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Grief: Remember Your Loved One With a Memory Cook Book

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



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