I recently received a very special gift.
Ben’s late Grandma’s – Gwendolyn’s – collection of cook books.
His family has started the long process of sorting through her belongings after she passed away last year, and among the many items a woman in her 80s possesses – letters, knickknacks, pictures and notes – was her well used collection of cook books, which they thoughtfully entrusted to me.
Cook books she used everyday, jotting down notes to indicate a “family favorite“,
or re-writing ingredients to better suit her tastes.
Cook books stuffed with handwritten recipes that Grandmas seem to always make best,
like “Mystery Bars”
and “Honey Peanut Bar Cookies.”
Cook books with pages that were stained and splattered with the evidence of lovingly made family dinners and desserts.
Let me tell you about the desserts… If there was any question in my mind that Gwen had a sweet tooth, I am now completely clear on the matter.
The worn and well used tabs for “Cookies,” “Cakes & Frostings” and “Candies” stuck out in every cook book I opened.
A woman after my own heart.
Her favorites, from what I can tell, were Chocolate Cake, and Lemon Bars. Variations of the same two recipes were ear-marked in book after book – saved to be easily found and made again and again.
“Yep, she loved her Lemon Bars…” Ben confirmed after I informed him of my suspicions. And we all know about Grandma’s famous Cookie Cake which, if the chocolaty fingerprints covering the cake page of her favorite cook book are any indication, she made often.
There was a big lump in my throat as I was going through Gwen’s collection, flipping through the faded pages and catching glimpses of her handwriting every now and again, but it was more sweet than sorrowful. And given my love for cooking, I only feel closer to her now. Is that cheesy?
Hang on, I think I saw a recipe for a cheese ball a few pages back…
~~~~~
“My Grandma/Grandpa makes/made THE best _______.”
My Grandma on my Mom’s side makes THE best chicken noodle soup. My Grandma on my Dad’s side made THE best homemade caramels.
What a blessing to have Grandma Gwen’s recipe collection. My grandma “mom” (mother’s Mom) was an awesome cook with everything that she made. Every Sunday she would make a big meal that we (my family, aunts, uncles, cousins, as many as 30+) would all meet at grandpa & grandma house for Sunday dinner and cake. There was always a cake. Holiday cakes were usually a special Raw Apple Cake or Carrot Cake. The Raw Apple Cake was such a family favorite that she taught me to make it when I was sbout 11. After she passed (many years ago). I started makng a small cake every year as a gift to each of my 2 brothers along with a larger version for the whole family share at Christmas dinner. I always remember the many memories we shared in the kitchen ‘cooking’ together.. just remembered the awesome “do-nots” (doughnuts) we made eery winter!
I just love this post about grandmas & cookbooks. It’s great that you’re able to hold on to those special treasures. My grandma is originally from Germany & her cooking is a special memory from my early childhood. My grandma makes the best everything…pretzels, potato salad, chicken noodle soup, peanut brittle, breaded pork chops, and she makes THE best sugar cookies ever!!
this is a lovely post. Those cookbooks and recipes are true keepsakes filled with so many memories and love.
my Scottish grandmother makes the best Scottish cookies! (empire biscuits and millionare shortbread!) they are wonderful.
What a treasure! This is actually why I started my blog. If I’m ever a Grandma, my grandchildren will be able to find all of my favorite recipes. :)
Wow. This is such a fitting post. I am waiting for a call saying my grandma passed. It will be coming in the next couple days. She’s old (91) and been fighting cancer for 6 + years. So instead of sadness I feel blessed that I knew her for 25 years. Nonetheless I’ve been thinking a lot about her. My grandma made the best sugar cookies. So light and perfect.
I have cookbooks from my grandparents and parents that look exactly like your photos! Well loved recipes from the past.
I have two recipes from my grandma and great grandma that were the best ever. One is a sugar cookie recipe from my great grandma for what we called Granny Grass’ cookies – to die for! The second is my Granny (Granny Grass’ daughter) who made the best ever chex mix. I know, chex mix is pretty simple, but nobody has ever made chex mix like my Gran who had a secret ingredient she NEVER shared!! I’ve made a million different attempts, but still haven’t figured it out.
my grandma made the best apple pie… I don’t like any other apple pie b/c they all pale in comparison to hers….
So sweet! I put together a cookbook of my grandma’s recipes. I love opening it up and laughing at some (makes 12 pies?!) and the vagueness of other recipes. She wasn’t one for measurements.
My favorite recipes were here homemade chicken noodle soup and fried bread. YUM! I need to convince her to cook those again. :) My other grandma isn’t so cooking focused, although I was happy to recently discover that she actually bakes (and well)! :)