A lot gets handed down generation to generation in families. Knowledge, skills, and trades all make their way from father to son, mother to daughter, living on along the family line. The last two generations have done little to learn, practice and hand down the traditions of our grandparents and great-grandparents. I recognized that my family stood a good chance of losing some of it’s culinary heritage if someone didn’t make an effort to preserve it.
I reached out to the matriarchs of my family in an attempt to collect the recipes we grew up eating. For the recipes that were written down, I asked for copies or the original recipe card if possible. In some cases, I photographed each card so I would have a record of it in its original form. For the recipes that were never written down, I asked that they be documented or that I be taught first-hand so that I could record the recipe for the family. My mother, both grandmothers, aunts, and sister-in-law all started sending recipes my direction. Some of the recipes have a little note about who’s recipe it was or where it came from originally. Others have notes about the special occasions they were reserved for. Stories, traditions and a connection to the past are preserved in these recipes and I consider it an honor to be the one collecting and restoring them.
Below is my direct family tree for reference. In each recipe, I give credit to the individual or the side of the family it came from.