Some may think we have a slight problem with our collection of cook books. However, both Daniel and I love to eat, love to cook and and actually enjoy reading cookbooks. Each one of the cook books on these two shelves contains a favorite recipe or more.
With Daniel's brother visiting, we've been preparing many of their old family dishes from their mother's recipes. There's a special comfort in familiar dishes from our childhood, isn't there?
That made me think of KJ's recent question on of of my food posts about my favorite cook book. And here it is:
It is my mother's handwritten cook book. My mother passed away suddenly when I was 21 and one of the things I always wished was that I had learned more of her cooking skills from her. No matter what was going on in her life, she cooked the most delicious meals - effortlessly!
I only have a few things of hers and this is the most precious to me. A cook book given to her by her mother with a few family recipes already recorded.
To those, she added her own,
and after she died, I added some more. I think there is something intensely personal and sacred in handwritten items and I love this page of recipes recorded by three generations.
And, of course, this book contains many memories, such as the day she cut this recipe from our local paper and made the apricot cake that has become one of my family's favorites.
Of all the recipes, I have to say that the cake and cookie recipes bring back the very best memories... Do you have a family cook book? And if you do, do you still cook from it?
Oh what a precious memory! I am so sad to hear that you lost your mom at such a young age. My mom always try to teach me how to cook, but I am not a star-pupil. But when she was seriously ill (she has cancer/the last 7 years) I suddenly was thinking about that I couldn´t call her to ask how I should cook different meals. So now I cherish the time she show´s me how to cook. And I know she has a written cookbook that I will keep as a precious memory (hopefully I will not get in for many many years). Love, Annika
ReplyDeleteGood morning sweetheart! What a treasure! The penmanship is beautiful. A are real family heirloom. I will be busy today so I must make my rounds early and say my good morning. Tsup!
ReplyDeleteThat is truly a special item -- the kind you would want to grab if there were ever a fire -- the thing you would miss most if you didn't have it. I was just looking for my mother's little cookbook the other day. She handwrote some recipes and made a little book out of them for me when I first moved into my own place, about 30 years ago. I didn't find it, but I do still have it.
ReplyDeleteYou & Daniel are the best cooks I know so whatever you've been doing, keep doing it -- even if it means you have a zillion cookbooks in your collection.
my mom has this spiral bound book like forever! it's stained and tattered and written in her hand...which she says is messy but which I find charming! She'll give it to me someday...when she doesn't want to bake anymore....i hope that's like a long, long time away.....
ReplyDeleteloved this post....so personal...and touching...
ciao bella
That is truly a special heirloom! I have some recipes that my mother gave me, and that my husband's mom gave to him, but not in a cookbook form. We keep them with all our many cookbooks and torn-out recipes from magazines in a special place. :) Theresa
ReplyDeleteThis is truly a gift from your mother and hers. What an amzing thing for your to add to and pass down to the family. wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI had to chuckle when I saw your pile of books, so glad I'm not the only one! I do have some handwritten recipes from my Mom in portuguese, her native language. thank goodnes she taught me to speak and read the language or the recipes would be lost.
ReplyDeleteHi Silke, what a special book...priceless really. I'm so sorry that you lost your mother so young, I can't imagine life without mine, just terrible for you.
ReplyDeleteMy mum does have a recipe book, but she stopped writing in it years ago. I would love it one day, just for the memories. However, my grandfather (who died 17 years ago) was a master baker (like my great & great-great grandfathers before him) and he had a great handwritten baking book that he started recording recipes in in 1930. I was so touched when he gave it to me. I treasure it, use it and sometimes just trace his dear handwriting with my fingers...so I certainly understand. I'm also a rabid cookbook collector - 310 at last count (not that I count often, it was when we moved!) xoxo Happy March, Rachel
My mother made copies of my grandmothers' handwritten recipes for my my sister and myself; she had them all put into binders and gave them to us for Christmas one year. I love to make my grandmothers' special meatloaf...and also her homemade spaghetti sauce. So many Sunday dinner memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure you have there Silke and how lucky you are. Apricot cake eh? Sounds great. Have a great week and happy March to you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...nothing like hand written sometimes stained workds of family art! I have some recipes like that...and the old cookbook I used to learn from is still at my mom's house. Precious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post Silke. There is something warm and loving about cook books that have been handwritten and passed on through generations. I look at recipes my mother wrote out and feel her with me and remember exactly how the food she made tasted. What a lovely memory you've given me today ♥
ReplyDeleteawww silke, this is totally heart warming from the first word. the thought of recipes recorded in one book by three generations is so touching, so much love imbedded in those recipes. i can see why this would be your favorite forever. i'm sorry to hear you lost your mother when you were 21. what memories this cookbook carries.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing this. it tells me something about you that is as inviting and sturdy and timeless and this cookbook.
♥
You are lucky to have such a special reminder of your mom. I don't have a family cookbook - as an immigrant that went back alone, I really don't have alot of things that belonged to my parents or their families...
ReplyDeleteoh Silke!!! so sweet....my Mom has a book that looks like it is the same as your family cookbook...filled with years of wonderful memories...we look through it every so often over some tea and coffee and it is so much fun!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Diana
What a lovely post Silke! I too have a handwritten book that belonged to my Mother - my brother was copying favourite recipes from it when he was visitng last year! She collected recipes from friends all over the world too so it's quite an international collection! We also have another handwritten book made by an elderly Indonesian family friend which contains hundreds of recipes - the spidery hand is difficult to read but my husband wants to translate it from Dutch and I plan to illustrate it! A great project!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure you have, and I'm so glad you know it and hold it close to you. I don't have a family cookbook. My mother did not pass anything down to me. But I do have a little note book that I wrote in when I was 12 or so recipes that I liked and I still have that-its an antique now!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Silke, was für ein tolles und einmaliges Kochbuch!
ReplyDeleteYour kochbuch reminds me of a lot of things. First I can remember that writing very well from when I was in school in Germany, and second how wonderful the food is!! That is sad that you lost your mom at such a young age, but it will always be special to have her writing.
ReplyDeleteUlrike