To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes

by Rosie Grant

An inspiring collection of recipes preserved on gravestones, with fascinating interviews from the families, celebrating the beloved food legacies of their dearly departed.

For so many, food is a touching, nostalgic thing that brings us together. So much so that some families choose to remember their loved ones through the dishes they made and the food that brought comfort to those around them by immortalizing their recipes on their gravestones.

Rosie Grant, the creator behind @GhostlyArchive, has been searching out and documenting this interesting phenomenon. In To Die For, Rosie collects 40 recipes she’s found across the globe, carved into headstones or associated with a grave that has a story to share. Each recipe is accompanied by an interview with the remaining family, plus photography of the food, the gravestone, and any memorabilia the family wanted to share.

Recipes include:
- Spritz Cookies
- Homemade Fudge
- Chicken Soup
- French Silk Pie
- Guava Cobbler
…and more!

Thoughtfully and respectfully explored, Rosie has documented this connection between food, legacy, and family, remembering the deceased through the recipes they most loved, and giving their families a platform to share their loved one’s story and cherished dish with the world.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Food, History, Cooking, Death, Ebooks

176 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Rosie Grant is the creator behind @GhostlyArchive on TikTok and Instagram, where she researches and re-creates recipes found on gravestones. She works at the Center for the Study of Women at UCLA and is currently working on a food studies certificate at the UCLA Extension School. She received her Masters in Library Science (MLIS) at the University of Maryland with a concentration in digital archives in 2022, where she got to combine her love of food writing, cemeteries, and archival work. The gravestone recipe project first began during her digital archives internship at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And that's the thing about gravestone recipes - they aren't just instructions for food. They're stories, legacies ... They remind us that even in death, we leave behind pieces of who we are."

This one was such a beautiful memorial to lost loved ones and the recipes their families still hold dear.

The cookbook was divided into six main categories: Cookies & Brownies; Pies & Cobblers; Cakes & Squares; Fudge, Ice Cream & Coffee; Rolls & Bread; and finally Savory items.

The author does note that the cookbook does lean heavily toward sweet items, but isn't that what we all want? To leave behind something sweet to calm the bitterness of the tears?

"Every recipe in this book is a window into life. Every gravestone, every dish, is as unique as the person behind it."

Each recipe was accompanied by a photograph of the grave, of the recipe author, and a short 1-2 page explanation of who they were. There was the recipe and a photograph of the finished dish as well.

Many times when I read a cookbook, I scan through the pages to see which items seem good or interesting to make...but this cookbook, I lingered and I learned.

I took the time to read about each one of these wonderfully loved and dearly missed people and remembered what it felt like to lose my own grandmother.

"This book is an invitation to be inspired by those who chose to link their legacies to food - perhaps the most universal language of memory and love."

My grandmother had so many recipes and I was eternally grateful to be the one to inherit her recipe box. She and I started on a cookbook of her recipes and after she passed, I finished that project on my own.

It's my dearest treasure and sits proudly on my cookbook shelf, right next to her original recipe box.

All this to say - write down your recipes. They mean so much to the living, and provide such a crucial link to the past. I've already started doing so for my little one.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the summer of 2021 - a year into the pandemic, Rosie Grant was finishing her master’s degree in library and information science. She was searching for places offering internships. However, many places were not open due to the lockdown. But as fate would have it, she was able to secure an internship at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

During this time, the cemetery had reinvented itself. It served not only as a place for burials but it also began offering a place of refuge for the living as well. During that stressful period of time, the cemetery offered an outdoor area for the local community to spend time - movie nights, tours, outdoor book clubs - a place for people to take walks.

One of Ms Grant’s grad school class assignments was to create a social media account about something you care about. She launched an account focusing on cemeteries! To her surprise, it became an instant success! While visiting a cemetery, she came across a unique gravestone which had an open book headstone! When she looked closer at it, she discovered that the book was inscribed with the deceased woman’s favorite recipe!! Rosie had never seen anything like it before so she began to research it. She found that this was not unique to one person. She began to tour cemeteries across the United States and even some in Canada collecting recipes from gravestones.

This unusual book resulted from that project. Rosie Grant contacted the families of the deceased people and obtained their permission to publish the recipes in a cookbook. In addition to the recipes, she has included biographical information and photos of the person who loved and made the recipe (when possible), and photos of the gravestones themselves.

This unique “cookbook” is so interesting and well worth reading - you might even want to try making some of the yummy recipes too.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both a wonderful tribute and very sad.

Every family has someone known for the food they always bring to the party. For my mom, it was her potato salad. It wasn't a party without it and it's part of our family lore and an indelible part of our memories.

This book gives us the recipes that were so much a part of family tradition that they were literally put on headstones. More than that, though, the author introduces us to the people behind the recipes as their families share stories, memories and the pictures of the deceased.

And, yes, it made me sad.

I haven't cooked any of these. Instead, I took a tearful walk down memory lane - a walk both grief-filled and wistful as I remembered some of the wonderful people I've lost - and the recipes that were sometimes lost with them.

It's a fabulous and touching book. And I need a tissue.

* ARC via Publisher

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly sweetly poignant cookbook. Judging by the description and title, it sounded like something I’d very much enjoy, I’m so glad I read it! The concept of a cookbook honoring folks who passed away and are honored by sharing their signature recipes on their headstones is just lovely—better yet, the execution was flawless.

The author worked in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. and I think this gave her a healthy and gentle outlook on death and cemeteries. I’m one of those people who enjoys visiting cemeteries so the concept of these headstones has been something I’ve loved since I first heard of them. What a nice way to see so many of them all together!

Rosie Grant spent a lot of time speaking to the loved ones and families of the people whose recipes she used and it was wonderful to read these details of their lives, like the adorable old lady who could swear like a trucker, people who shared their food with anyone and everyone, and the memories of joy throughout. The photos she took of the dishes she made from the recipes are gorgeous, it’s truly an original and lovely cookbook from start to finish.

Thank you Rosie Grant, Harvest, and NetGalley for this ARC, it was a truly incredible read.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a different book! Sort of a cookbook, but really, a book about how food brings people together. I am definitely going to be looking up the information the author shared about death-positive groups, websites, and more. She is absolutely correct that we (Americans, in my mind) know death is coming but we do NOT want to talk about it, let alone plan for it.

The quote that will stick with me is in her own chapter, the recipe that she would - at this point in her life - have on her headstone. She mentions that she's fallen in love with the idea of a gravestone recipe, but that, more than that, she's "moved by the idea that what matters in life is not our accomplishments, but how we connect with others."

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This was not only a wonderful cookbook, but it would be an amazing keepsake for the families. I love the idea of keeping a recipe secret until you die, just to then put it on your gravestone for everyone to see. It is one way to make sure everyone remembers you. Too bad funeral costs are so high (which is ridiculous, by the way), that everyone can't add more things than just their name and dates.

There are not only amazing recipes but stories and photographs of each person. Of course, like every cookbook should, there are gorgeous pictures of the food. Will yours ever look exactly like it? Unless it is as simple as a no- bake cookie, probably not. Then again, there are some people out there that are able to, so?

Loved this cookbook and would definitely recommend it!

[Jessica Hicks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such an interesting experience reading this book. First of all, I’m not sure I’d call it a cookbook. This is mostly a collection of obituaries of people who have recipes on their gravestones- mostly white women who were dedicated mothers. The author also noted most gravestone recipes are desserts. The recipes chosen are associated with memories of love and comfort from their family matriarchs.
So then when I finally started cooking, I was unimpressed with the recipes. “Okay,” I thought, “these are more about nostalgia for the families than about being good foods for all to try.” BUT THEN- and I am proud of this- I questioned one of these recipes. 2 ounces of pasta in a 1.5 quart casserole? There’s no way. So I went to the picture of the actual gravestone and discovered the author had written the recipe wrong!! This happened again in the next recipe I made! These dead women were being misrepresented! I did not go back and check all of the book but at least 2 of these recipes were altered to be worse than the deceased intended. I feel like quite the culinary detective and thank you for that, Harvest Books.
🪦
Here’s what I made-
🍪 Gramma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies- follow the picture of the gravestone for this one and use a tablespoon cookie dough scoop and you’ll be golden. I was scared of shortening but it’s actually great. I’ve been sharing these cookies because even a half batch is a lot and everyone loves them.
🍑 Peach Cobbler- this was fine. A little bland. And only good on the first day so make it for a party or don’t make it at all!
🍞 Meatloaf- this is my favorite gravestone. It simply says “She made the best meatloaf.” I can feel the sadness and longing so clearly in this one sentence. The meatloaf was fine other than being a bit salty. Bbq sauce helped.
🐔 Spaghetti Chicken Casserole- Use the highest amount of pasta recommended by the deceased for this one. My kids and I were surprised by how much we liked it! Total comfort food!

[Kate Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for digital access to this book for this review. This book really feels like a cozy hug, even though the huge topic of one’s death and legacy could be really depressing. I love the idea that someone “took this recipe to their grave” and the result was this delightful book. The recipe is really lean into that warm and cozy Grandma vibe. It’s also such an interesting conversation starter and a candidate for favorite new coffee table book. I can’t wait to make more recipes out of it.

I love the little “ recipe notes” callouts on certain recipes because it feels like a handwritten note from your grandmother, reminding you to follow a special instruction. My family cookbook looks very similar!

I would be absolutely tickled if I was one of the included recipe makers to know that my family recipe was written into a book with my life story, what comfort this must bring their loved ones!

[Kaylie Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite Christmas present from myself (told Alex about it in June, completely forgot about it, was very excited/surprised to receive it 6 months later 😂)

Love the concept, the family stories, and am excited to try the recipes! But could have used another pass by the editor tbh.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this idea. I love walking in cemeteries. I find them very peaceful and yet sad as you read the tombstones and see some that didn't get a very long life.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet book. Lots of lard and sugar in the recipes!

[Xine Segalas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was shocked when I first learned that people leave recipes on their gravestones — and fascinated, too.  To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes by Rosie Grant turns that surprising tradition into something tender and deeply human. I loved the concept and the way it connects memory, legacy, and comfort food. These are family recipes — often cookies, pies, and casseroles — that once filled kitchens with warmth and now live on beyond the family table. Grant handles the material with sincerity and respect, memorializing the people behind each dish beautifully.

That said, the reading experience can feel uneven. Some entries are rich in personal detail, while others read more like brief obituaries. The repetition of similar cookie recipes also lessens the overall variety. Still, the idea behind this collection — and its message about how food preserves love — is quietly powerful. To Die For is a thoughtful, moving, and memorable cookbook, even if it’s not one I’ll revisit often.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow |Harvest for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first twenty pages give you an introduction to the project and instructions on how to research and document your own food history. That’s an important part of genealogy we often forget to record. Then it’s on to the recipes, each preceded by an obituary style article about the recipe’s originator. The recipes are grouped into six sections: Cookies & Brownies; Pies & Cobblers; Cakes & Squares; Fudge, Ice Cream & Coffee; Rolls & Bread; and Savory. There’s a photo of every recipe, along with photos of the grave markers and sometimes the people. Most of the people featured were women, though there were a few men, and a couple weren’t deceased yet but had pre prepared their gravestones. So…what recipe would you put on your tombstone?

[Lee Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that there are people who put favorite family recipes on their tombstones! While sharing 40 some of these recipes, Rosie Grant also gives some practical advice on preserving family recipes in ways other than the tombstone. My mom, who had shelves of cookbooks, wisely created the Bakros Family Cookbook, a three-ring binder in which she placed our best-loved meals. She started it early enough that, when she tried a new recipe at our weekly family dinner, she would ask if it was cookbook-worthy. My sister-in-law, nieces, nephew, I, and even my best friend all have copies of the cookbook.

The book isn’t just recipes. Grant talked to family members and shared life stories.

[Jasmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat concept for a book! Compile a list of recipes engraved on tombstones because if they're that good that family members are including them on gravestones they should be worth trying, right? I saved a few that I'm excited to try. A lot come from the era of margarine and crisco. Would love to see more from around the world, but this was a fun look into some delicious recipes along with stories of the deceased. And I learned a new word, taphophile, that describes people who love cemeteries. So now I know what to call myself! 😅

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Okay so I mostly skimmed through this as it is primarily a cookbook, but it made me cryyy. The author collected gravestone recipes and also put not only the recipe, complete with glorious photos of the food, but also short info about the person on whose gravestone it was, with stories about them or the recipe, and sometimes also photos of the person. It made me so happy to read some of these and I can't wait to try the recipes. It made me think about the amount of love that goes into cooking and how special family favorites really are, more for the memories than the taste. I think these people would all be so happy to see their recipes collected in this little book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique cookbook that I enjoyed! I loved all the stories about the families who the recipes belong to and all the recipes look really good. I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Rosie Grant, William Morrow and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyce Bouchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t wait to try some of these recipes. I loved the little bit of life story prior to the recipe, it makes you feel the deep importance of food and community.

[Kenzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I’m not interested in any of the actual recipes, I found this book and the subject fascinating.

[MaryAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an unusual book! Part cookbook, part biography of the men and women and their families who preserved their favorite recipes. I admit that I only skimmed through it. Many of the recipes are very similar, but it's more about the heritage and families who remember their loved ones through their cooking.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Die For is more than just a cookbook. Much like the gravestones Grant investigates, it serves as a warm-hearted in memoriam for the departed. It’s very clear that Grant took her time getting to know the families, listening to their stories, eating their food, and empathizing with them deeply, as well as collecting each requisite recipe.

The photos are sharp, pleasant to look at, and nicely arranged, with warm, autumnal colors predominating, and props selected for resonance with the recipe creator’s story. Of course we have the gravestones themselves, as well as the occasional portrait.

Can I just say, I love the idea behind a recipe memorial marker? It balances whimsy and respect, sharing positive memories of departed with loved ones and strangers alike. I’d never run across one before, but now I’ll be keeping an eye out for them. (The Boston area, where I live, has a lot of really pretty park-style cemeteries.)

I do wish this book showcased a little bit more diversity, especially more recipes from People of Color. But given the limits of Grant’s subject matter, she found the gravestones she found. While the obit-style stories were generally nicely written, some had a bit of noticeable repetition another editing pass would likely have caught.

In this particular case, testing the writing of the recipes isn’t the point, but I will say, many of them do sound delicious, and I certainly plan on making them. (The very first recipe for Spritz Cookies taught me what a cookie press was. Yes, I didn’t know before. Feel free to point fingers and laugh.)

All in all, I’m really glad I picked this book up, and I think others will be as well. Four stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow/Harvest for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

[nickel_reads_everything · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really wanted to. I actually bought it months ago on pre-order. And then I received it. I read the book and while the stories of the people’s recipes are great and well written, I think the book, since it is sold as a cookbook and not a book, needs more recipes. And also, there were quite a few duplicates. Who needs three chocolate chip cookie recipes? Two no bake cookie recipes? Or a brownie recipe that says to use 2 boxes of brownie mix.
I think this book needed more time to find a better selection of recipes. And more of them.
Or another option could have been to have left it on social media and make money that way. That way when you post multiple recipes for chocolate chip cookies we really love the persons story behind it and move on.
I didn’t find one recipe I was excited to make in the whole book. As an avid and passionate reader and lover of physical books…it honestly pains me to write this.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prefacing my review: I received an ARC of To Die For: a Cookbook of Gravestone recipes, but my opinions and experience are my own.

I expected a lot of cookie recipes- when we've visited love ones at grave sites before, I have always marveled at the heirloom cookie recipes that have been shared with the world posthumously. While there was a thriving dessert section within the cookbook, I was also surprised to see a number of savory recipes from different cultures and traditions. We had fun cooking through the book and reading about the decedents that were known for these recipes.

The book felt respectful, intentional, and thorough. Each recipe was accompanied by an interview with the family of decedent. The author also included a suggested reading list surrounding food, death, grief in addition to her sources.

[Jaci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a digital archivist, this book includes recipes found on gravestones...and more. There is a good index., a universal conversion chart, sources and credits, additional reading, sample menus, and "Documenting your recipes and food history." Attention to detail!

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the premise and the book itself is very attractive; however, I borrowed this from the library and I'm not adding it to my purchase list. And I'm like the target demographic for this! Social history + food + deathways? Yes please! I think it helps to think of this more as just a small collection documenting these gravesites and less as a "cookbook," because on cookbook terms, it's pretty unimpressive. A subtitle "A Collection of Gravestone Recipes" or thereabouts would lower the bar accordingly.

Each recipe comes with...well, basically an obituary for the person whose gravestone it appears on. This is sweet but at the same time, you're still mostly just reading glossy post-mortem praise of everyday strangers. Again, I should be the target demographic here -- when we had a newspaper delivered when I was a teen, I did actually regularly read the obits.

The recipes themselves thankfully all have photos, but there's little to no commentary about them. This makes sense: it'd be awkward to share Sentimental Beloved Grandma's Cookie Recipe only to mention that it's actually kind of bland and overly sweet compared to other cookies of this kind... (and when the majority of your content fully relies on the cooperation of strangers to provide family photos and stories...) But at the same time, I do wish there were a little more of Grant in there to talk about e.g. guesswork for some of the more vague cookies, or her personal favorites that she has made more than once.

And again, thinking of this less as a cookbook... because by the nature of the premise, it's a motley assortment of dishes, mostly cookies and baked goods, none of which are especially unique in the grand scheme of recipes. We get two recipes for those no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, two or three sugar cookie recipes.... It's a very small collection and there are repeats. Fine ethnography, bad cookbook.

Probably due to time and culture, the recipes were generally not very unique, either -- nothing you probably haven't already seen a million versions of for the most part. The stand-outs in my memory are the apricot ice cream and the rolled sweet bread that calls for jam and Turkish delight candy.

The "obituaries" often mentioned other dishes the deceased were known for making, and including those, too, I think, would have plumped up the content. Sure, it's not what's strictly on the grave, but if food helps us understand people, why not try for a bonus one or two more dishes from their repertoire? Especially because of them sounded really good, and then I'd turn the page and be disappointed by which one was The Recipe.

It's by no means a bad book. I was just a little disappointed by it -- I wish it had done more to make the leap from social media to published collection. It's not a cookbook many people would put in their regular go-tos. It's a novelty that will probably be gifted by a lot of folks, and after a few years, spring cleaning will see it dropped off at a used book shop.

[Pattie Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who finds joy in wandering through ancient cemeteries like the 7th-century Saint Peter’s Churchyard in Monkwearmouth, England, or the historic Myles Standish Burial Ground in Massachusetts, I’m captivated by the stories etched on headstones. So when I discovered To Die For, A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes by Rosie Grant, a book that weaves my love for cemeteries with tales of food and family, I couldn’t wait to dive in. Its release on my birthday made it feel like a gift meant just for me.

Grant, known for her @GhostlyArchive, has thoughtfully collected 40 recipes inscribed on gravestones worldwide, from Spritz Cookies to Guava Cobbler. Each recipe is paired with heartfelt family interviews and stunning photos of the dishes, graves, and cherished keepsakes. These recipes hit close to home, reminding me of my own “Top Secret” potato leek soup I plan to pass to my sons. The stories reveal how dishes like a grandmother’s Chicken Soup or a mother’s French Silk Pie become lasting bonds, connecting families even after loss.

Grant’s careful approach transforms this unique concept into a universal celebration of love, memory, and legacy. Every page is rich with emotion—I found myself laughing one moment and tearing up the next as families shared what these recipes meant to them. The book’s gorgeous design, with vivid photography, makes it a keepsake you’ll treasure. A thoughtful glossary introduced me to the term “taphophile,” describing my passion for the history, art, and culture of cemeteries—a delightful discovery.

I was especially charmed by Grant’s inclusion of curated menu sections, pairing gravestone recipes into thoughtful combinations like “Comfort Food Classics,” “Sunday Brunch Spread,” and “Backyard Barbecue Favorites.” These menus inspire readers to bring these dishes to life together, adding a practical and creative touch.

Reading To Die For left me eager to try these recipes myself—if they’re special enough to be carved on a gravestone, they’re worth cooking. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves food with a story or cherishes family traditions. It’s a beautiful reminder that food can keep love alive long after someone’s gone. I’m already inspired to honor my own family’s recipes, and I wholeheartedly recommend this gem to food lovers, history buffs, or anyone who values the legacy of family.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Rosie Grant, and William Morrow for allowing me to read this advanced, digital copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply, I adored To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. Food is an integral part of our lives - it not only nourishes our bodies, it nourishes our soul. From celebrations to grieving, we often share food. It looks like so many different things -- a celebratory dinner for a big event or bringing meals to someone going through a difficult time or illness. It can even look like buying groceries for someone when they just need a helping hand. And, thus, I have long believed that recipes and cookbooks are a special part of one's memories, as well as one's legacy. Think about how many sentences have begun with "my {insert special person}'s recipe for...". How many cookbooks have a beautifully written note in the inside cover, when said cookbook is given as a gift. Food connects us and makes big life changes... a little something more.

I come from a long line of family members who leave flowers on family gravestones, typically around Memorial Day. And, so, I'm not new to the idea of seeing recipes carved on gravestones. However, now somewhat shocking to me, I never appreciated this practice for what it is worth. This is a beautiful legacy to a loved one's memory. A way to allow this person to continue to feed family and friends, long after they are gone. I owe author Rosie Grant this revelation. I jumped at the chance to pick up a copy of this book. It's certainly right up my alley... a love of food, recipes, family, and, yes, the macabre, I was instantly drawn in. But, what I found was so much more beautiful than a little tongue in cheek nod to my macabre side. I read each entry absorbing the lives of these cooks and bakers, understanding why these recipes meant so much to them. And, why preparing food for the people they loved meant so much to each of them.

Rosie Grant weaves these stories, photos, and recipes together beautifully, including remaining family and friends' words to fully appreciate these departed lives and their recipes.

And, now, I must go decide what recipe will be left on my gravestone. You see, I already have my burial plot. My grandmother planned this many years ago and there is a nice little grouping of us altogether. My family never shied away from cemeteries and death and so it is fitting that a recipe should become part of that story.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow | Harvest for the digital ARC copy of To Die For, in exchange for my honest review.

[MAYA QUARTZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't really a cookbook in the standard sense, but more of a curated collection of legacies, using cherished family recipes - the ones literally carved in stone - as a doorway into the lives and stories of the people who made them famous. It’s about memory, connection, and how food becomes the tangible thread that binds us across generations.

The concept itself is brilliant and executed with deep respect. The author, Rosie Grant, clearly spent heartfelt time with the families, and it shows in the moving mini biographies that accompany each recipe. Reading about the spirited grandmother who could swear like a sailor or the community member who fed everyone creates a real sense of connection. The photographs are stunning, giving life to both the finished dishes and the gravestones they come from. The recipes themselves are accessible and radiate a comforting, nostalgic warmth that makes me eager to bake that date cake or try those spritz cookies.

If I had to note a single drawback, it would be that the pool of contributors isn't as diverse as I might have hoped. I recognize this is likely a reflection of the specific gravestones the author found, but it did cross my mind.

This book is a perfect match for someone like me, who believes that cooking is an act of preserving history. It might not be the best fit for a purely technical chef looking for culinary innovation, but from a storytelling perspective it’s an absolute treasure. It’s a cathartic and strangely joyful read that has me thinking deeply about my own family’s food legacy and what recipe I might choose for my own grave.

[Jacquelyn John · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the forty people immortalized in to Die For, sharing the recipe of a beloved dish is how they chose to be remembered. Each has a recipe permanently etched into their final resting place, offering up a dose of nostalgia for visitors, one ingredient at a time. From cookies made every Christmas to a perfectly creamy Irish coffee to a warm and comforting bowl of chicken soup, food holds memories - aromas, flavors, moments spent with loved ones- and these individuals and their families have opted to evoke those memories and offer comfort from beyond the grave. To Die For is a celebration of food, remembrance , and the unique phenomenon of gravestone recipes.
Rosie Grant compiled a collection of recipes with stories pulled from interviews given by the remaining loved ones and suggestions for documenting your own personal food history.
Categories: Cookies and Brownies ; Pies and Cobblers; Fudges, Ice Cream and Coffee; Rolls and Breads; Savory. In addition, there were sections on Sample menus , Acknowledgements, Additional Reading , Sources and Credits, Universal Conversions Chart , and Index.
Much more than a cook book. I copied Beverly Lofland's recipe for meatloaf. There were so many more that sounded wonderful as well. The pictures of the cooks, the tombstones, and the food were perfect. The stories told so much about the people themselves, almost mini-memoirs, much more than just what was just on the tombstone. I might revisit this one again. Great!