KP Cooks | Key Peninsula News

The Truth About ‘St. Patrick’s Day’ Corned Beef and Cabbage

When you think of Saint Patrick’s Day, you’re thinking shamrocks, right? Along with pinching, funny little green plastic hats, the beer in your cup and the Chicago River, both dyed green, … more

Dan Clouse | 2/28/22

Homemade Sweet Chocolate Heart Lava Cake for Valentine's Day

A Trio of Treats for Valentine's Day

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

Barbara Van Bogart | 1/27/22

Mom's Fried Razor Clams

When I was young, say about 65 years ago, our family enjoyed digging for razor clams on Washington’s beaches every time the tide was sufficiently low. In those days there were perhaps 30 brave … more

Brad Sherman | 12/30/21

The Heavenly Swedish Meatball

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

Barbara Van Bogart | 12/2/21

The soup is on, but not without this winning stock.

The Secret to Great Stock

When I was young, growing up here on the Key Peninsula, I loved to spend hours in the farm kitchen with my mother. By sixth grade I helped almost every evening with dinner. Mom was a fantastic cook … more

Lori Deacon | 10/28/21

Green Corn Tamale Pie

In October 1981, I was napping on the hallway floor near a guest bathroom the morning after a pre-wedding function in the (to me) extremely foreign land of Arizona. I was 20ish and otherwise … more

Katrina Herringbottom | 9/29/21

The Ever-Exultant Watermelon Pickle

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

Barbara Van Bogart | 9/1/21

What's in Your Picnic Basket

Picnic: Originally a 17th century French term, “pique-nique,” its meaning then as now is a social gathering where each attendee brings a share of food. For most of us, the word evokes … more

Barbara Von Bogart | 8/28/21

No Recipe Summer Recipes

My cookbook shelf is overwhelmingly full. There are the tried and true staples, the vintage community cookbooks, the bread-and-sourdough-specific cookbooks, and the cookbooks featuring recipes from … more

Anna Brones | 6/30/21

Father’s Day Dinner — The Ultimate Chili Dog

Whenever we ask Dad what he wants for dinner on literally any occasion, the question is usually posed tongue-in-cheek because we know the answer. It’s never steak, salmon, or burgers, … more

Kamryn Minch, KP News | 5/26/21

Mother’s Day Breakfast — Strawberry Lemon Brioche

Despite everything you’ve ever been told, it doesn’t take much to impress a woman, especially after she has become a mother. more

Kamryn Minch, KP News | 4/28/21

Food is Love

Food is love. Food is history. Food is a story. Most families have recipes passed down from preceding generations. It’s not because they are gourmet or have exotic ingredients; they can be … more

Ann-Marie Ugles | 3/31/21

Cooking Dandelions

In 1978 Cora Chase of Vaughn published “The Weed Eater’s Cookbook.” Born in 1898 at Kamilche, home to the Squaxin Indian Tribe, her grandparents taught her about living off the … more

Sara Thompson | 2/24/21

Treats Your Dogs Will Absolutely Love

When it comes to feeding the dogs we love, the options are mind-boggling. The choices in days gone by included kibble or canned. The range of ready-made specialty diets for dogs today is a far cry … more

Lisa Bryan, KP News | 1/27/21

Fruitcakes We Have Heard on High

It was late one Christmas Eve and I was sharing a piano bench with some guy I thought was my husband. He was playing away and the assembled company, back when company could assemble, were all singing … more

Katrina Herringbottom | 12/30/20

‘Damn the Pandemic! Full Brie Ahead!’

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

Lori Zeigler & Barbara Van Bogart | 12/2/20

About the Title

The title comes from Ecclesiasticus 44:1 in the Old Testament, part of the Apocrypha or “Books which are not regarded as equal to the holy scriptures, and yet are profitable and good to … more

10/29/20

The Hummingbird Cake

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

Barbara Van Bogart | 10/29/20

Caramel Apples

One of the joys of my childhood was caramel apples — the sticky sweet caramel balanced by a crisp and juicy apple. Preceded in history by the bright red cinnamon-flavored candied apple, … more

Tim Heitzman, KP News | 10/1/20

Pickles, from Sour to Sweet

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

Barbara Van Bogart | 8/27/20