“Something about the prairie…it just opens your head. It gives me hope.”
-Amy Thielen
I stumbled across a YouTube series called “My North” a few weeks ago and I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed watching it. It documents various Minnesotans sharing stories about life in Minnesota, and boy do they speak straight to my Minnesota-born-and-raised heart!
Truth be told, I’ve always wished we could spend part of the year in Minnesota. Maybe one day we’ll rent a little place near my relatives and stay for a month or so? Interesting how, after all these (23) years, a place can still feel so much like home.
Anywho- even if you’re not from Minnesota, or even the Midwest, I think you’ll like this series too. I love that the gal featured in episode 19 says, “I think that we find a lot of creative freedom here…and then we also are fed by this place“.
I also love the part about how “squares that are meant to be shared”, so I thought I’d link to one of her casserole recipes here too:
It’s Classic Chicken and Wild Rice, and you can find it here: Food Network.com
Happy Thursday, friends!
Layla
Taste of France
This is great! I lived in Minnesota years ago. I remember joking about white foods: white bread, (fake) mayo, cream of mushroom soup, Cool Whip–any recipe had to include one of those.
Allison
I didn’t realize you were from Minnesota! I was raised in Red Wing and now live in Rochester, so I haven’t gone far. I hadn’t heard of this series, so I’ll check it out. Thanks for the tip!
Carrie
I feel the same way about MN being home and I left when I was 18 years old and that was 37 years ago. If someone asks where I’m from when I’m traveling, I always want to answer MN! Thanks for sharing about this series.
Michelle | Birds of Berwick
I loved her show when it was on Food Network!
Angie Meyer
I love this! I’m from a beautiful area in Northeast Iowa. My family and I spend a week every summer in WAY Northern Minnesota, and my husband and I have dreams of moving there, once our youngest graduates from college. (She’s only 11, so we have lots of dreamtime yet!😊). It’s such a magical, peaceful place……..like what God had intended this world to be. ❤️I can’t wait to watch the rest of the videos!
Karen
Thanks for the link to these videos. I grew up in Minnesota, but living in the South now. There are things that still make me feel nostalgic, too. It is in our roots, ya know. *insert Minnesotan accent*
Kristin
I feel the same way about the mitten state. 🙂 I grew up in Northern MI and there is nothing like the Great Lakes and the lakes that make up our state. My husband and I hope to retire in Northern MI and until then we make yearly trips to Harbor Springs. I also follow a few photographers on IG that share the beauty of my home state. I hear ya’ on the love for one’s Midwest home state. Do you subscribe to Midwest Living?
Rachelle Burnham
Backus, MN will always have a place in my heart. Many summers spent there with my grandparents, aunt and huge extended family!
Andrea
Will have to check this out! Just returned from our 3100 mile trip to MN from TX and we are pooped! We went “up north” for a funeral “on the Range” (this is MN-speak, right?!) and were blessed by the church basement ladies and all the goodies they prepared. Of course, butter was on the sandwiches and the slices of pink cake. The funeral jello is always a curiousity. Couldn’t help but smile that my husband and kiddos, born and raised in the south, could now share some of my childhood MN memories. It’s a precious place, with precious people.
Carol
Casserole recipe? Oh…you mean hot dish recipe! 😉
Jane
I’ve lived in MN all my life and never felt the need to leave (except maybe the 2 week around Feb. when it gets so very cold) – I love that each part of the state is vastly different. Southwest is farm land and flat, southeast has the cliffs, northeast is the great lake area, northwest is forests, the twin cities has great fine arts and the 10,000+ lakes scatter throughout the state. I’ve never seen the Youtube series, I’ll be sure to check it out. Thx
Vanessa
I am also a MN girl! My grandma was from Alabama-that’s why I enjoy following you so much. There is something calming about MN-not sure what it is? I don’t enjoy the winters here though…too long and cold, but the Spring, Fall and Summer have my heart. A rental cabin would be great for your family-try Crosslake, MN -fun area for kids too! I will check out the series!
Kelly
Thanks for sharing! I look forward to the other videos. I miss MN too. I hope you can live their part time sometime!
Mary
I,too, live in Minnesota and have watched Amy Thielen and some of her cooking shows in the past. Have always loved her story, her cooking, & the things she shares about the state of MN! We live in southern MN (Rochester) but would always vacation waaaay up-north in Tofte and Lutsen, MN, during the summer while our kids were young. True tranquility and God’s country. Many folks head up there in the winter months for the skiing — we loved it there during the summer months with visits every time to Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Grand Marais, Lake Superior, State Parks… Didn’t realize all this time while I’ve been reading your website that you are also a Minnesota gal!