It dawned on me a few months into starting this blog that, although I am driven to write about my very own creative adventures in cooking and decorating, I am also creating this space to safely document and preserve some of my mom’s favorite recipes. And I’m so happy about that.
I inherited these recipe cards from both my mom and my beloved maternal grandmother, Ammaw. Look at this collection!
I have very vivid memories of my mom sitting at the kitchen table, thoughtfully writing out recipe cards for her own records or for her friends. Seeing my mom and my grandmother’s beautiful cursive writing on these cards is something I cherish.
I love browsing through them! I love seeing the well used and well loved recipe cards that are tattered, splattered, and torn.
Most of the time when I am following a recipe, I find myself referring to my iPhone or my iPad. The Pinterest world is full of very much the same well used and well loved recipes. No doubt the convenience is amazing…to do a quick search and find what you are looking for. But I’ve tried to show my daughters just how special and important it is to revisit their Ammie’s little handwritten cards too. I make sure that when a recipe lovingly handwritten by their grandmother or their great-grandmother is being made in our kitchen, that they know the story and the traditions that go with it.
These little cards remind me of family times together, of old friends, and especially of a time when my mom was at her best.
Do you have vintage family recipes?
Be sure to read about me and the story behind my inspiration for this new blogging journey.
I love this! It is so cute and I love handwritten recipes. They are the best kinds.
Thanks, Carlie! They really are special!
All those well loved recipes!! Wow! Impressive collection! Maybe some of JJs in here too! I love my recipe box! Now when will the Olive Jude cookbook be released???? Cheers on your blog!!! It’s beautiful!!
Oh, yes! I have come across many of JJs…in fact, will be posting one of hers that has become part of our Xmas tradition for over 20 years! Stay tuned! Thanks for the lovely feedback!
I love those handwritten recipe cards too! Brings back such great memories❤️
They are so fun to look at! Some of the ingredients are so rich and delicious!
I love your thoughts on creating a balance between the convenience of Pinterest and the value of revisiting family recipes in their original hand-written form. And then talking to the girls about the stories and memories behind each one. You are so lucky to have such a collection!
Do you keep them organized in any particular way? Alpha or Apps/Dinner/Dessert etc?
Thank you! My own cards are organized by meal type (appetizers, dinner, soup, salad, dessert, breakfast, etc.) but the old vintage cards seem to have been shuffled over and over again. Many are grouped together by the main ingredient (beef, chicken, salmon, etc) One of these days I’ll have to organize and combine all of the recipes together. I think I would enjoy a binder to organize them in but will have to think about that.