Unforgettable edibles

Lutheran, The, Jun 1999 by Smith, M J

Preserving family recipes in a cookbook keeps memories fresh

Corn shall make the young men cheerful and new wine the maids (Zechariah 9:17).

Was the Old Testament writer describing the feast and fun of your last family reunion?

This summer season of gathering beckons us to re-create the feelings of fellowship and faith we remember as children.

The tasty promises inside the brown woven picnic baskets, the aroma of steaming scalloped potatoes and the sight of a fresh raspberry pie are blessings that unite our generations.

Unforgettable edibles together with new connections and old stories define our love of reunion time. Has the menu changed? Of course! Forty years ago Grandma spent most of her Saturday readying the crust and cooking the filling for her famous apple custard pie. Today we may run into a favorite deli for a gorgeous fruit tray before the reunion. Certainly, the physical gathering and sharing of love is the most important ingredient for families.

Strange as it may seem, as we approach the millennium our twentysomething and thirtysomething generations hunger for old tastes. They don't want to forget Grandma's fried chicken sizzling in the electric skillet at the end of the picnic table or Cousin Ruth's famous sauerkraut and sausage casserole.

Collecting family recipes and table blessings is a way to pass on your culinary heritage. Family cookbooks are catching on as this generation seeks to recover the "lost art" of homemade noodles and angel cakes from scratch.

How do you start a family recipe collection? You don't have to wait until a reunion, but a few early decisions will make the process efficient.

Recruit one or two family members to help. It will be more fun if this dish isn't heaped on one plate. Ask a cousin to dig up food memories from the other side of the family. Select relatives with a sincere interest in cooking and a conviction to see the project through to completion.

Decide if you wish to collect recipes, table blessings, home remedies, memorable food stories, mealtime photos-or all of these.

Consider selecting a recipe format and share it with the family before collecting starts. Study several different cookbooks for recipe styles or simply adapt the one shown on this page. List ingredients in the order used and include measurements, weights and package sizes. Today's cooks are keen on preparation and baking times. Keep directions numbered, short, clear and complete.

Now it's time to ask grandmas, aunts and cousins to hunt for recipes that are already recorded. Who got married last? Often at wedding showers, the bride will receive family recipes. These provide a start.

Pick through your own recipe file. Grandma died some time ago, but you recognize her delicate handwriting on those dog-eared index cards. Ask the oldest relatives to list family favorites that are found only in their head, like the careful steps our Irish Cousin Alice takes to make perfect green tea.

Give those sisters and uncles and cousins a deadline. If your family is like mine, with a Labor Day deadline they'll start Sept.1.

Summertime reunions or holiday gatherings are a natural time to gather the collection. But with E-mail and fax machines, your family's project might be best accomplished in the quiet of winter.

When you pass your collection out at the next family gathering, give thanks for cooks. With picnic plates in hand, as people are lining up at the serving table, some families ask every person to finish the sentence, "God, I am thankful for ...." Our group prayers keep Christ at the center of our feasts.

Inspiration comes when it wants, but if you're reading this article and start to feel hungry, it's time to call home and get the family cooks digging.

Smith's newest book is Farm Journal's Cream of the Crop Cookbook. She is a registered dietitian and a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, Iowa. Her Web page is: http://lowfatkitchen.com