Growing up I have so many great memories of food and being around the dinner table as both of my parents enjoyed cooking great family dinners.
This really inspired me to do a lot of my own cooking today, a love that I hope I can pass along to both of my kids.
Some years ago, my brother, sister and I all talked about getting all of our mom’s best recipes together in one place so we could make our favorite recipes from when we were growing up. We talked about photocopying all of the original recipes and combining them into one book so each of us could have a copy for our families.
Then one Christmas, we were all delighted to see that Mom gave each of us a journal book of all of our favorite recipes (and then some). Each cookbook was handwritten, so she had to recreate the same book three times!
A few of these recipes are signature dishes from either my mom or dad, and both of my grandmothers each have at least one recipe in here that is sure to please. Even my stepdad has his signature recipe included.
I start of with some easy meals that take little time and/or ingredients to prepare, for those times when you need to get dinner on the table quickly. I then list my favorite recipes, which includes beef, chicken and pork recipes. I include vegetables and side dishes as well, and some things are basic "how-to" things like boiling eggs, while other recipes are fancy side dishes or dips and even a homemade French dressing.
Next up I include appetizers and drinks, perfect for that weekend get-together with friends. I follow that up with some really, really good desserts. One is from my great grandmother and I copied the recipe word for word from an old notebook that my grandmother used to write it down. Last but not least are some of my favorite recipes that I've "tested" on my family and are ones that we make over and over because they are my family's favorites.
I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I have. It really is a taste of home cooking from my childhood and now I'm glad that I can pass this along so a lot of other people can enjoy what I've been enjoying for decades. Bon appetit!
This really inspired me to do a lot of my own cooking today, a love that I hope I can pass along to both of my kids.
Some years ago, my brother, sister and I all talked about getting all of our mom’s best recipes together in one place so we could make our favorite recipes from when we were growing up. We talked about photocopying all of the original recipes and combining them into one book so each of us could have a copy for our families.
Then one Christmas, we were all delighted to see that Mom gave each of us a journal book of all of our favorite recipes (and then some). Each cookbook was handwritten, so she had to recreate the same book three times!
A few of these recipes are signature dishes from either my mom or dad, and both of my grandmothers each have at least one recipe in here that is sure to please. Even my stepdad has his signature recipe included.
I start of with some easy meals that take little time and/or ingredients to prepare, for those times when you need to get dinner on the table quickly. I then list my favorite recipes, which includes beef, chicken and pork recipes. I include vegetables and side dishes as well, and some things are basic "how-to" things like boiling eggs, while other recipes are fancy side dishes or dips and even a homemade French dressing.
Next up I include appetizers and drinks, perfect for that weekend get-together with friends. I follow that up with some really, really good desserts. One is from my great grandmother and I copied the recipe word for word from an old notebook that my grandmother used to write it down. Last but not least are some of my favorite recipes that I've "tested" on my family and are ones that we make over and over because they are my family's favorites.
I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I have. It really is a taste of home cooking from my childhood and now I'm glad that I can pass this along so a lot of other people can enjoy what I've been enjoying for decades. Bon appetit!
