[speaking Ho-Chunk] - Hainipi (Good morning),
Hocak raasra Hahemaaniwinga (my Hocak name is Walks in the dark [night])
hingaire egi maixete raasra Elena Terry. (and my English name is Elena Terry)
I'm a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
I think, as a chef, it's my responsibility to
kind of be the last voice of these ingredients
and to showcase them in a way that they'll be appreciated
and highlight their natural flavors.
Also, to have good feelings when you're in the kitchen
because all of that gets transferred into the food
and to treat your ingredients
with the highest amount of respect and care
because they gave their life to nourish you.
Ooh, looks perfect!
Especially when you're cooking,
you have all of your senses stimulated
and you're creating memories as you go.
So, you know the smell, you know the texture and the feel
and what you want it to feel like.
Beautiful!
So, the name of the dish we'll be making today
is 'SassSquash.' [laughs]
And although it isn't a traditional dish,
it incorporates a lot of the ingredients
that are from Wisconsin.
And my favorite ingredient, which is squash,
I think is really underutilized,
and so, it's a good way to showcase
what the flavor development of that can be.
I blend the squash and the maple for sweetness,
and then, nuts.
[food processor whirs]
And then, we're just going to spread it out.
And I like adding a cranberry sauce
because it gives it
a little bit of a sour and it's not completely sweet note
and it compliments it perfectly.
Yeah, see, they're starting to pop open.
That's what I want.
And it really is, when we use our ingredients,
it gives you a connection to your ancestors
and makes you realize the responsibility you have
as a steward of the land and caring for it
and just making sure that
these ingredients are going to be there
for the next generation, as well.
I like to think that I came from warriors,
[traditional singing]
I came from resilience and strength and endurance,
and, you know, being able to make something of nothing
and being able to get your family
back to the lands that they came from.
I feel the strength of generations
telling me that, "You can do it," you know?
Every time I try this,
it's like the first time that I've tried it,
and it always surprises me.
It's delicious.
[traditional singing]
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