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Two
of my most prized possessions are my mother's old cookbook and
my grandmother's recipe box. I love thumbing through the
tattered cards and reminiscing. I learned to cook, side by side,
with my grandmother. Having the recipes in her handwriting makes
them even more special. Since my girls began to cook, we have
filled the margins of our cookbooks with handwritten notes about
the occasion for which the recipe was prepared. Each is dated to
commemorate the event.
Recipes often conjure up memories of holiday preparations or
time spent with a special family member. Cooking provides a
quiet time to pass on the wisdom of family lore.
By talking to family members about some of their favorite dishes
and recollections, you can gather your family’s treasured
recipes into an heirloom
cookbook.
My daughters, when they were six and eight, wrote letters to all
of their relatives asking them for their favorite recipe.
Along with the recipes were many handwritten notes. Their
grandfather described the scarcity of flour and sugar during
WWII rationing. Grandmothers, on both sides of the family, sent
recipes for chicken soup. Coming from vastly different cultures,
it was interesting to see the differences. Even their 4 year-old
cousin sent in his favorite drink recipe.
I
helped the girls compile and copy the recipes. We included all
of the stories. The cookbook was bound together with a satin
ribbon and presented as gifts to each family member—truly a gift
of love. Ten years later, relatives still send in their favorite
recipes to be added to the collection.
My daughter is now twenty and living in her first apartment. She
loves to cook. I know she will always have a small piece of her
family heritage with her in our cookbook. I still get 911 calls
with questions about certain cooking techniques or a request to
send her my Strawberry Shortcake recipe. It’s a fun way for us
to stay connected.
Your cookbook will become an heirloom for generations to come.
Take time to enjoy the richness of your family’s traditions. |
