Recipe boxes

Long after my Nana passed away, my Mom gave me some of Nana's recipe boxes. I have three large boxes that are all stuffed with recipes for pickles and appetizers and dessert and cookies and entrees and everything in between.

I've spent afternoons pouring through these boxes. There are so many memories in there--desserts (strawberry rhubarb pie), cookies (meringues and ice box cookies) and roasts and stews and homemade yogurt. I remember the things I adored (the cookies! the pickles! the pies!) and the things I feared (the "salad"--a ring of pineapple with cottage cheese) and the things I could never successfully replicate (a ham and cheese sandwich with butter. Nana would make it and I loved it. I make it at home and it is gross).

There are recipes from neighbors and church friends. Recipes cut out from the Courier-Post and Good Housekeeping. There are recipes from great-aunts and uncles who have been gone for so long. These boxes are a history of my family.

I never thought of Nana's Fabulous Life as being a recipe blog--but it is, sort of. I love to cook, as did my Nana and so many other Grandmothers everywhere. Cooking is creation and it is an act of love for my family. What I put on the plate has to be good. It will be eaten and made part of their bodies and someday, part of their history.

Enjoy all my fabulous recipe finds--some from me, some from my nana and some from all my favorite Nanas (and Nanas-in-the-making).