Welcome to Platter Talk
Welcome to Platter Talk! – I’m Dan, and this is where food and memory meet.
Every recipe has a story, and for me, the ones that stick aren’t just about ingredients — they’re about people. My mom, Sarah, baked the best molasses cookies you’ve ever tasted. Soft, rich with spice, and filled with warmth, they’re more than just cookies — they’re her. Every bite brings me back to her kitchen, where I first learned that food could be a kind of love.
Then there’s my friend Amy. She didn’t teach me how to make a Bûche de Noël, but she’s exactly the kind of friend that dessert reminds me of. Festive, full of personality, and a joy to share a table with. When I make it, it’s not just a nod to holiday tradition — it’s a celebration of friendships that make life sweeter.
And if there’s one dish that defines where I come from, it’s Cornell Chicken BBQ. Tangy, smoky, simple. This grilled chicken was on nearly every picnic table I knew growing up in upstate New York. It’s woven into my family’s DNA — a flavor that tastes like home and the people who built my world.
I created Platter Talk to share these stories and recipes — from the personal to the practical, the heartwarming to the weeknight-ready. Alongside Scott and our six boys (all of whom have learned to cook!), we’ve built a collection of over 650 recipes that span seasons, traditions, and family favorites.
So pull up a chair. There’s always room at our table. After all, that is the Mennonite way!
Platter Talk Recipes can be found on Linkedin, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Our recipes are featured in Good House Keeping, Country Living Magazine, MSN, The Daily Meal, Parade, Food Gawker, and many other media. We even had a local USA TODAY affiliate write a newspaper story about our cooking family!
One of our recipes even won first prize in the Tyson® Chicken Recipe Challenge, an honor we were super proud of! We did this fun interview on Gourmandize which gives you even more insight into who we are.
To contact us, visit our contact page.
Putting together a recipe website takes hard work and countless hours and even years to accomplish! Some of the courses we have taken to get there include:
- Learning how to take better food photos by taking the Pretty Focused course.
- Video Courses for shooting better recipe videos.
- Email Crush is the course we took to send you better emails.
- Cooking with Keywords to help you find our recipes easier.
We’ve also attended multiple Tastemakers Conferences to learn more about the best way to give you delicious recipes for free!
Table of Contents
Meet the Platter Talk Family
As parents, we have always made food a family affair, which is how we both grew up. Our six boys have grown up in the kitchen, learning how to chop, stir, bake, and create alongside of the two of us.
Some of our most popular recipes were inspired by our sons’ curiosity and creativity, like our Jambalaya for Kids, Easy Calzones from Biscuit Dough, and this decadent Homemade Marble Cake.
Cooking together has been a way to share traditions, create new memories, and instill a love of good food in the next generation.
Meet Dan from Platter Talk
Dan has been interested in writing, photography, and cooking from an early age.
When he started Platter Talk in the winter of 2013, he found this fun hobby to be a perfect marriage of those three passions.
With a Master’s degree in anesthesia from the Medical University of South Carolina, Dan has a background in science, but his passion has always been in the kitchen. He grew up learning from his mom, where Sunday dinners were a sacred tradition.
Dan draws upon his early days of story writing, taking snaps with an old camera his mom had found in a cupboard above the oven in their farmhouse, and the age-old recipes of his Mennonite heritage.
You can glimpse this part of his life with this Amish recipe for raised donuts, Homemade Blueberry Pie, and his mom’s legendary German Coffee Cake Recipe.
A baker at heart, making Homemade Cakes and Cookie Recipes of all sorts are among his favorite recipes. As a young boy, he won several baking awards at the county fair and in the New York State Fair as well.
Scott from Platter Talk
Scott grew up in inner-city Detroit, the youngest of seven kids raised by a single mom. Resources were scarce for this close family, but ingenuity and creativity were abundant.
Scott carries those traits over into his adult life and in the kitchen, and that has translated into some of the most popular recipes on Platter Talk and even on Internet search engines such as Google.
Heavily influenced in the kitchen by his Polish heritage, he brings many family recipes to Platter Talk. Things like Gołąbki (Polish stuffed cabbage), and Polish Pierogi and his Grandma’ recipe for Old-Fashioned Cherry Christmas Cookies. All of these and many more are Platter Talk recipes that have been passed down to Scott from many prior generations.
Scott works as an insurance manager during the day. After making the family meal at night, he likes to take on remodeling projects such as basements and bathrooms.
Scott is also a multi-year recipient of the Dad of the Year award from those who matter most: his sons. A business graduate from Michigan Tech, Scott not just the behind-the-scenes organizer—he’s also a creative powerhouse in the kitchen. Scott’s recipes are a testament to his culinary ingenuity.
Most weekends, find the Platter Talk clan at their little retreat, a small cottage on a small lake in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin. Dan and Scott’s ovens are often on there and at their house in town, and their burners are usually fired up.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk
Chef Kat from Platter Talk has spent many years in the food industry. In addition to a degree in commercial art, Chef Kat trained at the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Her talent and creative gifts have allowed her to cook for British royalty and served as a personal chef to some of the most iconic American figures of our generation.
A few of Chef Kat’s most popular kitchen tips include: How to Pick a Juicy Lemon or Lime, Thanksgiving Turkey Tips, and Everything You Want to Know About Cranberries.
What You’ll Find on Platter Talk
We believe that great food should be accessible to everyone, whether you’re an experienced home cook or just starting out. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
- Easy Weeknight Dinners – Perfect for busy schedules, like our Beefaroni from Scratch and this Kid- Friendly Panko-Crusted Chicken.
- Comforting Classics – Nostalgic dishes like Turkey Pot Pie from Scratch, and The Best Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon
- Lighter & Low-Carb Options – Delicious, nutritious side dishes and meals, including Healthy Roasted Spinach with Cherry Tomatoes and Pork with Fried Rice made with Cauliflower.
- Seasonal & Holiday Favorites – Celebrate every occasion with recipes like Pumpkin Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup and Homemade Shoofly Pie.
Join the Platter Talk Community!
We love sharing recipes, but even more than that, we love connecting with our readers! Here’s how you can be part of the Platter Talk family:
- Subscribe to our Newsletter – Get exclusive recipes, cooking tips, and behind-the-scenes updates straight to your inbox.
- Follow Us on Social Media – Join us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for daily inspiration.
Let’s Cook Together!
We’re thrilled you stopped by Platter Talk. Whether you’re here for a quick dinner idea or a deep dive into culinary traditions, we hope to inspire you with every recipe. If you have questions or ideas or just want to say hello, contact us here. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.
Happy Cooking!
Dan, Scott & Chef Kathy
Platter Talk
Thank you for taking the time to read Platter Talk Food and Recipe Blog. It’s our passion, and your readership means the world to us.
