Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ahem.
Camille is having a quilt giveaway, so you better run over there and register. And you must know how it pains me to send you over there, thus decreasing my chances of a win. (Ok, I jest — but if you go, you could mention that I sent you, which would give me an extra chance, thus negating the fact that I sent you in the first place LOL! That means you too, you quilty peeps, ’cause I’m sure Camille will let you register if you’re blogless!) It’s a beautiful quilt — ’cause that’s the only kind that Camille knows how to make!
A week or so ago, Junie Moon posted a beautiful family cookbook that she made for family Christmas gifts in 2001. So, I thought I’d show you my version of a similar project. (Do we all have a project like this???)
My mother(1) has one sister(1) who has two sons(2) and five daughters(5) and for several years, my sister(1) and I(1) and everyone else talked about making a family recipe book because we love to share recipes. We talked and talked, so finally I just decided to do it. Everyone had already given me recipes, so I gathered together 11 (1+1+2+5+1+1) spiral bound notebooks and did a lot of copying and gluing and built some cookbooks. We took a picture of MeMum and her sister on a tandem bike and named the book Sisters because we’re all a sister to someone in the family.
I divided the book into sections for each member of the family and included their recipes and some pictures of each family. I tried really hard to be sure that everyone from each generation had the same number of recipes and pictures included. The first section contained recipes from our grandmother, including the one pictured above which was in her own handwriting.
I also tried to include a few older family pictures, like the one above of my grandpa playing with a train and the one below of my grandma with one of my cousins in the 1960’s. Grandma would probably hate that picture, but I love it because it looks just like I remember her — she died not too long after this picture was taken.
Another picture I love is the one below of the turkeys. My grandfather was a turkey farmer when I was very young, and my memories of him on the farm are faded, so I treasure the turkey pictures.
There were more contemporary pictures too, like the one below of my goofy cousin doing her Vanna White pose to demonstrate her sister’s new kitchen cupboards. Isn’t she a cutie?
Some of the pages are pretty plain. The plan was that I provided the books with all the recipes and each person should provide stickers for their section for 11 books (’cause stickers for that many pages can get pretty expensive for just one person to buy!) But you know how that goes — trying to coordinate people living in different parts of the country isn’t easy. That doesn’t really matter anyway — the important thing is that we all have each other’s recipes! (Oooh look, there’s MeMum, stylin’ in the 70’s.)
It was a really fun project, but I think if I had it to do over again, I might make a Taste book like Gumbo Lily posted about this week. They look so professional and pretty and that way, everyone could just buy their own if they wanted one.
I’m sure everyone in my family all have new recipes to share — maybe we should do a taste book! Or, how ’bout a blogger cookbook? Wouldn’t something like that be fun — a book with all your favorite bloggers’ recipes??? Hmmmm……
XOXO,
Anna
What a lovely way to save both memories and recipies! I’m sure it will be treasured by all the family members!
The cookbook is wonderful. Sigh…makes me wish I had a sister. :-)
I signed up for the quilt!
My daughter and I are planning a similar cookbook. We started with a website but that got lost in a server move so we have to start all over again. It might still happen. Yours looks like a wonderful souvenir.
What a beautiful cookbook, Anna. I really like the design you’ve used. I own a small software company that makes family cookbook software, so I love to see what people are doing out there. (Shameless plug: Cookbookpeople.com.)
Anyway, nice job! I’ll put a link in our own blog.
Matilda
What a wonderful idea for a cookbook, Anna, and you did such a beautiful job on it! Such great memories and the handwritten recipes are perfect additions. You make me want to creat one, too!
If you do decide to create a blogger’s cookbook, count me in! What fun that would be!
What a special idea, and a true labor of love.
A bloggers cookbook would be really fun!
Your “Sisters” cookbook is fabulous! I love the design and all the thought and care you put into making it. I’m positive it will be treasured for many generations.
I adore the idea of a blogger cookbook! How brilliant of you to think of this. Should it come to pass, I’m willing to participate.
The cookbook idea is wonderful – what a beautiful treasure! I even love seeing my mother’s name in community quiltbooks as a contributor, though I once told her that there was no such thing as “The Best Lima Beans Ever!”. Thank you for the hint on the quilt giveaway; you now have more chances to win, darlin’.
My daughter and I are planning to do something like this for Christmas this year. Your book is so lovely and fun and I am sure treasured by all. I am not sure I have time to do something that extensive, but we are thinking of recipe cards on some of the beautiful formats available on the web now. Thanks for the ideas!
What a great idea. I would love my girls to start something like that when they are older.
That is an absolutely gorgeous idea Anna – you are so thoughtful and family oriented. Thanks for sharing! Lucy x
We did something similar for my parents 50th wedding anniversary years ago. It was so cute. But really, not nearly as cute as yours. We have talked about doing another one but no one wants to be in charge! haha lazy sisters
yours is darling, anna, such a great keepsake
Anna, That’s a super idea…a blogger’s cookbook…and I am inspired by the family cookbook…not sure I would take the time to do that but it’s awesome.
Beautiful keepsake cookbook, Anna! I’d hate to use it (because I’m such a messy cook). I love the photos and the recipe cards in handwriting. Precious memories.
You could easily do a family cookbook through Taste Book…..I hope you try it. It’s amazing!
Jody
THIS is a neat idea. I will file that in a folder for future projects. :) Done.
Anna this is something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time but I’m not sure I could do it nearly as beautifully as you. And as for the bloggers recipe cookbook I daren’t trust you with anything like that … Let me think what kind of recipes might you put under the Potato section … mmmm!!!
\Kimx
This is really special…generations of family members will treasure this, I’m sure.
Good for you, for making it, and not just thinking about making it – I fall into that catagory :}
Have a good weekend,
Cherri
That is going to be my girls big Christmas gift this year. I should get started… or wait until after the wedding in June. I , too, saw it on Junie Moon. But, I think yours is fantastic!! What a lot of work my dear!!
I have an album posted on my blog today but it’s not about recipes. Take a guess! It’s goofy!!
Joni
What a beautiful gift! I will have to tuck that idea away for next year :)
What a wonderful cookbook – I am sure it will become a treasured heirloom. How lovely that you included photos from all of the contributors.
Anna Anna Anna – you never cease to amaze me and sometimes I swear it’s like you are reading my mind. That cookbook is amazing and I love how you did it. What a treasure and keepsake. Son#2 just asked me the other day to make up a cookbook, well he said write down his favorite recipes – I would make it a cookbook. But this would be fun to make for all of the nieces and nephews, married or not. I’m putting this in the to do file. Did you miss me :)
Hugs – Karen
Oh my gosh! What a lot of love and work! What a treasure you gave. :)
I love your cookbook – such a lovely idea :)
I think the bloggers’ cookbook would be fab!!
xx
I too love that idea.
Now, if I send you some recipes and photos, how about you just do one for me … since you’re so good at it…? No? Oh well.
What a wonderful idea! I just wish I could cook! ;-) That will be such a treasure in your family. And THANKS for the shout out! What an honor to be mentioned on your beautiful blog! You’ve sent over a LOT of people, I hope your number comes up!
That Cupcake Cake is adorable. I really want to take a Wilton decorating class one of these days! I have a need to make pretty cupcakes!
What a cute cake!! She did a great job!