By Mary Emma Allen
Cards and note paper with recipes and food ideas are fun to send to
those who
enjoy cooking. I have a friend who collects recipes. When I travel to
different parts of
the country, I look for post cards with regional recipes on them. Some
are tasty and
others are "far out." She says she enjoys them all.
My daughter received a lovely card which accompanied a cookie cutter
gift.
Within the card were cookie making hints and a recipe for cookies using
the cutter.
What recipe books and booklets do you collect? Will they become part of
the
heritage you pass along to your children...either in memories of foods
prepared or as
actual items they can add to a cook book or memorabilia collection.
AuntieÂ’s Note Cards
My aunt, who loved cooking and recipe collecting, often seemed to find
stationery and note paper with recipes and pictures of food. Years ago,
when my
husband was an Air Force pilot and we lived far from the area where IÂ’d
grown up, my
aunt wrote me frequently.
So many of her notes contained these pictures of food, cooking utensils,
and
recipes. "IÂ’ve tried this one," she might add. "ItÂ’s good." These were
just like the notes
I later found in the margin of her cookbook I later acquired.
Letters About Food
My mom was an avid letter writer. Her letters contained stories of our
familyÂ’s
daily life. However, in almost every letter she wrote about what she was
cooking for
various meals and often described how she made some new dish.
She also clipped recipes from magazines and newspapers and sent these to
me.
Mother often sketched pictures of the dishes she prepared for various
meals or baked to
sell in her general store.
It almost seemed our family was consumed by food! Why wouldnÂ’t I become
a
cooking columnist?
As you travel, you may find yourself looking for post cards with
regional foods
and recipes or note paper and stationery with a culinary theme.
Sometimes by combining
these with a jar of jelly, cookie cutter, or special tea cup youÂ’ll
create a thoughtful gift for
someone in your life.
A Regional Recipe IÂ’ve come across during travels to Florida is the
traditional
KEY LIME PIE. This dessert has been a favorite in that area for many
years.
Beat 3 egg yolks and 1 can (14 oz.) condensed milk together; then add
1/2 cup
freshly squeezed lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel, beating
well until smooth.
Pour into cooled, baked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30
minutes until the
center is set. Cool well before serving with whipped cream.
(Some cooks prefer to make a stiff meringue from the 3 egg whites and 6
tablespoons sugar, then spread on hot pie and bake 425 degrees F. for 5
minutes, or until
meringue is golden.)
(C) 2002 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. SheÂ’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
The Country Kitchen Series
Window to the World
Mud Season Means Spring!
Memories at the Kitchen Table
The Pioneer Kitchen
Fascinating Jelly Jars
Cook to Cook Letter Writing
Backyard Picnics
Summertime Picnics
Cookie Cutters!
Eggplant Tips
Summer Meal Ideas
Strawberry Festivals!
Special Dinnerware
Tips for Selecting the Best Summer Fruit
Preserve and Display your Wedding Memories
Caring for Wicker Furniture