Family Cookbook..Create A Family Heirloom Cookbook

Give the treasure of your family history by creating a family heirloom cookbook.

Most of us have recipes that we treasure, that have been handed down from generation to generation, recipes that we love because they bring us fond memories of times spent with loved ones, and naturally they are also delicious.

A collection of family recipes is a wonderful way to combine favorite dishes and family folklore. “A family recipe is also a family history, and can be a wonderful work of folk art.” For example, take the opportunity to not only write down family recipes for generations to come, but include famous family stories (every family has them), photos and memorabilia as well.

But how do you turn these gems into a true cookbook? The first step should be sending out a letter to family members asking them to send you there favorite recipes.

If you have a relative who never writes down recipes consider having someone in your family be the “helper,” and prepare the dish along with them. The helper would keep track of how the dish is prepared, including temperature and cooking times. The “helper” should also be sure to ask about color, texture, and doneness and consistency.

When you’re asking for recipes, provide everyone with a format. For example, ask your family members to list the ingredients in the order that they are to be used, with the quantities. Lay out the directions that are needed in order to make the dish, and to add comments about what to look for as the dish is prepared, and when it is done. It can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it because you’ll be saving an important part of your family’s history.

Once you have the recipes, you’ll want to create a design for your cookbook that reflects your family. One special way to do this, is to include old photos or family mementos along with the recipes. A simple way to share this is to make color copies.

For text, use simple fonts so that they are easy to read for all ages. Save fancy fonts for titles or chapter headings. Consider creating a box -- with borders and shading -- for the recipe so that there is enough contrast between the recipe and the background artwork you may use.

Be sure to write an introduction for the cookbook, how family responded to the project and i its organization. Date the book and have a table of contents to make finding a favorite recipe easy for family and friends. Here are a few suggestions for organizing recipes:

By category, for example, appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts. By family, for example, grandmother, aunt and uncle, or cousin recipes. By holiday, for example, favorite dishes for the 4th of July, Thanksgiving or Labor Day. To keep recipes easy to read and clean, consider putting them in plastic sleeves and then in 3-ring binders. “This way, you can add a new recipes any time you want.

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