Making a culinary heirloom is so easy and will give you much joy in making it, too
In our April issue, there’s a lovely feature by Lia Leendertz all about a recipe book she inherited from a relative. You can find some of the recipes from ‘Ellen’s Cookbook’ in the feature, including a blancmange with strawberries, egg flip and Abernethy biscuits. If you’re inspired to create a recipe book of your own to one day bequeath to future generations, here’s how.
1. Gather all your favourite recipes and ask members of your family what their favourite ones are too so it’s filled with memories as well as tasty treats.
2. Split them into categories – starters, snacks, mains, pudding etc. If you’ve got far too many , consider a theme, such as Italian dishes or vegetarian cooking, and create a few cookbooks instead.
3. Decide on your layout. What measurements will you use? How many people does it serve? How long does it take to prepare? How long will it keep? How do you store it?
4. Add notes of all the little tricks and tips you use when making them. Add personal memories about the times you served them up and the reactions they received. These little stories and additions are what make the books personal and a real treasure to pass on.
5. Get the picture – Think about adding photos of each dish so you remember how you presented them. It’s also a great excuse to get cooking so you can take a snap and scoff your favourite food.
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