Contrary to what is commonplace today, published cookbooks have been used by only a few of our generations. It really hasn’t been that long in the history of man, that we’ve had stoves that you could control the temperature with a thermostat; electric refrigerators and all the other fancy gadgets today’s chefs utilize.
Even back in the cave days, there had to be fire and a method to control it. Much trial and error was going on back then, but someone began to master, teach and refine the methods to pass on to others.
My late Grandma Hoffmann (1911-1989), grew up on a farm without electricity or indoor plumbing. She wrote down all her recipes and kept them in a wooden box. As a child, I remember her in the kitchen cooking one of her meals or awesome desserts with the index card of the recipe on the counter.
When my mom passed away in 2010, I was given this box of recipes. I sift through the cards, and memories similar to when you hear an old song, flood through my mind. It’s not just from the different recipe names, but also from reading these in her handwriting. This box of recipes is a precious gift I will always cherish.
Linda and I will start resurrecting some of these recipes and make them part of our family meals. I’ll share some of the best ones here.
I recognize that handwriting, any chance of getting copies of those recipes? Could you add some of your Mom’s wonderful recipes too? Throw a cousin a bone . . . would love to try some of them also . . . like the pickled beef hearts my dad loved. Great picture, by the way, let me know which ones Linda finds easy to make.
Will do.