/r/GrandmasCookbook

Photograph via snooOG

Found between the pages of worn-out cookbook or shoved to the back of the spice cupboard, this subreddit is dedicated to handwritten recipes of yesteryear.

I made this subreddit in the hopes that we can immortalize the recipes that previous generations have written and kept in drawers, books, and recipes boxes. By uploading them to the internet, we can keep their recipes alive.

My hopes are that we can share, give feedback, and enjoy recipes just like our grandparents did with their friends and neighbours.

What can I upload?

Mostly this subreddit focuses on the sharing of recipes but anything that relates to grandma-esque cooking and baking is welcome as well.

Here's of things you might want to upload:

  • Recipes

  • Photos of recipe outcomes

  • Feedback on posted recipes

  • Cooking stories about grandma

  • Questions about an old recipe

  • Recipe requests

Having trouble finding a certain recipe?

Check out the Wiki!

It's a work in progress but as time goes on, each recipe shared on here will be added as an entry to the ever-growing cookbook.

Still can't find an old-fashioned recipe?

Submit a request as a text post in hopes that someone can share one with you!


Submission Rules for Recipes

  1. Recipes uploaded must have a recipe of some kind that is fairly old

  2. Title must contain the name of the recipe. It can also recipe owner's name (if you want) and year (if known) but it is not necessary

  3. No story in the title, leave it for the comments section.

Notes on Submissions

  1. If you know the date/year/decade/general time this was written in, include it in the beginning of the title in square brackets (ex. [August 15, 1977], [1954], [1930's], [Mid 1960's])

  2. Although not necessary, it's greatly appreciated to scan the recipe as opposed to taking a photo.

  3. Handwritten recipes are awesome, but other recipes are allowed such as typewritten cards and cookbooks with notes in them. Even non-handwritten recipes can be submitted such as cookbook excerpts and cut out recipes from boxes and labels.

  4. In the comments, feel free to write a little bit about who wrote this recipe and what they, their cooking, or even this recipe means to you!

  5. If writing isn't 100% legible, it'd be great to write it out in the comments.


Examples of acceptable titles:

  • Banana Oatmeal Cookies
  • Grandma Pearl's Banana Oatmeal Cookies
  • [1980's] Grandma Pearl's Oatmeal Cookies

Examples of unacceptable titles:

  • This was my favourite banana oatmeal cookie recipe from my Grandma Pearl!
  • Grandma Pearl passed this winter and she was a wonderful cook, check it out for yourself
  • The 1980's were a crazy time for baking

Grandma Pearl probably was a wonderful cook, but let everyone know about it in the comments!

~~~ Happy cooking! ~~~

/r/GrandmasCookbook

1,616 Subscribers

5

Enjoy 3 Sicilian Pasta Grannies making 'pasta con le sarde'!

0 Comments
2022/06/01
22:32 UTC

15

Hello, frantic grandchild here.

Did anyone ever grow up eating “Lil Smokies” at their grandparents house? I recently snagged a mini crockpot and remembered fishing the tiny sausages out of their sauce/soup when I was a kid. I swore I had my grandma’s recipe for them somewhere, but I guess I don’t. I know I could just look up a recipe, but I feel like that just wouldn’t be the same. Any tips?

14 Comments
2022/05/24
22:26 UTC

22

My grandma's recipe for Watergate Salad. Delicious! Tastes more like a dessert than a salad.

12 Comments
2021/04/18
19:57 UTC

5

My 83 year old Grandmother's Special Dish for Dosa (Indian breakfast)

2 Comments
2020/12/31
09:32 UTC

7

Help with Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe

My mom's been trying to recreate grandma's old recipe but we have very little to go off of. She says she's tried it with red wine vinegar and again with apple cider, and red wine vinegar seemed the closest but was still a little off. I don't even remember this sauce, but mom says she remembers it having a yellow/tannish tint. Any ideas?

3 Comments
2020/05/07
17:31 UTC

8

From all looks of things, my cooking is improving.

0 Comments
2019/08/18
20:00 UTC

49

Homemade Cookbook, hand-dated 1935, I found in a thrift store. It started life as a math textbook, but every page has recipes that have been cut from newspapers and magazines pasted to them. Each page is hand-numbered, and on the inside back cover there is a complete index.

3 Comments
2019/01/16
11:34 UTC

7

Baking for my Grandma- Looking for egg- free dessert recipe

My grandma recently fell ill and is in a retirement home for the first time. She's finally starting to feel better so we're moving her to our city so we can see her more often, more easily. I want to make her a cake or pie (or other dessert) that she can share with other people to make friends as she settles in- once she moves here that is.

I've never actually baked with her so I don't know what kind of flavours she likes, just that she has a sweet tooth and that she is allergic to eggs.

I know that she is very proud of her French-Canadian heritage and that she grew up in a Quebec bakery.

I want to make her something she might recognize, something french inspired, that has no eggs and flavours that would appeal to older people.

3 Comments
2018/03/09
09:04 UTC

17

Mom's Coconut Press Cookies - Jam Centres

1 Comment
2017/06/10
13:46 UTC

4

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 Comment
2017/06/10
13:41 UTC

13

Cherry Loaf

3 Comments
2017/06/08
16:47 UTC

10

Carrot Bars

1 Comment
2017/06/08
16:46 UTC

9

Bran Muffins

1 Comment
2017/06/08
16:40 UTC

5

Custard

3 Comments
2017/06/08
16:36 UTC

7

Banana Bread

1 Comment
2017/06/08
16:34 UTC

8

Honey Pork + Pepper

3 Comments
2017/06/08
16:24 UTC

8

June's Potatoes

1 Comment
2017/06/08
11:47 UTC

7

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 Comment
2017/06/07
23:37 UTC

11

Spinach Dip

4 Comments
2017/06/07
14:44 UTC

7

Meatloaf

5 Comments
2017/06/07
14:18 UTC

7

Shortbread Cookies

1 Comment
2017/06/07
14:17 UTC

8

Miracle Whip Chocolate Cake

1 Comment
2017/06/07
14:10 UTC

10

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Comment
2017/06/07
14:08 UTC

12

Sweet + Sour Sauce for meatballs of your choice

1 Comment
2017/06/07
14:00 UTC

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