Nancy's Reads & Reels: Cookbook/Memoir

What do memoirs and cookbooks have to do with each other? Maybe you would like to record memories of your family but can’t think how to go about it — that’s where the cookbook comes into it.

It’s been so long ago that I can’t remember when my cousin suggested that we put together a family cookbook. I think it all started some time after I moved to Decatur, 17 years ago. My cousin lives in Hansville, Washington.

The cookbook came about because of the Internet and our emailing back and forth but really I can’t remember the exact moment when my cousin proposed gathering the recipes for the book.

Growing up, my cousin and I lived together off and on so we knew each other’s background. Our mothers were sisters. We went to the same high school.  Her older sister and my older sister were best friends and still are. Both of our mothers are no longer with us so the cookbook project gave us a chance to share our memories of them.

After high school, my cousin and I went off to college and I moved south. As adults we rarely saw each other.

My mother hand wrote a cookbook to give to one of my daughters as a Christmas gift in 1989 and somehow it migrated to my place, so that was a source of recipes and discussions. Many of the recipes were handed down from my grandmother.

Even though I hadn’t made a cake in years the family cookbook project inspired me to make “Nana’s Applesauce Cake with Caramel Frosting.” 

I also found a picture of my grandmother (Nana) and on the back it has her name, Ruth – 75 years, July 14, 1963. That brought back a lot of memories and reminded me how lucky I was to have her for my grandmother.

I emailed recipes to my cousin and she emailed me the different sections with recipes to proof but that was a long time after the initial idea was talked about, I think. Different recipes brought back other memories.

Once we got started on the book there were lapses when we didn’t do anything on it but once we got to the proofing part it moved right along. I can’t take much credit for the finished product because my cousin did most of the work. Other than sending her some recipes, our bios and proofing of recipes, she did everything else.

Another important part of our family cookbook is a picture of the contributor and a short biography of each. This will spark many a conversation with family members.

I highly recommend this project and a resourceful cousin who will do most of the work.

My mother's handwritten cookbook means so much to me. I know our family cookbook, “Recipes & Remembrances,” will also mean a lot to me.