Heirloom Cookbooks: Collecting Family Recipes as a Lasting Legacy Project
Summer to me is being surrounded by mountains while eating a pierre. What's a pierre? It's my nana's signature dessert that was always on the kitchen counter when we visited (with countless more stocked in the freezer). It's basically a square of homemade yellow cake with chocolate chips on the bottom. Why is it called a pierre you may ask? No one in our family (including our grandmother) knows.
Pierres are a family tradition and a core childhood memory for me - and if you ask any of my nana's children, grandchildren or great grandchildren, they will tell you the same. As kids, we would be barefoot on the lawn or camping in the woods, always with a pierre in hand. Even now, at age 101, there are still pierres at every visit with her (she's taught her caregivers the secret recipe 😊 ) I now make them regularly for my friends and family.
Food has a way of bringing people together. Countless memorable moments take place around a meal. We've collected many of my grandmother and great grandmother's favorite recipes to pass on.
Recipe books are an amazing legacy project for any family.
Steps to get started:
Gather Recipes
Reach Out to Family Members - Ask family members to contribute their favorite recipes. There’s usually a ‘keeper’ of recipes but other times certain secret/favorite recipes are spread out across the generations.
Collect Details: When gathering recipes, ask for detailed instructions, ingredient lists, cooking tips, and any special stories or memories associated with the dish. If your grandmother says a ‘cup or glass’’, make sure you’re on the same page about what that actually means,as many family recipes are imprecise or use different measurements or eyeballing.
Video/Audio - this is a bonus but if you can, video someone making the recipe so you can see the look and feel of how it’s done. For audio, you can capture stories behind the recipes or times when it was served.
Organize Recipes
Categorize/ Organize the recipes into categories (e.g., appetizers, main courses, desserts, etc.).
Add Personal Notes or Stories (if you know them!)
Collect Photos (family gatherings eating the dish, the recipe’s creator, the finished meal or step-by-step photos of the process)
Design Your Book
Choose a Layout: Decide on the overall layout of your book- don’t overthink! You can use your standard Microsoft Word, Google Docs and share it with family if they want to add recipes to your project. You can also use online sites like Mixbook, Create My Cookbook or Shutterfly.
Introduction Page: Personalize the book sharing its significance, if you’re honoring a particular person or your family as a whole, and introducing the contributors or other family members who helped.
Family Memories: Sprinkle your stories, traditions, or family history throughout.
Create a digital version - printing can get expensive! You can also make a digital version you send as a PDF to save costs.
ENJOY!
PS - There are many ways to create a fun and last legacy project. I created a free PDF on creative ideas and step-by-step instructions on how to get started. You can download it here!