Activity: Make Your Own Cookbook
Food offers us more than sustenance. Our memories are enhanced by the recipes and meals that we share with loved ones. Just the smell of homemade bread and taste of a favorite comfort food can transport us to another time and remind us of our favorite chef. Preserving recipes offers us the opportunity to share our life with future generations. If you haven’t started yet, today is the perfect time to begin recording your personal or family history of food.
Virtual options for saving your favorite recipes make it easy to share with anyone who has access to the internet. Printed and bound recipe books also make great heirloom gifts. However you decide record and share, you may want to begin by reflecting on your favorite memories and identifying the food that accompanied them.
Here are a few ways to get started:
Do you have a recipe box or photo collection? Start sorting through them and take note of anything tasty that reminds you of special or common place, everyday moments.
Reach out to your friends or relatives who have specialty dishes that have become regulars at any gatherings over the years and ask for the recipe.
Talk with your loved ones about your project and find out if anyone would like to contribute.
Do your best to recreate meals you can’t find the recipes to; maybe the lasagna grandma made by heart or the secret combination of spices dad put on the chicken before taking it to the grill. What you come up with may not be exact, but that’s ok!
When possible, attach the name of the cook to the recipe so future generations will know and ask questions about the person who created it.
Here are a few ways to consider preserving your recipes:
Make a cookbook: Snapfish and Zazzle are two of many services that can help you create a cookbook. Upload your recipes and photos into an online template and have them printed. These make wonderful holiday and wedding gifts for family members or food loving friends.
Become a storyteller: Share your recipes along with your memories of cooking and eating. Set a place at the table for your readers with descriptions of where, when and with whom you have enjoyed food.
Make a shareable recipe box: Compile your recipes online and share with your loved ones. Encourage them to add recipes that are important to their history as well. Two services we’ve found for this kind of record keeping are Dish Dish’s community cookbook or Pinterest. There are many options available and a quick search for “online recipe boxes” can help you find one that’s best for your plan and budget.
Don’t forget to share your results with us! Post to Facebook or Instagram about your project and tag @FarmingfortheFutureFoundation
