If you’re fascinated by family history, you’re probably searching through dusty documents and faded scrapbooks in the attic, but don’t forget to go through the old family recipe box. A family recipe oozes with memories that don’t show up on a birth certificate.

Heirloom recipes

Lucky is the one who finds a true heirloom recipe, handwritten and passed down through the centuries. Recipes, the way they are written and the ingredients used, bespeak of their times. Early instructions for honey-laded cakes were found on the inside of Egyptian pyramids while turn-of-the-century cooks relied on curious kitchen utensils to prepare recipes that were favored by early US presidents. Immigrants brought flavors and history of their homeland to meld with those of their new country, and the resulting recipes used both familiar and foreign ingredients.

Often, these recipes are not written down, but kept inside great grandmother’s head. Now is the time to collect them and record them for posterity’s sake! Be sure to inquire not only about the ingredients, measurements and instructions but also any memories associated with cooking this special recipe. Where did she get it? Who taught her to make it? Were there different ingredients or tools available? What does she remember about the family enjoying this recipe? Take her picture to keep with the recipe. Be sure to have her sign and date it.

And of course, great grandmother isn’t the only good source of family recipes. Send out inquiries to all of your relatives and encourage them to record treasured recipes from their elderly family members, too.

Start now to create your new family food legacy

Even those without a long line of ancestors can create recipe legacies for their posterity. When selecting a recipe to hand down, consider the following:

• It should be a unanimous winner. Everyone gets a vote.
• Think about a recipe that comes from your ethnic background.

• Choose a dish that evokes happy memories.

Tips to preserving your family recipes

And when preserving your newfound tradition or “heirloom” recipe, remember these ideas to add more meaning and memories:

• Try to avoid using the word processor. Even if the fonts are more legible than your scrawl, your descendents will enjoy seeing your handwriting.

• Although your family may enjoy many of your recipes, select only the absolutely favorites for your special collection.

• Accompany the recipe with a photograph of not only the dish itself but with the cook or family surrounding it.

• It would be equally fascinating for people to see pics of step-by-step directions of your own hands rolling gnocchi, for example.

Here is an heirloom recipe from a woman whose parents immigrated to Hawaii from old Japan. There are many varieties of tsukemono, the salted and pickled vegetables served as accompaniments. Her altered version gives clues to her past and present with its use of miso (soybean paste), Hawaiian salt, and beer, which first appeared in cans around 1935.

Tsukemono

cabbage, won bok (makina), cucumber or daikon

1 can beer

1/2 c. miso

1 c. sugar

1/4 c. Hawaiian salt

1/4 c. vinegar

Mix ingredients and pour over cabbage, won bok, cucumber or daikon. Keep cold in ice box.