Every year, when I’m digging through piles of unruly clippings and pieces of paper looking for favorite family holiday recipes, I vow that next year will be the one when I organize all of them into a book of family favorites.
That hasn’t happened yet, but a new year is here.
I’ve found some inspiration in the work of Carol Kraszewski of Akron, Ohio, who compiled a family cookbook for her four children and eight grandchildren for the holidays.
The first copies of Our Family Memories and Recipes appeared at Thanksgiving. Kraszewski had been working on the project for about two years.
The 108-page book is far more than just a recipe collection. It’s a family history filled with stories, photos and artwork from Kraszewski’s grandchildren. She asked each of her children and grandchildren to submit a memory for the book, and their stories grace its pages.
The cover art is a drawing by her granddaughter Jennifer Rinaldi, 12, of Kent, Ohio, which shows off some of Grandma’s best baking: chocolate chip and cream-filled clothespin cookies.
The page that contains Aunt Marguerite Rosenberg’s recipe for beef brisket also has a photo of Aunt Marguerite.
Kraszewski scanned copies of handwritten recipes from her own mother, Bertha Coburn, onto a page in their original form so that generations to come will be able to read Grandma Coburn’s recipes in her own writing.
She also included many traditional Polish favorites from her husband Eugene’s family.
After printing 20 copies of each page, Kraszewski placed them inside plastic sleeves, and then clipped them into binders. Kraszewski decided to use loose-leaf binders, rather than having the book bound, so family members could add other recipes as they get them or take out ones they don’t use.
The idea for a family cookbook came about because of her granddaughter Mariette Piermarini’s interest in baking.
A sophomore at Walsh University, Mariette, 19, has been baking Christmas cookies with Kraszewski since she was 4 years old. Over the years, Mariette would ask for copies of recipes and after writing them out time after time, it dawned on Kraszewski that a family cookbook would be a great way to hand down all of the recipes to everyone.
While the Kraszewski family cookbook is just debuting, the Reymanns’ is now in its fifth printing.
Mary Ellen Reymann said the idea for the cookbook came about in the 1980s, when members of the large Akron family had gathered for an aunt’s funeral.
Reymann Remembrances and Recipes begins with an extensive family history and family tree of Charles and Mary Salome Reymann, who raised 16 children in Akron’s Ellet neighborhood.
The book, now 20 years old, has recipes from 104 family members representing 20 states. Originally distributed only to family, the book eventually became a fundraiser to support the Reymann Family Foundation, a charity that supports group homes for developmentally disabled adults.
Family members sell the book for $10.
Reymann said the best part of the book is that it includes recipes that are tried-and-true, as well as a bit of family fun. One uncle submitted a recipe for stuffing a turkey with popcorn.
For a copy of the Reymann book, contact Mary Ellen Reymann at 330-733-9493.
Below is Kraszewski’s recipe for tea cakes, an easy cookie that is a favorite with her grandchildren.
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
Mom’s tea cakes
1box yellow cake mix
1 1/3cups cake flour
1/3cup sugar
1cup plus 4 tablespoons milk
1/3cup plus 3 tablespoons water
1/3cup plus 4 tablespoons oil
3eggs
Beat all ingredients together for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Drop by teaspoon or tablespoon on hot griddle (350 to 375 degrees). Cook as a pancake. When top bubbles up, turn over and cook a few more minutes.
Cool on a cake rack.
When cool, frost with decorator icing.
Carol Kraszewski, Akron
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