Jesus Is Keeping An Eye On All The Yummy Goodness

I recently organized my storage area and came across a bunch of cookbooks and magazines in a Rubbermaid bin.  That bin also contained my grandmother's recipe box.  

I was delighted to see tons of recipes written in my grandmother's hand, in addition to many typed on index cards.  Likely on the same typewriter, she taught me how to type on.  That machine was old and although she taught me correct hand placement on the keys, I still used the hunt-and-peck method until I mastered typing by touch.  

Also in the box were recipes she cut out of magazines and recipes neighbors, friends, and family had given her with dates and notes like, "Mrs. Brigandi's sour cream coffee cake".  The pink card on the side of the box was written by my cousin, giving my grandmother a recipe for Chicken Chow Mein that was a specialty of my teenage cousin at the time.  Other cards had notes about holiday gatherings and who attended family functions.  Those were very interesting.  

On this one, she writes who was present - "Dad, Joya, and I".  So that means, my grandfather, my grandmother, and my Aunt Joya.  My grandmother had four daughters and at this point in 1967, the oldest three were married, my Aunt Joya being the only one who was still single.

You'll notice I got a mention, "Salena 2 mos. old today".  I was the first grandchild in the family and don't tell the others, but also the clear favorite.

She kept these notes for every holiday from Thanksgiving on November 23, 1967 - the photo above - until the early eighties.  Christmas of 1967 is shown on the card below, where  I made another appearance - 3 months, 2 days old!  She also notes, "All Family Here", meaning everyone attended.

I really loved seeing her handwriting again, it's been 24 years since she passed, but I was a bit sad seeing notes about the holidays my grandparents spent alone.  All of their children had moved from the Bronx to upstate New York in the early seventies and they often didn't make the hour-and-a-half trip back to the city for the holidays.  Between spending time with their new families and attending holidays at the in-laws' houses, sometimes my grandparents were alone.  And I hate that. 

But, I'm glad to have all these recipe cards and I can't wait to make some of the meals that she wrote cards for but didn't specifically teach me how to make.  A lot of her specialties I already make, the recipes verbally handed down to me.  It'll be interesting to tackle some of the other things and see if they measure up to what she made.

This is her meatloaf recipe.  Notice she included the Italian word for it - polpettone.  I'm not a fan of meatloaf AT ALL but the only one I'd ever eat was hers.  I might have to give this a whirl.  It's super basic, which is why I probably liked it.  Thankfully, she never added pignoli, raisins, or the hard-boiled eggs.

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2020: Boundless American Optimism
2019: The Movies Have Always Been An Escape
2018: Nowhere Near As Cute As A Kitten
2017: Celebrating Seven And A Half Decades
2016: Makes Complete Sense
2015: I'm Always Hoping It's The Last Time
2014: Apes At The Hitching Post
2013: History On Water Street
2012: Do It Like The Settlers Did. With Whiskey.
2011: No Vacancy
2010: Imperial Sand
2009: How Many Twenty Year Olds Have A Seventy Pound Head?
2008: My First Time
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Text Me
2005: Eddie Dines Out Friday