Monday, May 5, 2014

Cooking Up Memories

If you have a special bride in your future, I think you'll enjoy this unique gift. One of the gifts I gave my daughter for her upcoming wedding, was a customized recipe box. I scoured the Etsy site and found one with a bicycle for two image, which is what Amy and Chris have on their wedding site. It has their names and wedding date on the top, so Chris will never have the excuse that he forgot their anniversary date. Bonus! :)

I also ordered personalized recipe cards "For the Kitchen of Amy and Chris." They had sets of pink and blue with different graphics on each--wedding dress, engagement ring, wedding cake, bouquet, heart, and so on. I sent the recipe cards along with the bridal shower invitation to family and friends on both sides. Amy seemed pleased with the gift and everyone brought recipes to the shower. And since her fiancĂ©'s family is Italian, she landed some great Italian recipes!

I wanted to add a few more recipes before I shipped the box off to Amy. While going through my special recipe "folder" (meaning post-its, napkins, yellowed envelopes, the back of grocery lists and bank receipts--all with recipes scribbled on them), I noticed several things:

  • I don't cook as much as I did when I was younger.
  • I had forgotten about many of my recipes.
  • I need to make some of these dishes. My hubby would love it!
  • Going through old recipes is nostalgic--truly, a blast from the past.
  • I got completely lost while reading recipes from my mom and grandmother. I loved seeing their handwriting, which is a precious keepsake in itself.
  • I grinned and chuckled when I saw recipes that Amy had scribbled and drawn on as a child.
  • I loved finding recipes that had spills on them. I knew those were the good ones.
I'd encourage everyone to give sentimental gifts like this. I'm sure Amy will cherish the recipes, and it was a fun project for everyone. (The picture here is right after they got engaged!)

Finally, (and you knew I had to talk about writing!), I'm introducing a chef/caterer in the sequel to THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS, so I'll be able to use some of the recipes for the meals she prepares. Maybe I'll even include some recipes in my book. Don't you love novels that have a few recipes in them? What's your favorite recipe or special bridal gift?

11 comments:

  1. Weddings are so, so much planning and work. Thank God we only go through one in our life, if we're lucky.

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    1. Yes, they are a lot of work and once in a lifetime is ideal. Thanks for stopping by, Chuck.

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    2. As a mother of five who worked part time, my approach to cooking was to assemble dishes. My favorite recipe is the old tried and true Beef in Sherry: beef cubes (no browning required), I can golden mushroom soup, 1/2 can of milk, and 1/2 can of excellent sherry mixed together in a casserole and baked covered for an hour or so. The scent is fantastic and it can wait once cooked. My daughters and sons say that this is their 'go to recipe'.
      . I also enjoyed going through old recipes and seeing my mother's notes.
      In my second novel, Lattices of Love, that will be released on June 11th, I describe some of my favorite Turkish dishes--baklava, Ladies' thighs, and apricot filled ladies' navels. ,
      Eris
      www.erisfield.com

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    3. Hi Eris!

      Your beef sherry sounds really good and I bet it did smell delicious. My stepdaughter has five boys so I know how busy your house is! Love the title of your second novel and cool about describing the Turkish dishes. Thanks for coming by.

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  2. What a great gift idea! My favorite recipes are for the cookies I used to make with my grandmother when I was a kid. Then again, there's the one for French Silk Pie with a macadamia nut crust. Yum.

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. Amy seemed to really like it and she enjoys cooking. Love the sound of that French Silk Pie!

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  3. What a great idea and such a thoughtful gift. Lovely!

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    1. Thank you, Mary. I enjoyed getting everyone involved for this special gift. I appreciate your stopping by.

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks, Lisa. I keep adding recipes and need to ship it to her!

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