A few years ago, I set out to collect the favorite recipes of each of the grown women in my family (at that time). My plan included gathering five recipes from each lady and have them write these receipes down on an index card. Once I had collected all of them, I made copies of each of the recipes, mounted them on larger, colored index cards and placed them all in photo books to hand out to each of them that included all of the collected family recipes. This collection still makes me smile today.  I especially love seeing their handwriting; there’s something very special about that in today’s technologically drenched culture.

So, I wanted to pitch a similar idea for you to do this mother’s day for the special women in your life.  Many of you may have grandmothers, mother-in-law’s, moms, aunts, sisters, and cousins whom you’d want to include on this project.  I highly encourage you to have these women hand write the recipes, as it makes it truly a keepsake. 

It’s easy! Contact the women and request that they write out between 3-5 recipes they love to make (and maybe one that’s your favorite they make!) on a 3 x 5 index card.  Have them give the cards back to you in person (or they can scan them if they live far away).  Then, just cut them out, and glue them onto a 4 x 6 index card and create your book from there.  I used photo books that fit the size of the larger index card to slide them into the “photo” pockets (and it keeps them protected from getting food on them while cooking).

I hope you have fun with this project, and enjoy it for years to come as I have done.  It truly is a treasure to have such a functional, yet emotional collection.