into the idea of legacy—from heirloom lamb cake molds to meaningful graduation gifts. They swap stories about baking blunders, busted molds, and the ink-stained mysteries only teenage boys can create. Then, they welcome special guest Sarah Riley, a private jeweler (aka “the secret jeweler”), who shares thoughtful, timeless ways to mark life’s milestones—like graduations and Mother’s Day—with jewelry that tells a story.

They cover:

• Gift ideas for boys and girls that don’t break the bank
• Why gold prices are sky-high (and how to turn old earrings into cash)
• The truth about lab-grown diamonds
• And how to season your cast iron lamb cake mold so your sheep comes out whole next year

In What’s For Dinner, it’s all about comfort and ease with a classic baked ziti recipe—perfect for feeding the family or stashing leftovers for a busy week. One dish, minimal effort, maximum satisfaction.
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11688/baked-ziti/

Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s what we pass forward. Jump in.

To contact Sarah [email protected]

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

This week, the sisters are feeling... fried. Between busted deviled eggs, failed bread experiments, spring break chaos, and trying (and failing) to quit Amazon, it’s a miracle anyone made it to Easter brunch. They share kitchen disasters, kid drama, and a few sweet traditions—including the legendary lamb cake and its not-so-legendary decapitation. Plus, the Fishes weigh in on spring break homework, and Netflix' Million Dollar Secret, and whether coconut oil can save your baking (spoiler: it can’t). And in a rare moment of calm, they celebrate Rory McIlroy’s emotional Masters win and the full-circle moment that brought tears and memories of chipping balls into washing machines.

Grab your mimosa and join the chaos. It’s messy, it’s real, it’s sisterhood.

Rory Clip
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIaJj81N_h4/?igsh=MXQzeDVvd3B6cTMwag==

Harvard Health-Seeding Doubt The Truth About Cooking Oils

What's For Dinner
Million Dollar Pound Cake

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

With Lynne out sick this week (curse you, COVID!), her daughter Sarah steps in as a guest Lil Fish — and she delivers. Along with Grayson from TCU, the kids get real about freshman year, frat life, tiny dorms, and the roommate roulette. Secrets are spilled about how to make the most of your college experience, avoid the senioritis spiral, and keep your GPA (and sanity) intact. Plus, the sisters dish on TV twists in The White Lotus finale and the new Netflix show Million Dollar Secret, “Senior Assassin” chaos, and the lip balm that might be better than Aquaphor. It’s fun, it’s honest, and it’s all very Lil Fish.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/how-to-fight-senioritis-and-get-to-graduation

Kathy’s Lip Balm

Nancy’s Lip Liner

What’s For Dinner:
Find a Trader Joe's hit the frozen section. We like Garlic Naan and Soup Dumplings

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

This week, the sisters take on a bold experiment—the 30-Day Amazon Challenge! Can they resist the urge to add-to-cart for an entire month? From impulse buys to retail therapy, they get real about their shopping habits, the convenience trap, and how online spending affects their lives.

But that’s not all—party planning is on the agenda, and the sisters ask themselves: Are they meticulous organizers or full-blown control freaks? From guest lists to décor dilemmas, they break down the fine line between throwing the perfect party and driving themselves (and everyone else) crazy.
It never rains in Southern California until you're camping the Santa Barbara Zoo with fourteen Girl Scouts.  Nancy tells us all about it and shares a secret about what they feed the primates.

Kathy found some good resources for games to play and creative ideas to add to your graduation parties.  

And finally—what do Gene Simmons, JoJo Siwa, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Shakespeare all have in common? You’ll have to listen to find out! Tune in for laughs, confessions, and unexpected connections in this fun and revealing episode.

What's For Dinner?
Kathy stretches a little this week and makes a new to her recipe.  Ina Garten's Pastitsio
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pastitsio-recipe-1949975

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

The Three Lil Fishes are celebrating a milestone—one year of weekly episodes! In this reflective and entertaining episode, the sisters look back on their favorite moments, lessons learned, and the joy of sharing their stories. They also dive into a lively discussion about the latest episode of The White Lotus and the book Killers of a Certain Age, sparking a deeper conversation about ageism in media and society. With their signature wit and wisdom, they challenge outdated narratives and celebrate the power of experience. Tune in for laughs, insights, a special guest and a fresh perspective on what it means to age on your own terms!

Our website: www.threelilfishes.com

What's For Dinner:
Beignets
https://www.billyparisi.com/the-best-authentic-new-orleans-beignets-recipe/#recipe

We want to hear your comments and questions! Send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment on our Instagram @3lfpod and be sure to follow us on our YouTube page www.youtube.com/@threelilfishes

Monetization ID: RPQ16FXRJDG9LJME

This week, the sisters take you on a rollercoaster of emotions—from celebrating an exciting awards win to navigating the heartbreaking moment when a child learns the truth about holiday magic. Nancy shares the chaos of flu season hitting her house, a leprechaun-related meltdown, and how her daughter’s fever-fueled revelations led to some tough parenting moments. Plus, the crew dives into spring break adventures, near-misses in casinos, and whether they could give up Amazon for a month. Tune in for laughs, lessons, and a little sisterly wisdom!  www.kidsvoice.org https://mosermadness.pooltracker.com/tourney/  What's For Dinner: Black Bean and Corn Salad with Sweet and Spicy Dressing from Food Dolls https://www.fooddolls.com/black-bean-and-corn-salad/