Do your children have favorite recipes? When asked what they’d like to have for dinner, do they always request the same thing? Are there dishes they rave about and say, “When I’m grown up, I’m going to make this!”
Someday, they will remember the meals you made and more than likely they will call you or email you and beg you for the recipe so they can serve it to their own growing brood. Without knowing it, you are leaving them with memories and tasty treats they will want to recapture when they are adults. You are leaving them a legacy in the kitchen…a delicious legacy.
But why not take it a step further?
How about being purposeful in how you leave this legacy?
This is what I had in mind when I received this Family Recipe Keeper from MarmeeDear.com a few years ago. (I received mine free because I contributed ideas that went into the making of it).
Within the pages of this book are places for you to write down favorite recipes and memories. It is the perfect way to leave a legacy for the future cooks in your family. Megan already has many requests that I’ve written on a sticky note inside the cover of the book for when I am able to take some time to sit and write them out for her.
I also found THIS recipe keeper from Lakeside Collection. It has plastic sleeves that hold recipe cards. You could even make your own with plastic sleeves put into a 3-ring binder you’ve decorated yourself (or had your child decorate).
If you are feeling rather crafty, you can try your hand at this RECIPE HOLDER PROJECT. Or maybe you’d rather do everything via computer. Hewlett-Packard has a Heirloom Photo Cookbook project free on their website that allows you to add pictures to some absolutely gorgeous templates.
Another idea is to simply get an index card box with the dividers and begin copying favorite recipes as your child requests them. (And believe me, if you make it known that you are doing this, they WILL have requests!)
A very neat idea that Ty’s Granny (yep, there’s that Granny again!) came up with for our wedding shower, was to pass out index cards and have each person attending fill out a card with their favorite recipe. It was a great (and fast) way to build my recipe repertoire! I could even see this as a graduation present to the budding new cook.
And don’t forget the easy stuff you assume everyone knows. Some of you know my story about having to secretly watch my sister-in-law make mashed potatoes because I was too embarrassed to admit I didn’t know how to make them. Things like making gravies and white sauces, mashing potatoes and steaming veggies are not often found in cookbooks, so if you have neglected to teach these simple culinary tasks to your child, they are likely to be hard-pressed to find out how to do it from any other source. The absolute best way to teach these things is to have your child be in charge of that part of the meal a few times. They will learn by doing.
And finally, have you found a cookbook you just can’t do without? Why not make the investment and buy more to pass on. Recently my mom purchased a cookbook from a church I used to attend as a child. I am still reaping the benefits of a mother who continues to invest in my culinary skills.
No matter how you choose to do it…3 ring binder, index card box, prepared book for that very purpose…consider how you can begin now to leave a legacy for your future cooks!
Valerie says
Love this idea. So motivational. Anything you can pass down to the kids is great. I so want to do that!
Jena says
Thanks for the motivation and inspiration! I received a cookbook binder with cards and plastic sleeves as a gift for my wedding shower. It was a gift that I wanted but it has sat up on top of the fridge since I got it. I’ll have to dig it out and get going on it.
Mrs. P. says
Great post! I’ve been making recipe books for my 2 daughters and my future daughter-in-laws. I think it is important to pass family recipes along. I treasure the ones from my grandmothers, my grandmother-in-law and my mother-in-law who have all gone home now.
Blessings!
Gail
Heart2Heart says
Amy,
We have something like this already and are capturing recipes from my mom while she is still here to hand them on down. Pictures go nicely with them as well.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Fruitful Harvest says
Hi Amy~
What a great idea!
I love to watch cooking shows and often go to the food network.com and print recipes and put them into a page protecter….they do have a recipe card format too.
I should make an extra book!
Blessings,
Georgiann
*Mirage* says
I’m definately going to do this! I keep having to call my mom and ask her for the recipe for this or that. I asked her to write them all down for me but she forgets.
When I got married she bought me the Betty Crocker cookbook (the original old one that has everything), which is amazing. It has everything- EVEN how to steam veggies and make mashed potatoes! And roast a turkey. *ahem* I had a little bit of a panic over how to roast a turkey my first married Thanksgiving, until I looked it up in Betty. Lol! It’s been a real life saver. I barely cooked at all before getting married so to have that cookbook to turn to to learn the basics was wonderful. I still use it constantly. A wonderful investment. Now I love to bake and cook and can just go with it without a recipe, but I needed that foundation to start on, and I still refer back to it for things I’ve never made before.
So for anyone who doesn’t cook well enough to feel confident passing recipes on to the kids I would wholeheartedly recommend the betty crocker cookbook- a copy for you because it will make you love to cook, and a copy for each of your kids when they get married. 😉
Mrs. and Mama K says
I’ve been working on making a book on the computer. I’m trying to take pictures of all of the dishes to show what they’re “supposed” to look like and to help in how to perform some of the steps. I can’t wait to get it printed!! If you’re interested, let me know, and I can send it to you…the only thing I haven’t figured out is how I’m supposed to add anything to it later…
SarahLynne says
You could always have Megan write them out for the book. 🙂 She’d probably be excited to do so! I did this when I was still at home and being homeschooled. Still have the book, too….although it hardly has any recipes in it.