JFF -- Good Idea for Your Kids.

I wish more people would take care to pass thier culture, heritage, and food down to the next generation. I'm half German, 1/4 Irish, and 1/4 English. There is no trace of any German, Irish, or English heritage in my family. I didn't grow up with any food, dance, music, folklore of any of my ancestors and that is very sad. I searched it out myself, of course, to pass on to my kids. But really, it feels foreign to me because it wasn't part of our lives. What I did grow up with is my moms cooking, so, I am passing that and my own food down.

I have a recipe box full of empty index cards. When I think of it (mostly this time of year) I write down favorite recipies and drop them in the box. I occasionally will write a scripture or a thoughtful quote on the back, Sometimes a reflection on my kids or motherhood. I have 3 kids. One is about to move out on her own. I am going to copy all these and give the originals to my big girl and keep adding for my little ones. I've started a "hope chest" for my big girl. I bought one of those leather coffee table looking benches that has storage in it. I'm filling it with Ikea cookware, utensils, dishes. When the time comes I will drop her little recipie box in there and hopefully, through the years, she will find it useful. I'm hoping one of those words of wisdom will pop up when she needs it most or that the recipies will be a comfort to her once I'm gone. Keep the faith and dont stop preserving your family history for your little ones. Everyone needs a heritage.

Thanks so much for posting this! I wrote down the recipes I wanted from my mom at least 15 years ago -- she has dementia now -- but I was freaking out because I thought I had neglected to ask about her roast.

It recently turned up in my recipe files!

Such a good idea to do this before it's too late!

That is such a cute idea!

We have a recipe box with our recipes. Most of them are from my husband's mom. We wrote a bunch down when we moved out so we would have them. If someone makes something new that I like I ask for the recipe. Most of the recipes I love were from my grandma (I lived with her in Guatemala until I was nine). She couldn't write and all were from memory. I wish I had written them down, most I don't even know the names of the dishes.

Awesome idea!
My mom has done this for us....with all of the heavily-guarded family recipes!

That's a great idea! I started a journal with my favorite bible verses and what they mean to me or how they may pertain to my girls when they are getting older.

My husband often teases me about how we'll all starve when my mom dies because her recipes will go with her. He's especially worried about her soup recipes b/c I dont' really like soup so I don't put a whole lot of effort into learning new recipes. :) I suppose I ought to start writing them down at some point....

I did that for my brother when he got married, and my boys and I are working on a book together now. I don't like to cook, but the boys do. :)