Jen is here today with free printables (we always love those right?). I also love her idea of taking the time to write down some of your favorite recipes and transforming them into family heirlooms. And speaking of families – thanks so much to everyone who’s chimed in on our very lively discussion from yesterday. It’s SO nice to hear that I’m not the only struggling with the question of whether or not our family is complete!
P.S. QUESTION OF THE DAY
Do you have a recipe from your childhood that you love to make for your family? (For me it’s my mom’s wild rice with sauteed veggies and mushrooms – mmm, I might have to go make some right now.
I doubt I’m alone in this, but it’s pretty safe to say that most of the recipes I use are from the web. Whether I follow the recipe on my tablet in the kitchen, print it out and stash it in a binder, or just pin it to a pin board, the result is that most of my recipes never make it on to a traditional recipe card.
I was content with my online recipe approach to cooking until I was helping my grandmother prepare a dish over the holidays. We were following a recipe her mother had written out, and although it was aged and torn after many years of use, it still did the trick and left me with a resounding nostalgic aftertaste.
When I think about it, there’s not much I can imagine passing down through generations. Our “stuff” seems so temporary and disposable nowadays, and so easily and inexpensively replaced. Although I’ve got many years (hopefully) to think about the legacy I’ll leave or the things that will make their way from one generation to the next, writing and keeping recipe cards just seems like the most creative and logical way of connecting with future kin.
So, carve a little time out of your week, sit down with a beverage of choice, and write out a few of your favorite recipes. If you don’t have any blank recipe cards on hand, I’ve got you covered. Download this design for free and print on some nice card stock (aim for 100 lbs or higher). While you’re at it, print out some extras and have your mother/ sister/ grandparent fill out a few too.
The bonus to writing out recipes is that you can easily jot down any modifications you make to a recipe and make notes about different cooking methods, how well it freezes, etc. You could even give it a rating based on how much your family enjoys the dish. And the practicality is most certainly outdone by the nostalgic factor. Your kids, grandkids and other family members are certain to enjoy seeing your handwritten notes as they create one of your treasured recipes down the line.
Question of the Day
Do you have a recipe from your childhood that you love to make for your family?
This post is part of MPMK’s “Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life”. You can read all about it here, check out all of our projects here, and join thousands of POYEL facebook group members here.
Jen
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