June 05, 2007

Guest Post

by: Miss Bonnie
Ever since I was a young girl my favorite place to be was in the kitchen! I loved nothing better than helping my Mama cook dinner and bake special treats. She was always very good about letting me help ~ I loved measuring, stirring, cracking eggs, you name it I tried it. A lot of times there was more flour on me and the floor than in the bowl but my Mama never seemed to care. I also know there were many a forgotten pieces of eggshell left in the bowl but somehow we survived! The important thing is that as a young girl I got to be "hands on" and that is how I learned and also how I came to love cooking.

Throughout the years I have had the privilege of eating many wonderful dishes from the ladies in my family. I decided I wanted to preserve those recipes so I can prepare them for my own family when I get married and have a home. Below you will find what I did to to accomplish that!

I purchased plastic sheet covers and a colorful binder from our local office supply store. I found a template I liked, and used that to create the recipe sheets. For the section sheets (appetizer, desserts, etc.), I just made my own template on Word, then added Bible verses that I thought might be appropriate. That idea came from a cookbook my great grandmother had – they had Bible verses on each section page.

BREAKFAST: This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14

APPETIZERS "Whatever your task, work heartily. . . "
Colossians 3:23
MAIN COURSE "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good . . ."
Psalm 118:1a
SIDE DISH: " . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . ."
Galatians 5:22_23a.
BREADS: "I am the bread of life . . ."
John 6:35
DESSERTS: Once Abraham was greeted by unexpected guests. His response to Sarah was: "Quickly, prepare three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes for our guests."
Genesis 18:6
There was also a really cute little "recipe" in my Grammy’s cookbook entitled, How to Preserve a Husband. I typed it up in a pretty font, cut it out with special scissors, then placed it in the front flap of the binder. I also keep a sheet of different meal blessings in the front, along with several different lists of substitutions and measurement equivalents. I think a pen is also really useful to keep in the binder, just in case you want to add any notes to the recipes as you’re cooking. And you have your very own personalized cookbook! You can choose all the colors, pictures, and layouts you love to present all the recipes you love in a protected, compact place.
How To Preserve A Husband
Be careful of your selection. Do not choose too young or take only such as have been reared in a good, moral atmosphere. When once selected and decided upon, let that part remain forever settled and give your entire thought to preparation for domestic use. Some insist on keeping them in a pickle, while others are getting them constantly in hot water. This only makes them sour, hard, and sometimes bitter. Even poor varieties may be made sweet, tender, and good by garnishing with patience, well sweetened with smiles, flavored with kisses to taste, then wrapped in a mantle of charity. Keep warm by a steady fire of domestic devotion, serve with peaches and cream. When thus prepared, they will keep for years.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about my recipe book. If you have any young ladies at home I am sure they would love to make one of their own!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was a sweet treat to read!! Blessings, Marie

Tracy said...

What a great post! I loved "How to Preserve a Husband".

Karen said...

Hi Miss Bonnie! I enjoyed looking at your recipe book pages. I've done something similar with mine, but my font is MUCH larger, so these old-er eyes can read them without glasses. ;0)
My grandmother also had the How to Preserve a Husband recipe!
The blessings you have copied are ones that I learned as a child, and taught to my children. You will make a great wife and mother someday.
You look like your sweet Mom in your picture!

Kelli said...

Your recipe book is wonderful, Miss Bonnie and I especially like the Bible verses! I love your grammy's special recipe, what great advice! Thank you for sharing your cookbook with us and I enjoyed hearing about the time you spent with your mama in the kitchen!
Kelli

Monica Wilkinson said...

This was a lovely post as well! I have two little girls and have been trying to let the older one help me in the kitchen.

I must admit that sometimes I cringe when there is flour all over and egg shells in the bowl - thank you for the reminder that it is ok and she will learn more from the experience than I realize.

PS: I love your Mama, she is such an inspiration and blessing to me. And, now - I'm excited for the opportunity to hear from you!

theups said...

I LOVE "How to Preserve a Husband"!! That is sooo sweet!!!

I also really like your binder. It looks extra pretty the way you've decorated it. Your future family will be so blessed by your preparation.

Thank you so much for sharing this, Miss Bonnie!

His,
Mrs. U

Cherish the Home said...

I really enjoyed 'How To Preserve a Husband'. Thanks for sharing it.

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Thank you so much for sharing your great recipe book with us!

Jodi said...

I love this idea. I need to update my cooking notebook and was thinking of starting one for the girls. Now you've got me thinking they might actually be better off making their own along side of me. It will make it more their own! :o)

And I *must* include that recipe on "How to Preserve a Husband"! ;o)

Becky said...

I love your cookbook! Even though I've been a homemaker for many years, this is something I think I'd like to put together too.

Thanks for sharing!