Recipe Gathering Evolution

Since we are talking about recipes, I thought I would share with you my first "serious" attempt at gathering family recipes together and filing them in one spot. This is a recipe notebook that I made for a class called Food Science. I constructed it during my junior year in college as a class project. It seemed to be such a major project. PCs were not something we had heard of in those days (all of a sudden I am feeling so old!). A typewriter, card stock, notebook dividers, a three-ring binder, and Elmer's glue all combined as tools for this cookbook creation. It seems like I spent hours on our family's old, clunky typewriter to get this project done. I was just happy the the typewriter was electric, even though correction ribbon was yet unheard of. It was strike-over or white-out, baby! So, alas, the typos and strike-outs remain. 

My Food Science teacher was a terrific woman. She had advanced degrees in nutrition.  I still consider her one of the best teacher's I ever had. She was a wealth of knowledge and had the highest of standards for all her students. Like me, she was a vegetarian and taught her classes from that perspective. She must have been in her early 30's during those years, but to her students she stood on a very high pedestal and was ageless! We were all somewhat in awe of her. She not only taught the home economics and dietetics students, but all the pre-med and nursing majors as well. Today, because I was thinking of her, I searched for her name on the Internet and was fortunate to find a video clip in which she was being interviewed.  I enjoyed ten minutes of hearing her speak again. I reminisced about old times as I listened to her talk. She lives in the midwest now where she is affiliated with a state university. I'm glad others are still learning under her tutelage.

I suppose one could say that it is not only recipes that bring back memories, but the pages and papers and ink that hold and present the words that make up those recipes. A few years back I thought that maybe I should revise my cookbook, giving it a new cover or even an entirely new notebook. It would have been easy to type up new tabs for section dividers and to re-glue magazine recipes that had been clipped and glued to a card stock page. But then the authenticity would be destroyed, and always one for keeping things real, I decided to leave it as it was created --- way back in 1976.

Old Time Cooking

 

There are some pictures that simply need to be taken, even if they are shielded by a layer of dirty glass and bright reflections.  The "Woman's Favorite Cookbook" in this photo is tattered and well-used.  Steaming hot and fragrant foods are illustrated by covered serving bowls with steam wafting as drawn some an artist who was generous with his ink and pen.  I think this artist must have been a man who hadn't been served very many tasty dishes in his life, as the woman on the cover is shown with a piqued and weary look on her face.  I suppose there is a reason why this cookbook wasn't titled "The Joy of Cooking".  Unable to reach through the glass to peruse this worn-out cookbook, I can only imagine the recipes and notes enclosed.  

Photo:  Pearce General Store, Pearce, Arizona

A Farm-Chic Party with the Farm Chicks

Terri, Jacque, and Paula go to a. . .
. . .Farm-Chic Party with the Farm Chicks

There's nothing more fun for vintage collectors and crafters than an event that draws a large group of them together to 'show and tell', shop, gather ideas, and share. It's like one big party! That's what happened last week-end in Spokane, Washington at The Farm Chicks Show. This post is for those of us who weren't able to attend, but wished we could have! Paula and Terri, from Elm Street Antiques, are back to their shop and report a very fun and productive time (if you count a trailer, an SUV, a car truck, and more all filled to the brim with new goodies!). Paula is shown in the photo above (center) with her sisters (Jacque is on the left and Terri is on the right). Together they enjoyed a very good time as they worked together to find new treasures for their shop on Elm Street.

Paula made a collage of some of their new items to share with us. Do you see a common theme? Pink, white, rose decals, shabby yet charming, cozy and comfy; all words that describe much of what Paula and Terri have had fun putting on display in their shop this week. It's a theme that seems to be very much in line with what others of the vintage, farm-chic persuasion love and enjoy! [Click on photo for a larger view]

Other Farm Chick adventures have been happening around the country as well, as Teri and Serena have been on a book tour signing for their new cookbook, Farm Chicks in the Kitchen. You might remember this previous post on Gracious Hospitality that shared of my opportunity to chat with them one day when Karleen and I went grocery shopping together and timed it for the book signing hours.

And you can visit a few other blogs of happy attendees at The Farm Chicks Show below. I think you'll see some common threads to this post --- such as group photos in front of The Farm Chicks silo and lots and lots of farm-chic ware! Happy browsing!

Vintage Mommy

Forget Me Not Dreams

A Cottage Family

Constantly Vintage

Heart Rocks Home

Farmhouse Accessories

Camp Whimsy

Wishing you a very happy 'farm-chic' & Farm Chick day!

Photos copyright@Paula2009

The Farm Chicks

Under the guise of going grocery shopping and buying seed packets for our gardens, Karleen and I went to the supermarket. It was a neighborly thing to do.


But tucked in our cart was a book recently purchased. It was the "Farm Chicks in the Kitchen" cookbook! Along with all the regular supermarket advertising in the newspaper and fliers was word that the "Farm Chicks" were coming to town and would be having a book signing event.


As a reader who enjoys "Country Living" magazine (a place they have been featured many times) and as a friend of Paula from Elm Street (she loves the "Farm Chicks"), it seemed that meeting the "Farm Chicks" would be something that would spice up the day, the week, the month, the year!


And it did! Karleen and I were there early and the lines were short. Teri and Serena were friendly, cheerful, and informative. It was fun to chat and learn from them. They are true country gals --- with a genuine down-home friendliness.


Their books were displayed nearby, ready for eager buyers. The pages within are filled with great country recipes and wonderful kitchen and craft ideas. The book begins with the life story of both Teri and Serena; human-interest blurbs about their growing up years which set the stage for their "Farm Chickness" in later years.


I especially enjoy the story of how they met. One time Teri was preparing dinner when Sister Kathleen called about a new woman to their church. She needed a sponsor. Would Teri be willing to mentor her? She was, and the rest is history. A beautiful friendship developed between Teri and Serena --- and a multitude of creative ventures and ideas resulted from that simple phone call.


Soon they were not only cooking and preserving together, but going off on junking adventures in search of antiques and memorabilia to satisfy their home decorating urge. Eventually they had 'too much stuff' and had their first yard sale in a neighbor's yard. From there the fun continued and continues still with "The Farm Chicks Antique Show" that is held each year.


My cookbook is now duly autographed by both Serena and Teri. I'm enjoying reading the recipes and preparing to try some of them in my own kitchen. Intermingled with recipes and kitchen tips are great stories of their lives and the lives of those they meet as they venture to new places in search for antiques and more. Sprinkled throughout the pages I've also found terrific ideas that will satisfy any one's creative urge! Instructions for vintage aprons made from old sheets, and a scone cozy that is perfect for afternoon tea, ideas for shelf trims, and directions to make food covers --- and much, much more --- are treasures tucked here and there between sections of recipes and lore.


Their book is on my 'most highly recommended' list --- and they are on my 'even higher recommended' list as ladies of farm charm, well deserving of the name "Farm Chicks".

You may visit Teri's and Serena's website and blog easily by clicking on my "Friends of Gracious Hospitality" blog roll. They have been on my blog roll for awhile --- thanks to Paula from Elm Street and her enthusiastic recommendation of their creative expertise.

To Teri and Serena, it was great to meet you! Happy trails to you as you continue teaching others to live well, laugh often, and cook much!

Photos copyright@LaTeaDah2009

The Gluten-Free Vegan Cookbook

My most recent cookbook acquisition is a beautiful paperback with a colorful cover by Susan O'Brien. Recently published by Marlowe and Company, The Gluten-Free Vegan is in a genre of few such books. Those with gluten sensitivity, a wheat allergy, or celiac disease frequently express that they have given up so much that they must have animal products to give them 'something' to eat. Susan O'Brien proves otherwise and does an excellent job of providing recipes and ideas that contain no gluten-grains (wheat, barley, and rye) or animal products without depriving anyone of great flavors, textures, colors, and variety. Her recipes are well-developed and her cookbook offers a broad range of mealtime choices. Sweets are wholesome and prepared without refined sugars, using agave nectar, brown rice syrup, or dates instead. Instead of substitutions and fake foods, Susan shares real food with her reader in the 150 recipes within the cookbook covers. The table of contents reads like a delicious menu at a fine restaurant! How about some: Black Bean Salsa, Maple Candied Nuts, Curried Apple and Cauliflower Soup, Mexican Quinoa Salad, Dippity Do Da Coleslaw, Kale with Peanut Sauce, Roasted Potatoes with Herbs, Salt and Pepper Edamame, Spinach Tofu with Peanut Sauce, Eggplant Roll-Ups, Spring Rolls, Vegetable Paella, Yam Enchiladas with Pomegranate Sauce, Coconut Pancakes, Pear Torte, and Ginger Rice Pudding. Are you hungry yet? Chock-filled with delicious food choices, this cookbook is a definite asset to my cookbook library and one I look forward to using (as soon as I have a kitchen again!*).

*Dear husband is busy with remodeling tasks and this week removed our entire kitchen. The family has since decided that the kitchen really IS the heart of a home! We are feeling somewhat lost without it!

Favorite Cookbooks

As promised, it's time for a cookbook review. It was very difficult to know where to start. My collection isn't 'new' or necessarily exciting, but it's meaningful to me. Each cookbook represents a piece of the history of my family, dear friends, or of myself. Looking through my collection, I decided to start with some old cookbooks that have much meaning for me. During my years as a high school home economics teacher, my students participated in fund raisers to assist with field trips, fees for their vocational club, or other extra-curricular things related to home ec. The students selected a variety of items to sell, but one of the most successful fund-raising projects was selling cookbooks. Each year a vendor would publish a new cookbook or two that was a compilation of favorite recipes of home economics teachers from throughout the United States. The recipes were usually creative, sometimes unusual, and tasty. Parents appreciated having something of substance to purchase rather than a stuffed animal, candle, stationary, or chocolate bars! The students did very well with this innovative fund-raiser.

Cookbook Comments

Here are samples of some of the other cookbooks in the series that contained recipes of home economics teachers. I suppose the publishers felt that if the teachers had recipes published in cookbooks, they would choose those books for student fund-raising projects! I suspect that the students would have been even more energetic about selling cookbooks containing their own recipes! And that gave me an idea that I'll share with you another day.

I really enjoyed all the comments you posted regarding your love of reading cookbooks. I see I am not alone! I suspected such. Thanks for your comments. Here are some I'd love to share with others:

Elizabeth Joy:

I love to read cookbooks, especially ones with pictures.

Clarice:

Well you know I love to read cookbooks. I was juts given a cookbook about Beatrix Potter and was saying it really is more like a history book. What a fun way to learn history. Stay warm.

Gwen:

WOW, what a beautiful collection!!

Melissa:

I love collecting cook books, especially chocolate cook books.

Theresa:

I LOVE cookbooks too and recently had to weed out a lot of mine, some in storage, some in giveaway. Though, my cookbook collection comes nowhere near to rivalling yours! I am coveting your bookshelves though :o) because I have more than enough other books to fill up those and then some. My dream house will have a "library" in it!

Ellen:

I love to read cookbooks! Looking forward to some reviews...

Nancy:

Love your collection of cookbooks.... looks like you have as many as I do! And mine are permanently stored in the living room as my kitchen doesn't have that much space. I have about 30 in the kitchen that I reference with regularity, but the others are upstairs where I can read them at my leisure; selecting new recipes to try for family and friends.

Kathy:

Wow! I can't wait to read your reviews. I too love to look at cookbooks. I'm notoriously bad at following recipes exactly, but I do love cookbooks for inspiration and jumping off points.

Katherine:

Wow! Are all of those cookbooks?? I love cookbooks, and have a lot, but nowhere near that many! I look forward to reading your cookbook reviews!

Sara:

Yes, reading cookbooks is very entertaining. In fact, I read mine much more than I use them to cook! And whenever I go to a bookstore, I love to read the cookbooks there too.

Brenda:

I love to read cookbooks. I collect them and when I buy a new one I go through each page.I put a little mark on the ones I have to try. If I love it after I have tried it I put a check.

Sandy:

I think you need to have a cookbook give-a-way, girl! Holy cow! Lotsa fun reading though - I love reading cookbooks.

Carrie:

I also love to read cookbooks, though I have been trying to downsize. Look forward to learning more about your cookbooks.
I just took out my tea books which includes ideas for entertaining and recipes.

Deby:

I have, through the years but much to much...a reader and collector of cookbooks....but not enough ...trying of new recipes....which does not speak well of me...does it...and I too try to not keep quite so many anymore...
A favorite of mine is Sue Gregg....I took lessons in her house years ago and now her books although very tattered have some wonderful, wholesome delicious recipes.

Connie:

Wow, would I be in heaven there. Since, I love to cook. Enjoyed my visit. Hope you can stop by soon. Connie

Lovella:

Oh I'm a cookbook lover too. I can hardly resist a new one. Why is that?
I tried to have a closer look at your selection but it didn't get any bigger. I look forward to your posts about them.

Pura:

Wow, you've got a huge collection - I wish I could be there to have a peak to all of them ;)- I'm a book lover too and my cookbook collection is smaller than yours.
Blessings

Jody:

I just got a new cookbook for Christmas that is great fun to read: Nigella Bites by Nigella Lawson. I can't resist her British accent, even in her prose.

Cozy Cookbooks

January in the northern hemisphere is often grey and cold. The days are short and evenings long. Curling up in front of the fire with a good book sounds so inviting and a pleasant way to relax. And what better way than with a good cookbook. What? You don't read cookbooks? Come on now, they are some of the most interesting books to read! Through lists of ingredients, instructions, and beautiful illustrations you can taste, touch, smell, feel, and see the many delicious aspects of good cooking! And all without any calories. Unfortunately there hasn't been much time in my schedule recently for cookbook reading, but I did enjoy moving my cookbooks to another room as Brent prepares to install a new kitchen at our house. The cookbooks are now neatly arranged in the living room, and although they seem somewhat out of place in this formal room, they are handy with comfortable chairs and a blazing fire nearby. Maybe this winter would be a good time for me to share some of my favorite ones with you. I'll see if I can find some time to browse a cookbook or two so I can share a review with you soon.

Another Lavender Cookbook

Cooking and Baking with Lavender is a small little cookbook by Magdalena Bassett that is chock-full of her favorite family recipes. Each one uses lavender, and to perfection. Ms. Bassett lives and grows lavender on her Blue Moon Lavender farm in Sequim, Washington. This cookbook shares her collection of recipes for cookies, cakes, breads, appetizers, soups, sauces, vegetables, and more. There are nearly fifty pages of lavender delight in this little book!

So Many Recipes!

The recipes in this book are appealing and many of them incorporate ordinary foods that have been enhanced by lavender. Here are just a few of the recipes given in this cookbook:

Banana Cake with Lavender

Biscotti Magdalena with Lavender

Lemon Mousse with Lavender Sugar

Peach Cobbler with Lavender

Poached Pears with Vanilla Sauce and Lavender

Rhubarb Pie with Lavender

Rice Baked with Apples and Lavender

Baked Beans with Raisins and Lavender

Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Lavender

Onion Soup with Lavender

Roasted Potatoes with herbs of Provence

Pasta Primavera with Lavender

Are you hungry yet?

Magdalena Bassett's cookbook can be purchased from her Blue Moon website.

The Lavender Cookbook

Lavender cookbooks are becoming more available as the popularity of this fragrant herb increases. I have several in my collection, and this is one I especially enjoy. The Lavender Cookbook by Sharon Shipley contains a wide range of recipes --- from entrees to salads and baked goods. How do some of these yummy dishes sound?

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Lavender and Lime

California Avocado Cream Pie

Roasted Lavender Spiced Pears

Lavender Roasted Beets with Garlic and Lemon

Coleslaw with Spicy Lavender Dressing

Beet, Apple, and Carrot Salad with Lavender Lemon Dressing

Cream of Chestnut Soup with Lavender Garnish

Olive Lavender Country Bread

Garlicky Lavender Curry Hummus with Pita Crisps

Lavender Fruit Mosaic Tart

Lavender Pecan Crust

Provence Fettuccine Nuovi

Farro Lavender Tabbouleh Salad

Are you hungry yet?

This cookbook is published by Running Press. Although it is not vegan, nor gluten-free, it contains many fantastic ideas and the recipes are highly adaptable to specific dietary needs.

A Recipe Page

The recipes in The Lavender Cookbook are nicely displayed and easy to read. They invite you to the kitchen for a cooking session!

Little Scented Library Book

Another fun lavender book is one I found at a yard sale. This one is called Lavender and is authored by Joanna Sheen. It appears to be part of a series of books called The Little Scented Library and is published by Simon and Schuster. Enclosed between two covers are pictures, ideas, and recipes for posies & nosegays, lavender bundles, potpourri, sachets and pillows, soaps, and food recipes.

According to this book, lavender lends a delicious and elusive flavor to food, both sweet and savory. It suggests adding flowers to ice creams, sorbets, and even fresh fruit salads. Recipes are included for lavender honey, lavender mustard, lavender oil, lavender vinegars, lavender tea, and lavender biscuits. This is a great little book!

Aren't these pretty little cookies? Lavender is tasty in scones too! The purple bud makes for a beautiful presentation with baked goods.

Lavender Tea, A Recipe

Place a tablespoon of organic lavender bud in a beautiful teacup. Add one cup of boiling water and allow to steep for three to four minutes. Serve with honey or the sweet herb, stevia. Some people like a lemon wedge for a more tangy flavor. I prefer the pure lavender and sweet stevia, but each to her own.

Make Your Own Cookbook

I love 'make your own' cookbooks! Recipe note cards, scraps of handwritten recipes, or magazine clipped recipes all can be so well organized in a blank cookbook that you fill with your favorites. There are several 'such cookbooks' in my personal collection. My first one was one I made for Foods 101 class in college. To this day, I go to that cookbook for favorite recipes I collected from family and friends. Recently I was visiting a nice little thrift shop in the community where I grew up and attended school through college years. I was browsing through the books and found this pretty little cookbook for fifty cents. It's cover is intact and unblemished and most of the pages inside are still blank. Making it even more special, some of the pages are not blank! That's even better, as they contain favorite recipes that others treasured and found interesting.

Inside the cover of the book, stuck between recipe pages, was an old ditto hand-out. Stained with oil spots and some handwritten notes on the side was a recipe for communion bread. Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the name of my high school home economics teacher on the page. I suspect she was demonstrating how to make unleavened bread to a community group and one of the attendees wrote her name on the page. But, maybe it was hers? It doesn't matter to me, either way, this is a treasure. After all, it's been nearly thirty years!

Each page divider is tabbed and in front of each is an envelope in pretty design with binder holes to keep it in the book. They are ready to enclose clipped recipes and recipe cards in. I haven't taken the time to explore them yet. I wonder if anything is in them?

Neatly typed recipes are ready for a bread baking session! Further inside is a section of magazine clipped recipes, all of a Native American cooking theme.

Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share with me? If you do, please post it in the comments section and I will print it off and add it to my cookbook. It would mean much to me to have your recipe there.