Barry Berg invites us to try his recipe for Pumpkin Lentil Soup. Here, he shares not only his recipe, but also his secret to entertaining friends and family.

“When I first moved into a downtown condo, recognizing that I was likely to be someone’s guest for Thanksgiving dinner in future years, I decided to invite friends the ‘night before Thanksgiving’. This night, a soup and wine dinner, is a tradition I’ve now done for 25 consecutive years.” 

“What began as an evening with perhaps 14-15 guests has grown to accommodate closer to 45-50 guests, with the same formula from 25 years ago: Walter and I make 3 soups from scratch, invite guests to bring hors d’oeuvres, salads, and desserts, while we provide the soup and wine.  The food doesn’t compete at all…

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Through the end of December, we’re sharing some of the Berg Larsen Group’s favorite holiday recipes. Follow along for delicious eats and a look into the Berg Larsen Group team’s festive traditions. 

Today, Krista Eull is sharing her crowd-favorite mashed potatoes, and a tasty salad that pairs well with any holiday spread. 

“This recipe came my way in 1987 when my group of high school friends decided to start an annual Christmas party (a party that continues each year, now in April to avoid the holiday rush, 38 years later!). I shared the ‘hosting’ duties and cooking with my friend Tami whose mom had this exceptional mashed potato recipe on hand – and my family has never looked back! We can no longer eat “regular” mashed potatoes at the holiday…

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Today we are sharing sweet holiday memories with an even sweeter recipe from Krista Eull. 

"Our family holiday recipe is for homemade “Mounds Bars.”  My big sister, who already had a family of her own in the early ‘90s, started making them and she’s made them EVERY Christmas since. I got the recipe and have followed in her footsteps once I stopped celebrating the holiday with her. For a while, we saw each other every other Christmas, and she would always send us a tin full of her Mounds Bars as part of our gift. She knew that we couldn’t go without them! They disappeared fast. The whole extended family now expects them each and every year. They are greatly loved!"


Krista and her great-niece snowshoeing in Steamboat, Colorado in 2018

Mounds…

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Nancy Otterness and Larry Smith’s story is a testament to what happens when trust is earned, relationships endure, and a real estate team becomes a steady guide throughout life’s chapters – from homes in Eden Prairie to Edina to Linden Hills.

Finding the Right Partner

In the late 1990s, after several years in their Eden Prairie home, Nancy and Larry were ready to find their next one.

“We did our due diligence by researching and interviewing Realtors,” says Nancy.  “The Berg Larsen Group presented the strongest combination of expertise, strategic marketing, and financial insight.”

That partnership led to the successful sale of their Eden Prairie home and the purchase of a beautiful English Tudor in Edina’s Country Club neighborhood. 

“It was…

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Deb Shafer is bringing a savory slice of holiday cheer to our recipe series. Her Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese will keep you toasty warm this holiday season, so you can weather whatever comes your way.

"We really don’t have any special holiday traditions. We didn’t live close to our families, so it was always just the four of us. When our girls were very young, I started a tradition for Christmas Eve. Instead of making a huge meal, I started making parmesan-crusted grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Every year, we would eat that and then watch 'It’s a Wonderful Life'. My girls now do the same with their families."

 Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

âť– Your favorite kind of bread

âť– Butter

âť– Garlic salt

…

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As a cookie connoisseur, it says a lot when Deb Shafer calls out her Chocolate Cappuccino Cookies as a favorite.

“One of my friends and I get together a week or so before Christmas and bake hundreds of cookies. We give them out to family and friends each year.”

Read below for the full recipe, and be sure to let us know if you give them a try!

Chocolate Cappuccino Cookies

Ingredients:

âť– 2 cups butter, softened

âť– 4 cups packed light brown sugar

âť– 4 eggs

âť–  5½ cups of all-purpose flour

âť– 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

âť– ¼ cups instant coffee granules or crystals

âť– 1 teaspoon baking powder

âť– 1 teaspoon baking soda

âť–  1 teaspoon salt

âť– 1 bag (10oz) cinnamon-flavored baking chips

Directions: 

âť– Heat oven to 350…

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Get ready for a mouthwatering recipe! Today, Chad Larsen shares a recipe his wife makes during the holiday season. Be sure to read to the end - he included a bonus recipe that pairs perfectly with the chipotle smashed sweet potatoes. 

“My wife makes this for Thanksgiving, and sometimes Christmas too. She knows I love sweet potatoes as a holiday favorite. She didn’t like the sweetness of the version with marshmallows on top that my mother made. So, this was her ‘compromise’ version. I have come to love the sweetness of the potato with the spiciness of the chipotle. A delicious combination.”

Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes (Recipe from barefoot contessa)

Ingredients:

âť– 4 pounds sweet potatoes (6 potatoes)

âť– 1 cup whole milk

âť– 1 cup heavy…

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This holiday season, we wanted to share some of our favorite recipes to enjoy this time of year. From chocolate cappuccino cookies to pumpkin lentil soup, we hope you find a recipe that delights!

And to give our readers the best of both worlds, we’re including something savory and something sweet (and from Barry Berg – something soup). Keep an eye out for some new recipes each week now through the end of the year.

To kick off this series, Chad Larsen shares not only his favorite holiday treat, Holly Cookies, but some precious family photos as well.

"My mom used to participate in cookie exchanges around the holiday time. I always remember these for their bright color and very sugary goodness. I’m not sure how many this recipe makes, but I found it…

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