© 2026

For assistance accessing the Online Public File for KAXE or KBXE, please contact: Steve Neu, IT Engineer, at 800-662-5799.
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Ham Radio: Cooking with Amy Thielen

Risky Business: The delicious science behind cooking with lye and more

By Amy Thielen,
Heidi Holtan
Published May 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM CDT
Ways To Subscribe
Wally Everson holds a church cookbook containing recipes for Lutefisk in his kitchen in Hixton, Wisconsin on May 12, 2025.
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Wally Everson holds a church cookbook containing recipes for Lutefisk in his kitchen in Hixton, Wisconsin on May 12, 2025.

This week, Amy and Heidi's adventures in the kitchen feature cooking with lye, pickling lime, Hawaiian taro and some other semi-hazardous ingredients that, since the beginning of cooking time, have been used to turn humble raw ingredients into unforgettable delicacies.

Guests include 87-year-old lutefisk extraordinaire Wally Everson, Top Chef and Iron Chef alum Lee Anne Wong, and chef Megan Handke, who will be dropping some recipes and techniques that are dangerously delicious. And an 9-year-old calls explains her recipe for acorn pancakes.

A young girl smiles behind the microphone at KAXE.
Heidi Holtan
/
KAXE
Francesca Squadroni shares her story of milling foraged acorns for acorn pancakes on May 20, 2025.

Featuring original licensed music — "You Know How I Like It" by Jeremy Messersmith.

Made possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage Fund. Support KAXE: Become a member today.

Tags
Ham Radio: Cooking with Amy Thielen KAXEMade Possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage Fund
Amy Thielen
Amy Thielen is a cookbook author and chef from Park Rapids.
See stories by Amy Thielen
Heidi Holtan
For more than two decades, Heidi Holtan has helped shape the sound of KAXE. Since joining the station in 2002 as a volunteer music programmer, she has worn many hats including the weekly book program, Realgoodwords, hosting the Morning Show, creation and host of the weekly call-in program Between You and Me, serving as Outreach Producer. Program Director, News Director and currently Director of Content and Public Affairs.
See stories by Heidi Holtan
Latest Episodes

Community Recipes

Behind the Scenes Photos

Wally Everson holds a church cookbook containing recipes for Lutefisk in his kitchen in Hixton, Wisconsin on May 12, 2025.
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Conversation
Ham Radio: Lutefisk master Wally Everson
Wally Everson of Hixton, Wisconsin, was a guest on the first episode of "Ham Radio: Cooking with Amy Thielen." He shared his method of creating and cooking lutefisk.