Recipes You Don’t Cook: An Art Project
Sixth in a series of antique family recipes—from myself and others—celebrating the paperback release of Running Away to Home on October 2, which will include recipes from the village and photos of our journey. This post comes from Jeneane Moody, mom of Zadie’s BFF, and good friend.
Since my family has no real culture or ties to our roots, I am not really able to respond to your request for old family recipes in a way that links to family ancestry in the spirit of your book. (Sad, I know). Still, I love the concept and am sharing a photo in case you need any visual fodder for the project.
It’s a collage I made of index cards from my grandma’s recipe box, all in her handwriting, which makes them priceless to me. The cards are under glass on a serving tray that leans against the wall on a shelf in my kitchen where I see it every day.
When we were sorting through my grandparents’ house following their deaths, I grabbed several index cards from her recipe file which embodied Belva Clinkenbeard, the homemaker. I don’t have a personal memory of most of them; however, many are a perfect snapshot of a time and place that make me smile.
While I have yet to make the “Original Maxon Manor Orange Rolls” or “Des Moines State Fair Ice Cream,” I could. Maybe 2012 is the year that I put together “Mom’s Christmas Punch,” which starts off with four bottles of Burgundy and serves in Grandma’s punch bowl set (which has never seen real action and just sits in my dining room hutch).
Some of my favorite recipes are not for human consumption but rather are instructions for homemade cleaning elixirs that include a great deal of sudsy ammonia. One that holds a special place in my heart is her potion for deterring animals from grazing in her beloved flower garden. The secret ingredient is urine, and my sisters confirm with a smile the memory of a jar of urine (donated by Grandpa) in the back of the refrigerator, clearly labeled and at-the-ready to be put to work in the garden. I have never washed and starched a set of curtains, but I am equipped with the necessary information should the occasion arise.
I love that you are putting these together and will definitely check out what you are collecting and sharing. (Note from Jen: Keep those recipes and ideas coming, friends. This is fun!)
Since my family has no real culture or ties to our roots, I am not really able to respond to your request for old family recipes in a way that links to family ancestry in the spirit of your book. (Sad, I know). Still, I love the concept and am sharing a photo in case you need any visual fodder for the project.
It’s a collage I made of index cards from my grandma’s recipe box, all in her handwriting, which makes them priceless to me. The cards are under glass on a serving tray that leans against the wall on a shelf in my kitchen where I see it every day.
I’d like a crack at those bread and butter pickles, Mrs. Clinkenbeard.
When we were sorting through my grandparents’ house following their deaths, I grabbed several index cards from her recipe file which embodied Belva Clinkenbeard, the homemaker. I don’t have a personal memory of most of them; however, many are a perfect snapshot of a time and place that make me smile.
While I have yet to make the “Original Maxon Manor Orange Rolls” or “Des Moines State Fair Ice Cream,” I could. Maybe 2012 is the year that I put together “Mom’s Christmas Punch,” which starts off with four bottles of Burgundy and serves in Grandma’s punch bowl set (which has never seen real action and just sits in my dining room hutch).
Some of my favorite recipes are not for human consumption but rather are instructions for homemade cleaning elixirs that include a great deal of sudsy ammonia. One that holds a special place in my heart is her potion for deterring animals from grazing in her beloved flower garden. The secret ingredient is urine, and my sisters confirm with a smile the memory of a jar of urine (donated by Grandpa) in the back of the refrigerator, clearly labeled and at-the-ready to be put to work in the garden. I have never washed and starched a set of curtains, but I am equipped with the necessary information should the occasion arise.
I love that you are putting these together and will definitely check out what you are collecting and sharing. (Note from Jen: Keep those recipes and ideas coming, friends. This is fun!)
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