Handwritten Recipes

In the world of Google and Internet recipes, we can find almost instantly how to cook almost anything. When we locate that recipe that seems just right, we screenshot or pin it and give it our best shot. While this resource is invaluable, there is something that is missing when we scroll to the bottom of a blog and find out what we need to make our latest craving. Handwritten family recipes are not only nostalgic; they are the conductors for stories of the past, a living memory of family members who are no longer with us. 

This past Christmas, as I dug through my family's recipe cards for a project, I was reminded of what it meant to have handwritten recipes. Kayla's gift to Anna Catherine was a recipe book to collect her favorite family recipes. Kayla wanted to include several handwritten family recipes with the book to get it started. While I could recant my favorites from memory, I decided to go back a generation or two and see what I could find written down. I started with my grandmother's old recipe boxes. You know- the old index card boxes filled with recipes collected from friends and family. As I anxiously opened them, a wave of emotion immediately washed over me. It wasn't just the memory of the dishes represented by the list of ingredients on the cards that made me smile. Rather, it was the handwriting that caught my heart. In that instant, I was transported back in time, and I could see her sitting at the table, pen in hand, writing her recipes on those old "kitchen" index cards - complete with a notation as to whose kitchen it originated. I couldn't help but smile as I recalled her sweet face and talented hands. But I didn't stop there. I found an old recipe book of my own. Much to my delight, I found recipes written not only in my script, but also in the handwriting of my mother, aunt, mother-in-law, and sister. I could quickly identify what recipe belonged to whom just by looking at the handwriting. I carefully selected one from each woman in our family and gave them to Kayla to be included in Anna's book.

This simple practice is crucial in preserving a handwritten legacy within our families. Even if there are no recipe cards left from years gone by, begin making your own now. I do not doubt that the internet will continue to impress us all, but when you find one that hits the spot, take a moment to write it down. When you attend family meals, ask those around you to write down the recipe for the items they brought; you will be surprised how quickly they begin to add up. And don't assume you need a daughter to start this- passing them along to your daughter-in-law years down the road will provide an avenue for a bond that will benefit both of you.