Does your grandmother make the best chocolate chip cookies? Maybe your dad has a knack for making steak and potatoes?
Don’t let these recipes pass you by. Recording recipes has become a bit of a lost art, sadly. In the past, many cultures have made it a point to have family members share their recipes and wisdom. However, in recent years, this really hasn’t been the case. After all, you can look up recipes online with reviews. So, why would you want or need to record your family member’s recipe? Well, there’s so much nostalgia associated with the food we eat. You can often tell which family member cooked something just by taking one bite. If you don’t record their recipes, they will probably be lost. So, you know when people say they wish they could have their grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies just one more time? They didn’t record the recipe or learn her tricks for preparing it.
Don’t let the opportunity get away from you! Take the time to record your family recipes. We’ve outlined the best way to go about this. So, let’s dive in!
What are the Best Recipe Storage Ideas?
So, what is the best way to store recipes? We think putting keepsake recipes in one place is the best way to keep everything together. So, the first thing you need to do is have a place to record all of your keepsake recipes. While some people might lean toward just making a note on their phone or storing recipes in the cloud, we’d recommend something entirely different. Get a physical copy of a family recipe book. Our favorite is the family recipe book that we created here at Duncan & Stone. It has a number of impressive features that will help you get recipes recorded more easily.
So, you’re probably wondering how to organize recipes, and we have a perfect solution. Our book features sections. So, you can sort keepsake recipes by appetizers, breakfast, soup, salads, sides, desserts, etc. So, you can keep them organized and more easy to access. The book also has blank pages for recording the recipes and even a storage pocket if you'd like a spot to keep the original recipe cards.
While this book was created as a special space to preserve family memories, it’s also a great way to preserve recipes. If the chef behind the recipe is still living, have them write the recipe in your book in their handwriting. It will make it more special in the years to come. It also makes a great keepsake that can be shared among family members or passed down through the years.
Decide on the Keepsake Recipes You Want to Record
After getting your family recipe book, you need to decide what recipes you’d like to record. Maybe there’s one special recipe that inspired you to start a family cook book, but maybe also consider other favorite recipes and talk to those family members as you get started. This way, you can collect as many recipes as possible.
Cook As a Family
The next thing you’ll want to do is plan a day to cook as a family! This can be a special day that you cook one-on-one with a special family member, or make it a family affair. No matter how big or small the gathering, it’ll still be special. If you’ve decided to do it as a group, consider doing it around the holidays. Your family is more likely to be together, and holiday foods are sometimes the most nostalgic.
Also, if you decide to cook as a group, include all ages. Let the kids help and be part of the memory-making. Time can be really fleeting, and moments like this don’t come along every day. So, let even the littlest ones help if they want to!
While you’re doing your family cooking day, don’t forget to capture the moment. We mentioned having the family member write the recipe in their own handwriting, but also do other things to make memories. You can take pictures, record a video or anything else to help keep that special memory alive.
Preserve the Stories Behind Each Recipe
Another special thing you can do while gathering family recipes is to preserve the stories around the recipes. So, ask your family member some questions:
- Where did you learn to make this recipe?
- Did you make it with your family?
- Has this recipe been passed down?
- Have you made changes to the original recipe you were taught?
- Did you make this recipe at a certain time of year?
- Are there any secrets to making this recipe perfect?
Be sure to take note of these stories and record them alongside the recipe so you can keep the stories for future generations. This can also be a great way to commemorate family members in the future and celebrate your heritage if there are cultural aspects to the recipe.
Make It a Family Tradition
Once you’ve created your recipe book, continue to add to it. Add recipes you make for your kids, and continue to collect recipes from family members throughout the years. As your kids see you using the book to jot down recipes, it might catch on with them, too. So, get them their own recipe book and let them join in. Let memory-keeping be a part of your family traditions.
In the end, preserving family recipes is about so much more than cooking. It's about capturing the flavors, traditions and stories that make your family unique. By recording these recipes in your family recipe book from Duncan & Stone, you're creating a legacy—something that future generations can look back on with love and appreciation.
So, gather your family, cook together, laugh, share stories and document the recipes that mean the most to you.