Family Cookbook...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
August 10, 2009 8:21am CST
I was reading something the other day and came across a great idea I wanted to share. This woman had like 5-6 kids, boys and girls, she decided to make them each a family cookbook. It had copies of all the family favorite dishes including ones her mother had passed on to her. It had little family stories in it too. It also had numerous empty pages for the kids to add their own creative dishes to it. I thought it was a great idea.
My grandmother used to make a dish called Kapooska…no idea what all is in it although I know it has cabbage in it. It’s a German dish. I do have a cookbook that the church we used to go to put out that several family members added recipes to. One of my cousins gave her recipe for potato candy (sounds gross but it’s incredibly good). My uncles famous hot salsa is in there too…this stuff will peel wallpaper from sheer hotness. I’m thinking of getting my Mom, my Dad, my Stepmom, Stepdad and brothers together and get their recipes as well and make books for all my nieces and nephews. I think it would be great.
Would you make these for your kids? What kind of recipes would you include in it? Do you think this is a good way to pass on family favorites?
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
5 people like this
31 responses
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
10 Aug 09
I think that would be a great idea to share with family. I know there were things that my mother did that I don't know how to cook and I never thought to write anything down for my family even though they like the recipes. Then again, my daughters are not very good cooks. LOL! Might not be of use to them!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
10 Aug 09
It just might motivate them to become better cooks. It would be worth a try. Or they could add pictures and turn it into a scrap book.
1 person likes this
@princess07031980 (5412)
• United States
10 Aug 09
I think that would be a great idea to do for your family! (And I had seen that post recently too.) I think one fo the biggest family traditionas, as well being some of the most memorable, is the food shared at mealtimes, family get-togethers and holidays. It is a great way to keep all of the bests (and maybe some terrific family secrets as well!) in one place, having it available for the traditions to be carried on. And also that way the best of the recipes will never be lost. Adding hints along the way in the cookbook would be a good idea too-maybe cleaning secrets or decent substitutions or whatever. You can be creative and completely make the books at home by using your computer and scrapbooking materials, but you can also have them printed for fairly reasonable costs.
3 people like this
@ErrollLeVant (4353)
• United States
10 Aug 09
I love such family traditions, I wish my wife had some of my grandma's recipes!
2 people like this
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
14 Aug 09
Yes it is a great idea to have a cookbook/recipes that can be passed through the generations. My mother never had that as they migrated to Australia after the end of "world War II and by that time she had been a 'slave' in another European country for many years. Her mother did send her some recipes from her own country but in those days it was not always possible to get all the ingredients here. She did adapt some of those recipes though and she used to make them onec or maybe twice a week.
When my nieces and nephews were at an age when they would leave home, my sister-in-law made up books for each of them. Those books not only had favourite recipes in them but also "tips and tricks" on all sorts of things. When my partner saw them, she deciced to do the same for all of our children so that they have their favourite recipes as well as some from previous generations. Each book has been typed - whereas sister-in-law - hand wrote hers and all the books have extra blank pages at the back of each section so that the recipient can add any extras that they want to and the book still stays intact.
@sandymay48 (2030)
• Canada
10 Aug 09
Hi thwoey68..I think this is a wonderful idea and thanks for sharing it with us. This is definately something I would do and in fact, I think I just might. I have 4 kids who are all grown so this would make an excellent christmas gift. Perhaps I could add some photos as well. My kids all had favourite recipes growing up and some special ones like my easter eggs that I would never tell them how to make..lol..maybe its time to give in and share some of my recipes with them. I didnt know what to get them for christmas ...til now..thanks...
3 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
11 Aug 09
I think it is a great idea. I wish they had done something like this with my great grandmother and my grandparents(both cooked) But their recipes are lost forever. Most of them were in their heads made from memory. I don't have any children myself but it would be a great thing to pass on to the others in the family. Would be a fun Christmas/Holiday gift that everyone would maybe be able to use or pass on. I would do it if I had the money.
1 person likes this
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
12 Aug 09
I think this is a wonderful idea. Not only will it give them some great family recipes. When mom is gone they will have something special to use and remember her by.
If I made one I'm not really sure what I would put into it. My kids love my lasagna so I'm sure that would be one. They also like my enchiladas. My mom makes a great spanish rice dish that my husband loves so that would definitely be a go. And of course my grandma makes Mississippi Mud that is a family favorite. Guess those would be some starter dishes.
If you decide to do this let us know how it turns out and have fun with it!!!!
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
11 Aug 09
My sister did this, she found a web-site that sold a book , and on the front it had to my children from me...it had all these blank pages for her to write all the family recipes, she wrote all the ones that her children loved and some of my Moms and gave it to them for christmas..They loved that gift , in fact one daughter (my neice) she was so touched she cried...It was an awesome gift and a treasure they could always keep....
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
13 Aug 09
That's a great idea!! I should do that for my boys and their far in the future wives! They're 20 and 21 now and I hope they'll wait another few years to get married and start a family.
By the way, I looked up Kapooska and found "this is baked beans, Bacon and Sour kraut mixed together" on a diet message board. Doesn't sound very good to me but things often sound yucky when they are absolutely delicious! Is this what you grandma made?
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
I actually did do a family recipe cookbook for myself, my sisters and my mom. I ended up also giving it as gifts for showers and christmas within our family.
I put things that our family DEVOURS at family get togethers - salads, soups, goodies. As well as meals mom makes alot(because my one sister often calls and says "how do you make stew? or how do you make that chicken thing?" .
I'm actually editing it again - adding things and making some fixes to a couple recipies i boobooed on. This time though I intend to have it printed and bound through blurb.com and have a "real" cook book.
1 person likes this
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
24 Sep 09
Hey,
Yes of course, I think this is probably one of the greatest ideas I have ever heard of. This is good because then your kids can give it to their kids, and their kids to their kids. So they will be able to see how the food was back in the days. Make sure you have a good day, God bless and Happy Lotting!!
1 person likes this
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
12 Aug 09
Hi twoey! I think this is a fantastic idea and you should definitely do it! My son is just a little over a year right now but I think this would be a great gift for him when he leaves the house and strikes out on his own - whether it's off to college or to start his own family. This is awesome! good for you!
1 person likes this
@xmapril (75)
• China
11 Aug 09
now i do not have a family.
and if i have a family in the future, i do not want to get divorced.
that hurts a lot.
recipe? of course!
i love them, so i am very willing to make a family cookbook with our favourite food on.
it sounds like i go back to my childhood.
i think that feeling will be great and wonderful!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
10 Aug 09
My husband's family did one and it looks nice and it means a lot to him. My daughter used several of mine in a cookbook her Mission Year team put together. It is a good idea, and could be very easily implemented. I also had a friend that made notes in her cookbooks every time her kids helped her cook a recipe, so her cookbooks were like family diaries.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
11 Aug 09
I don't have any children, but I think it is a wonderful idea.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
11 Aug 09
This sounds like a great idea and I might try to do this for my oldest daughter for a Christmas gift this year. I am looking at ways to make nice gifts this year as to not spend as much money. Thanks for sharing this idea with us. I personally have quite a few cookbooks and I do have a church one that has several family favorites in it.
1 person likes this
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
11 Aug 09
That sounds like an great idea. Since I am now into healthy cooking I would include natural recipes, sugar free recipes and starch free recipes. I make an incredible lasagna without one noodle. I also make an awesome sugar free/starch free italian cheesecake.
1 person likes this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Sounds pretty cool. I don't really talk to any of my family except for my dad and my brother so it would be a little boring for my kids LOL
1 person likes this
