Dish and Tell is Finally Out!
Here is the official news release about Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart, which is widely available at bookstores and online book retailers as of today!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Cookbook Celebrates Recipes with Heart and the Stories Behind Them
“Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart” combines beloved family recipes with personal storytelling to explore how food connects generations
St. Paul, Minnesota (February 11, 2026)— In an era when recipes are shaped by algorithms and viral food trends, author and storyteller Sarah Peterson invites readers to gather in the kitchen with their loved ones and connect over cherished family recipes and food traditions. Her new cookbook, Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart, is a celebration of family-favorite recipes passed down through generations and pays tribute to those—most often our mothers and grandmothers—who first brought them to the table.
More than a traditional cookbook, Dish and Tell pairs time-tested recipes with the “tells”—the family histories, handwritten recipe cards, and kitchen wisdom that have traveled through generations. From church potlucks and holiday tables to everyday weeknight meals, Peterson captures the special role that treasured family recipes play in carrying love, memory, and belonging.
The book is organized into chapters including: Beloved Breakfasts, Morning Sweets & Coffee Treats, Memorable Mains, Sentimental Soups & Grandma Breads, Potlucks & Party Food, Sweet Memories, Treasured Holiday Traditions.
“I think recipes are so much more interesting when we know a bit about their backstory, why they are so cherished, and the memories they hold,” Peterson says. “Dish and Tell is about honoring those stories, the keepers of our food traditions, and encouraging people to ‘dish & tell’ with their own loved ones, listen closely, and pass them on.”
The book draws from Peterson’s own recipe box, including beloved family favorites such as Grandma Hilma’s Swedish almond rusks, Aunt Ede’s meatballs, and her mother’s chocolate chip shortbread cookies—while also welcoming readers into the kitchens of friends, neighbors, and fellow home cooks who shared their family-favorite dishes. Each recipe is presented alongside the story of the person who made it memorable, along with tips and insights from the “keepers” of those recipes.
As Peterson cooked and baked alongside contributors, a common thread emerged: many families had certain recipes that were lost through the years or ones they had never taken the time to write down and share until now.
“Time and again, this effort reminded me how meaningful it is to keep these family recipes and food memories alive,” Peterson says, adding that the book includes a section with tips for readers to “dish and tell” with their loved ones. “My hope is that the book will inspire families to preserve their own food traditions.”
Designed to echo the warmth and nostalgia of a community cookbook or a family scrapbook, Dish and Tell features a vintage-inspired design with images of handwritten recipe cards, old family snapshots, and a peek into Peterson’s collection of heirloom dishware handed down from her grandmothers, aunts, and mother.
Recipes range from humble comfort foods such as Dutch pancakes, Italian shells or Juicy Lucy tater tot hotdish to celebratory showstoppers like sandwich loaf and Christmas Jell-O. There are also several “communal” recipes like pasties, potica and poppy kuchen, where multiple generations in a family come together to cook side by side. And, of course, plenty of cookies, bars, and cakes—often the most heartfelt recipes of all!
“Dish and Tell is for anyone who finds joy in feeding others, whether you’re an experienced cook with a treasured recipe box or someone just starting to collect your own family favorites,” Peterson says. “The book celebrates the simple, time-honored recipes that connect generations and reminds us that the best meals are made with love.”
Author Event:
The public is invited to an event celebrating the launch of Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart to take place Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the Minnesota History Center. For more information, click here.
Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart will be released on February 17, 2026, and can be found in-store and online at most major book retailers. Pre-order details can be found here.
About Minnesota Historical Society Press
The Minnesota Historical Society Press is a leading publisher of the history and culture of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The Press advances research, supports education, serves the local community, and expands the reputation of the MNHS through the publication of books and e-products, the Minnesota History journal, and the free, digital encyclopedia, MNopedia. For more information, visit www.mnhs.org/mnhspress.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Katie Olson
Minnesota Historical Society Press
651.259.3254
Sarah Peterson
Vintage Dish & Tell
651.338.1249
Advanced Praise
“Dish and Tell is a treasure trove of kitchen memories. These beloved recipes are laced with stories: Most are from scratch; many are now hard to find. Each page invites you into the kitchen of an aunt and elder, stirring, kneading, simmering. Read this and cook.” —Beth Dooley, author of The Perennial Kitchen and Minnesota’s Bounty: The Farmers Market Cookbook
“How often do we struggle to replicate beloved family dishes, only to discover that the secret to Grandma’s baked beans is lost forever? Sarah Peterson’s Dish and Tell celebrates and documents the unsung heroes of the Midwestern table so the home cook knows every dash of mustard, splash of orange juice, and yes, packet of Jell-O needed to revive those moments of sweet sensory pleasure.” —Mary K. Tennis, author of Smoke on the Waterfront: The Northern Waters Smokehaus Cookbook
“Sarah has created more than a cookbook—it’s a storybook of the Midwest, where every recipe is wrapped in a memory and every dish carries a legacy. Each page feels like sitting at a family table listening to the tender stories that bring them to life. With just as much heart as it has recipes, Dish and Tell is a celebration of food, family, and the love that lingers long after the meal is over and the dishes are done.”—Staci Mergenthal, Random Sweets blog and Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens podcast