Before the Internet changed everything, newspaper clippings, faded recipe cards, and slim booklets of recipes from publications like Baker’s Chocolate, Robin Hood Flour, and Bee Made Honey made up much of our recipe collection. It was occupied. They were often dog-eared, covered in notes, and kept in a kitchen drawer.
Thanks to free online recipe sites, the once-ubiquitous recipe box containing a set of index cards is no longer a common sight at thrift stores.
The recipe collection that has been passed down is filled with countless memories, from the ’70s-style chicken divan recipe with cream of mushroom soup and mayonnaise to the hearty peas and peas that warmed Canadian children. What a shame, when it could have included favorites like ham soup. Everywhere in winter.
Photo credit: Ann Howe Correspondent Ann Ho recently started her own recipe collection using boxes and index cards she found at a local thrift store.
I always thought my sister had most of my mother’s recipes, but I was surprised to hear that she hadn’t moved back to British Columbia from Ontario. Luckily, she had copied some of them into her notebook. Many of our favorites were misplaced years ago, including those from her mother’s wonderful no-bake chocolate desserts that were always on the table every Christmas.
According to one of my brothers, it could have been Bavarois or Charlotte. They have both tried to recreate the recipe the past two Christmases with some success. The latest one I tried, if this were a baking contest I’d lose just a few points, but it’s not, right?
In my case, I looked for recipe sites on the internet. I even emailed the Peak Fran Biscuit Museum in the UK. Because peak flan biscuits are made with a spring-shaped bread lined with bourbon biscuits.
I had a hunch that it might be a Hershey recipe because that was the brand that made chocolate chips and baking chocolate around the kitchen when I was a teenager. Eureka! In fact, it turned out to be an old Hershey’s recipe from about 40 years ago, probably printed on one of their chip bags.
I still have to offer it to one of my brothers to confirm that this is indeed our mother’s long-forgotten chocolate candy recipe, but I’m confident. Masu.
I recently started making my own recipe book using cute boxes and index cards I found at thrift stores. I am adding family recipes to the recipes I have collected over the years. It’s great to have hands-on activities instead of having everything stored on your phone.
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Ann Howe
West End Community Correspondent
Anne Ho is the West End’s community correspondent. Contact her at annie_hawe@hotmail.com.
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