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.
This post warms my heart and I normally don’t post to blogs I read…for some reason. But my Grandmother, and this is weird but has the most sentimental background, made the best grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. I don’t know if it was the butter, the cheese or the ham…but honestly, today it wouldn’t matter what she made if she could make it again for me b/c it was her love that I tasted in everything that she made for us through the years. I miss her tremendously…
My grandmother used to make Buttermilk Cookies and they were wonderful! My husbands grandmother makes spice bars and the best country ham ever. I love the little recipe books. I find the ones from churches or clubs at garage sales every so often and I always scoop them up. They have great recipes and everything is usually very simple – which to me is always the best!
Wow! Thats awesome that you got all those old cook books! My grandma gave my mom some a while ago and they are so interesting to look through =)
Those recipes look delicious! Check out my Chinese hot pot post at http://hongkongintern.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/hot-pot/
My Grandma just passed on the 13 and I was given her recipes and cookbooks. I haven’t been able to go through them yet but anything she made with rhubarb in it was wonderful. She would make a rhubarb jam and bread and I’m hoping see wrote the recipes down.
My Mom’s mother makes the best texas sheet cake, and my Dad’s mother made the best homemade sauce and homemade pizza. YUM! I loved this post. =)
Everytime I snoop around my grandma’s house I realize how much she makes and later cans or freezes. She makes the best rhubarb jam and applesauce. Nothing comes close to those two.
The scripture cake looks lovely!
My Grandma makes the best lemon tarts!
What a wonderful gift! I especially love the Scripture Cake.
I am not close with my living grandparent, and I haven’t seen her in nearly 13 years. My mom makes the best homemade jam, though!
My dear gramma June made the best Ginger creams. I have yet to try the recipe but my sister has-and has failed both times! Sometimes it just takes that gramma touch.
This is a beautiful homage to Ben’s Grandmother. Bravo.
My grandmother makes the best cabbage rolls. Yum!
My Grandmother made the best dumplings, BAR NONE.
Her pot roast was too.die.for too!
Not cheesy at all honey, very sweet!
I cried reading your entry! I adore my Grandmothers. They are both from Louisiana, and both made the best savory and sweet dishes ever! My late Southern-LA Grandmother made the best Crawfish Etoufee w/ fresh crawfish caught in the pond in the back acre of her farm! The grandkids would go get ’em! My Nothern-LA grandmother makes the best Lemon Icebox pie! She has dementia now and rarely cooks for her and my Granddad, but she can still make that pie from scratch without the recipe! I can taste it now…mmmmmmm