Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders

Mark Powless, Indian Community School & Traditional Native American Corn Soup

Our guest on Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is Mark Powless, the Ourways Director for the Indian Community School in Franklin, WI.
Indian Community School, Inc. (ICS) is a private, faith-based, intertribal school that began in the homes of three courageous Oneida mothers in 1969. From these humble beginnings, ICS has been serving the American Indian community of metro Milwaukee for 55 years. The 359 students represent more than 250 families.
Traditional Native American corn soup, often known as "Three Sisters Soup," reflects indigenous agricultural practices and cultural heritage. The "Three Sisters" refer to the harmonious trio of corn, beans, and squash, which various Native American tribes historically grew together.
Many Native American tribes have their variations on Traditional corn soup. It's a versatile and culturally rich dish. If you ever get the chance, try it at a cultural festival or Native American gathering to experience its authenticity.

Quentin Prince, MKE Youth Sports Alliance & Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bake

Our guest on Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is Quentin Prince. Quentin is the executive director of the MKE Youth Sports Alliance and director of Youth Leadership & Student Services for Journey House Youth Center.
Quentin is a MKE Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree, ACRE program Alum,  and Forward48 Alumni.
Chicken Broccoli Cheese Bake. This warm, comforting dish combines the heartiness of chicken, the freshness of broccoli, and the gooey, melty goodness of cheese—all baked to perfection. 
Quentin shows us how he makes his Chicken Broccoli Cheese Bake.
You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/i53idm1z6Tw 
The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/02/13/chicken-broccoli-cheese-bake/  
This Podcast is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders. We interview them briefly about their work in the community, then cook something and eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Michael Hostad, CRO, Fork Farms & President Light the Hoan & Stuffed Pepper Soup

Our guest on Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is Michael Hostad, Chief Revenue Officer, Fork Farms & President & Co-founder, Light the Hoan, Inc.
Stuffed Pepper Soup and Michael Hostad Interview. Stuffed pepper soup is easy to make for a hearty meal in one bowl. Great with warm bread for an easy weeknight dinner.
Stuffed Pepper Soup is a hearty and flavorful soup inspired by classic stuffed peppers. It includes all the key ingredients—ground meat, bell peppers, tomatoes, rice, and seasonings—simmered together in a savory broth. It’s a cozy, one-pot meal perfect for chilly days.
Fork Farms is a Wisconsin-based company focused on indoor vertical farming and hydroponics. They develop innovative farming technology, such as the Flex Farm, a compact hydroponic system that allows schools, businesses, and communities to grow fresh produce year-round.
Light the Hoan is a community-driven initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that illuminates the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge with thousands of LED lights. The project was launched to celebrate the city's culture, history, and people while fostering a sense of civic pride.
You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/HznKtVz7nsY 
The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/02/10/stuffed-pepper-soup-and-michael-hostad-interview/ 
This Podcast is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders. We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Laura Bray, Exec Director MATC Foundation and Italian Eggs and Tomatoes

Our Guest Cooking With Milwaukee Community Leaders is Laura Bray, Exec Dir, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Foundation https://www.matc.edu/foundation/index.html, & VP of College Advancement and External Communications @ MATC.
Her awards include: Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40, the Daniel Burnham Visionary Award, the Frank Kirkpatrick Award from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and a recent Betty Award from Milwaukee Magazine.
Italian Eggs and Tomatoes, also known as "Uova al Purgatorio" (Eggs in Purgatory), is a traditional Italian dish that combines the rich flavors of tomatoes and eggs.
This is a peasant-style dish that likely originated in Southern Italy, where the ingredients were readily available and affordable. The dish typically involves cooking eggs in a flavorful tomato sauce, often enriched with garlic, onions, and sometimes chili flakes or peppers for a bit of heat. The name "Purgatorio" (Purgatory) might come from the idea of the eggs being nestled in the fiery, bubbling tomato sauce, creating a vivid and somewhat dramatic presentation.
Laura tells us how she makes Italian Eggs and Tomatoes.
You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/Kaib1AjzrEE 
The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/01/31/italian-eggs-and-tomatoes/ 
This Podcast is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders. We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.
 

Ben Holt, Milwaukee Grand Ave Club and Eye in the Middle

Today’s guest on Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is Ben Holt, Associate Director of The Grand Avenue Club (https://grandavenueclub.org/), a downtown Milwaukee nonprofit that helps adults experiencing mental illness achieve employment, educational, or enrichment goals.
Ben tells us how he makes Eye in the Middle, a simple yet delicious breakfast dish. It involves cooking an egg in the center of a slice of bread, creating a satisfying combination of crispy toast and a perfectly cooked egg.
Toast with an egg cooked in the middle goes by many creative and regional names! Here are some of the most popular ones: • Egg in a Hole • Egg in a Basket • Toad in the Hole • Bird’s Nest • One-Eyed Jack • Sunshine Toast • Moon Over Miami • Gas House Egg • Peek-a-Boo Toast • Pirate’s Eye • Hole-in-One • Bullseye Toast • Moon over Miami
is a simple yet delicious breakfast dish. It involves cooking an egg in the center of a slice of bread, creating a satisfying combination of crispy toast and a perfectly cooked egg.
You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/tYvGhgxLvd8 
The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/01/21/eye-in-the-middle-toast-with-an-egg-cooked-in-the-middle/ 
This Podcast is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders. We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.
 

Blanca Gonzales, Exec Director i.c. stars, and Mexican Chorizo

Our guest on “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is Blanca Gonzales. Blanca is the executive director of the technology training non-profit i.c.stars. She was featured in Milwaukee Magazines Women of Distinction recently. She is on the list of the most influential Latino leaders in Wisconsin.
Blanca tells us how she makes Mexican Chorizo as a Breakfast Dish. It's a key ingredient in many breakfast dishes like chorizo and eggs (huevos con chorizo), where it's cooked with scrambled eggs and served with tortillas.
A Taster of the video can be seen here - 
You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/KSZpwDRvw0c 
The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2024/11/28/mexican-chorizo-blanca-gonzlaes-interview/ 
This Podcast is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders. We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.