Hey there friends!

I’ve got a question for all of you. Where do you or the cook in your home stash collected recipes? I’m talking recipes clipped from magazines or newspapers plus recipe cards you have filled in or were given to you, etc. And then there are those that you may have printed from somewhere online on printer paper.

I have a bunch of mine stuffed in an old accordion file-type recipe holder with different sections like Desserts, Poultry, and so forth. I’ve also put a bunch into a plastic file folder or stuck them inside my favorite cookbooks. I’m impressed with you if you actually maintain a recipe box with neat cards inside because mine are not organized at all.

After my mother and former mother-in-law both died within a year or so of each other, my daughter and I found ourselves with some of their recipe boxes and also a good number of loose recipe clippings and cards. We love being the keepers of these.

I hope you are now remembering what bits and pieces of your own family’s culinary history you have in your possession. Your mom’s Thanksgiving dressing recipe, your grandmother’s pie crust recipe, and so on.

And that is where I want to direct your attention for this week’s family story thread pulling. 🥧

If that peaks your interest, read on below.

In other news, WHY IS IT STILL SO DANG HOT? I can’t remember an August/September when I was so desperate for a few days with high temps that were just not in the high 90s or triple digits. (I’ll take 91 at this point. Seriously.)

Happy almost weekend,

BEHIND THE SCENES THIS WEEK​
​Finding long forgotten stories in recipe cards

I love how cooking and family memories go hand-in-hand. My favorite memories of being with my mother’s extended family of siblings and their children mostly come from Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house.

The meal was, of course, the main event. It was cooked by my grandmother along with my mom, her sister, and her brothers’ wives. But the treasured memories for me come from running around the yard with cousins before and after lunch.

As time went on and my grandparents died, Thanksgiving shifted to our house and my mom perfected her own holiday recipes. She would also find recipes for her own favorite Christmas treats like divinity and fudge.

When I think of her divinity, it takes me right back to the days leading up to Christmas and all that energy! I can see the tree in front of the living room picture window and the lights outside on the lightpole by the driveway.

So, today’s family story thread to pull is to dig through whatever tidbits of your family’s cooking history you have. You might not even have a physical recipe card or clipping. That recipe from your mom or grandmother might live in your head!

My challenge for you today has 2 parts. The first is to find a recipe for a dish or treat your mom or grandmother made that triggers a story for you.

The second part is to choose one of your own recipes that will trigger memories for you as well as your kids. Was this the dish you made a lot on football Saturdays or maybe a Christmas brunch?

Side note. If you grew up with me in central Arkansas, should we also all write stories about our memories of the social events when Rotel cheese dip was served? It somehow appeared at every party and after-church youth group fellowship. And, of course, we just called it “Rotel.” The cheese part did not need to be named. 😂

OK. Back to your challenge. Once you’ve located those 2 recipes I mentioned or written them down from memory, you know what to do. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

As a bonus today, I’ve included the “Rotel” recipe below if you’ve never heard of it. 🌶️

INTENTIONAL HOME - Decluttering & Curating Memories

FREE - CURATING YOUR READING

I finally got around to creating a Reading Log spreadsheet to keep track of what I’ve already read. I have a page in my Apple Notes where I started listing books years ago, but I haven’t kept up with it.

I added the current audio book I’m listening to in my own copy so that you can get an idea of how it works.

I’m giving away the Books I've Read - Reading Log until I get it set up in my shop, so please use this link to download a document that has instructions and links to both the Excel desktop version and the Google Sheets online version.

Note: The document will say "purchase" because I'll be using it in the shop. But for you - this is totally FREE! Happy first day of Spring. 🌸

​​​Reading Log Access Document.pdf​

SHOP

Legacy Library Insert Cards Printable Floral Collection No. 1 Visit Shop

Legacy Library Insert Cards Printable Books Collection Visit Shop

RESOURCES FOR ART & HEALING

Renée Fleming - “Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness” - Amazon​

Susan Magsamen - “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us” - Amazon​

RESOURCES & SUPPORT

​My choice for a NOK box​

​Affordable thumb drives​

​theNOKbox.com​

​Help for using phone notes apps​

FREE DOWNLOADS

• ​Download Free Scanned Photo Log Spreadsheet (available in both Google Sheet and Excel)
• ​Download Free Ebook - “The Big 5: Family Stories You Need To Preserve For Future Generations”
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I'd love to have you follow my social feeds. I promise to not be boring but will most likely be cheesy now and again. 😉