| After the death of a loved one some families | | | | A few fancy gifts were exchanged , but my |
| make quilts from their loved one's clothes. Other | | | | homemade gifts were the hit of the day. Family |
| families compile memory books. I did something | | | | members told Nana stories as they paged |
| different for my family; I made a memory cook | | | | through their cook books. If you are looking for a |
| book. After my mother-in-law died my | | | | meaningful way to remember a loved one, think |
| sister-in-law and I looked through her old recipe | | | | about compiling a memory cook book.Your cook |
| box. Actually, there were four boxes, and the | | | | book will spark stories about the meals you have |
| recipes inside were grouped loosely into | | | | shared, and link the older generation with the |
| categories.There were hand-written recipes, lots | | | | younger. I didn't have time to put more photos in |
| of newspaper and magazine clippings, and many | | | | the books, but a photo on each page would make |
| duplicates. We threw out the duplicate recipes and | | | | the cook book extra special. Now you are |
| saved family favorites - recipes that grandchildren | | | | probably wondering about the recipes. My favorite |
| and great grandchildren would enjoy. Reading the | | | | recipe is the one for fudge. Though I don't make |
| recipes brought back memories of family picnics, | | | | fudge, I love the ending. Here is the recipe, just |
| holiday dinners, and snacks Nana prepared for her | | | | as Nana wrote it so many years ago.NANA'S |
| three growing boys.I typed the recipes (one per | | | | FUDGE 19202 c. sugar3/4 c. milk2 sq. chocolate1 |
| page) and compiled them in a three-ring notebook. | | | | 2 t. salt1 T. butter1 t (teaspoon) vanilla |
| The title of the book: "Favorite Recipes From | | | | nutsMix and cook all ingredients except vanilla & |
| Nana's Recipe Boxes." For the cover I used | | | | nuts. When it boils up once lower the heat to a |
| holiday stationery with a candy cane border. Each | | | | slow boil. After 5 min. begin testing for the soft |
| cover had a photo of Nana on it. To protect the | | | | ballstage (1/2 4sp. fudge in a saucer of ice |
| recipes from splatters and drips I put them in | | | | water.)When you can pick up a soft ball in 3 |
| plastic notebook sleeves. There were only 25 | | | | fingers it's ready. Cook it 1 minute more. Remove |
| recipes so I didn't index them. However, I did | | | | from stove and cool completely before stirring. |
| write a short introduction and it contained a story | | | | Add vanilla and nuts and beat until it looks [like] it's |
| that is still clear in my mind.Nana served Sunday | | | | glass and begins to set. Pour into a small square |
| dinner at 1 p.m. After one dinner she announced | | | | cake pan.Cut when hard. (If it gets too hard add a |
| that supper would be cake and ice cream. I | | | | few drops of cream at the end of beating.) Cut, |
| laughed because I thought Nana was kidding. But | | | | enjoy. Save some for mother and dad. Be a good |
| Nana, the only person I have ever known who | | | | scout and clean up the kitchen |
| would eat cold butter rolled in sugar, had a sweet | | | | afterwards.Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson |
| tooth, and supper was just as advertised. We had | | | | Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 28 |
| huge bowls of French vanilla ice cream and hefty | | | | years and is a member of the Association of |
| slices of yellow cake with Penuche frosting. What | | | | Health Care Journalists and the Association for |
| a memory.Because the cook book was a glimpse | | | | Death Education and Counseling. Before she |
| of family history, I typed the recipes as Nana | | | | became a health writer she was a food writer for |
| wrote them, including abbreviations such as | | | | the former "Rochester Magazine" in her |
| "refrig" for refrigerator, and references to family | | | | hometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, |
| members and friends. I grouped the pages into | | | | "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," |
| sets, put the pages in the notebooks, and tucked | | | | written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from A |
| rubber spatulas inside. Then I wrapped the books | | | | five-star review of the book is posted on |
| in holiday paper and ribbon, and tied measuring | | | | Amazon. You will find another review on the |
| spoons to each one.So much love had gone into | | | | American Hospice Foundation website under the |
| the cook books that I could hardly wait to give | | | | "School Corner" heading. |
| them to family members on Christmas morning. | | | | |