heirloom

when my beloved grandmother passed away, she left behind a jewelry box containing diamonds and rubies, as well as a mink coat that hung in her front hall closet. i wanted none of those things...instead i asked for, and gratefully received, her cookbook. the front cover was gone, and most of the pages are loosed from their binder, but it is absolutely priceless.

my grandma was an amazing cook, as are most grandmothers, i think! i'm not sure how long she used this cookbook ~ if i had to guess, i would say she had it for at least 40 years. i know that it was written by betty crocker, and that it was published by mc-graw hill. but because of the missing cover, i can't find a copyright date.

the best thing about this gift is that it contains page after page of grandma's handwriting. she would scribble down recipes on the backs of envelopes, scrap pieces of paper, or whatever was lying around, then staple it, or tape it, or tuck it away somewhere within the book's pages.

she also made comments on recipes. (as you can see from above, the cocktail sauce is "really good".) her recipe below, for "nan naw's traditional brown pudding" or figgy pudding as we always called it, contains the reminder that it was the "traditional thanksgiving pudding at the woods'".


several years after her death, i found personal notes as well as dirty jokes (haha!!!) tucked away in the pages of the cookbook. the note below was scribbled by my mom's older brother, dale. i'm not sure when it was written...perhaps shortly after his marriage, but that's just a guess.


and i have to include this ornery "business card" i found in the "side dishes" section of the cookbook...sorry for the yellow tone of the picture. the card was terribly discolored.


the really cool thing about the cookbook is that i STILL use it. (just tonight, i used grandma's recipe for the BEST COOKIE on the planet...see the recipe below!) i feel wonderfully connected to grandma when i look at its pages...see her handwriting...and feel her personality emanating from the pages. it's been the most marvelous gift, actually. i don't think i could love anything, or anyone, more.

pineapple cookies (may not sound great, but i guarantee you'll love them)

1 cup soft shortening (i use stick margarine)
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
10 ounces of crushed pineapple WITH juice
3 and 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

chill in refrigerator for 1 hour
drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheet
bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 350