Treasured Cookbooks

So I have a lot of cookbooks!  As of this writing, I have 232 logged onto the Eat Your Books website.  Most of my cookbooks are from the last 15 years, but a few are older books.  Some of these older ones are Junior League or church cookbooks and product pamphlets.  But two of my most treasured cookbooks are ones that each of my grandmothers used and left notes in and now sit on my cookbook shelf.  

The cover of Grandma L’s copy of The American Woman’s Cook Book

Close up of tabs on The American Woman’s Cook Book

Inside of The American Woman’s Cook Book with Grandma L’s notes

My grandma L’s cookbook was “The American Woman’s Cook Book” (copyright 1947).  I received this book from my aunt many years after my grandma had passed away.  The only other thing I had from my grandma was a quilt she gave to me before I moved from Indiana to Boston.  She passed away two months after that.  So this book is quite a special memento of her.  I flipped through it after receiving it trying to glean any information I could.  I was pleased to find stained and splattered pages, handwritten notes, and newspaper clippings of recipes.  I like to imagine her using it in her kitchen making food for my dad and his siblings.

The cover of my Grandma V’s copy of The Hoosier Cookbook

A list of recipes Grandma V made from The Hoosier Cookbook

Inside of The Hoosier Cookbook with Grandma V’s notes

The other cookbook I have from my other grandmother, grandma V, is “The Hoosier Cookbook” (copyright 1976).  If you are not from Indiana, you may be wondering what a Hoosier is.  One of the origin stories that I was told growing up was that this was the answer to someone knocking at your door, and the person inside asking “who’s there?” or “Hoo-zhair.”  Anyway, I found this cookbook when we were helping my grandma and grandpa move to a smaller home.  It was asked if I could have it, and my aunts agreed that I could.  The cover is ripped and worn.  There are notes, paper towel scraps, and newspaper clippings all stuffed into this book.  Flipping through this one, I found notes about what she made and served at her daughter’s birthdays and wedding showers.  She also writes notes next to the recipes (or should I say, I also write notes like her) about what changes she made (often decreasing the butter or sugar), and if a recipe was “good.”  And I found a list of recipes with their page numbers for what I assume was a list of recipes she has made.  I also do this!  What a special gift to have this information.  And to see the similarities in how we both interact with our cookbooks!    

What treasured cookbooks or recipe cards do you have from others that are special objects for you and help you connect with them?