Barbara Van Bogart

The origins of Valentine’s Day are murky, lost in the annals of history. One theory is it commemorated the anniversary of the death of Saint Valentine, somewhere around 270 AD. Another theory … more

Growing up in southern Minnesota, the holiday season for our family centered on the run up to Christmas Eve. Holiday baking began as soon as the Thanksgiving table was cleared, with a variety of … more

While most of us relish the sweet red watermelon meat as a summertime treat, generations past didn’t waste much of this fruit, using the white rind to make delicious pickles. more

While 2020 will not be a year known for extraordinary holiday parties, there is every reason to step out of our comfort zones and try extraordinary new recipes. With all of us spending more time at … more

I am rather new to the wonderful hummingbird cake, first created in Jamaica, where it was originally called the Doctor Bird cake (named after the island’s national bird). more

My mother-in-law Edna was a wonderful cook, reigning supreme in the kitchen. She excelled at making pickles (and pies, but that’s for another column at another time). Her recipes, handed down … more

Flour. Water. Salt. Yeast. These are the basic ingredients of bread dough. (It’s also the title of an excellent cookbook). When I was growing up, bread baking was part of my … more