A Cookbook Christmas

As I contemplated what I wanted to write about for this month I began to reminisce about all the Christmas holidays of the past. One year holds a vivid memory that I’d like to share.

Each year I strive to find special gifts for those I love. I usually make a handmade gift for my girls. A few years ago, I received an old recipe book that was my Aunt Betsy’s. I love to cook family recipes each year, such as pumpkin bread, fudge and a chocolate coconut cookie to name a few.  All of which hold very special memories for me. 

Over several weeks I scoured my recipe files and I asked their dad for some of his grandmother’s recipes too. I had lemon pie from my aunt, donuts from my grandmother who passed when I was five, a relish recipe from Mom and of course a few of my “secret” recipes that had never been written down. Each special dish was included in the cookbook I had created just for them. The special touches; in some cases, I had time-faded handwritten notes to include, of course, after I had typed the recipe for ease of use. 

When Meg and Em opened them on Christmas morning tears flowed. It was as if all the amazing women who came before them and who were gone lived within the pages of their new cookbooks. 

From time to time one of them will call and tell me they just made something from it. Or Meg swears I left something out of the ingredient list for my turkey stuffing, which of course I didn’t. I reminded her that sometimes Mom’s will always taste better but to keep trying. 

This year as I prepare my cookie baking schedule the girls will wonder which of our favorites will be discovered as they open the well-worn tins which will fill the table. 

As for many families the special foods we prepare for any holiday are little bits of family history. I like to think that the women who came before me are watching adding a dash or sprinkle of love to all I bake. I know the recipes I’ve passed down to my girls will live on for years to come. 

Happy Holidays! 

Love,

Lucinda

As a small token of my appreciation, and for a limited time, you can purchase book 1 of The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy for just 0.99 

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