Saturday, September 11, 2010

A Thrifted Box of Recipes


At first I was drawn to the sweet turquoise design. But then I realized it was full of someone's recipe clippings! And many hand-copied recipes on cards, in beautiful script.


And my favorite feature of all? That "Tuna" has its own section heading. Check out the back right-hand corner.

35 comments:

  1. Whenever I see something like that, something so personal, I wonder under what circumstances they came to be there. Whatever they were, I believe the woman who took the time to collect those recipes would be pleased to know they've found such a good home.

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  2. Anna, I have missed you so much. I felt like a mother with a beloved daughter I was unable to reach. Please don't leave us again for awhile. You are a gift.

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  3. teehee! i love the separate tab just for tuna... for the longest time, it was the only fish i ate and liked.

    and i must say how happy i am that you are blogging again. i grin every time i see a post from you pop up in my reader. thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. Oh! That could be my grandmother's tuna section. She passed away in May at the age of 97. The last few times we visited her, she made us tuna quiche for lunch. There was one variation, tuna casserole. The quiche was actually quite yummy and made with Bisquick. I have the recipe, but haven't been brave enough to try it on my own yet! :)

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  5. Like so many others, I'm glad you are back - I've missed you, too. This recipe box is sweet - I agree with Linda that it has found a great home. Are you going to try any new Tuna recipes?

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  6. I think you must have the most wonderful thrift store ever. :^)

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  7. This is the same box as my mom's! What nice childhood memories you brought up. Thank you!

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  8. I can't tell you how delighted I was to see you blogging again :) I hope this new season lasts for a while :)

    I missed you so. <3

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  9. I love the section labelled "Breakfast Goodies" !!! Delightful.
    May I say again what a complete joy it is to 'see' you again.

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  10. Now this is truly a find! You'll have to share some of the tuna recipes!

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  11. What a treasure!

    Doesn't it make you sad that someone in this woman's family didn't care enough to keep these?

    My mother-in-law was of the WWII generation, she definitely would have had a "Tuna" section. :)

    Glad you are back, you were missed.

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  12. I love this!! What a great idea. I think I will create one of my own with my favorite recipes.

    blessings
    Mrs. White

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  13. my grandmother gave me a fantastic gift after my great-grandma died: her recipe box! inside I found what I've been asking for for years. Granny's baked bean recipe! There are a lot of other recipes in my granny's barely-legible scrawl as well as some ancient crumbling recipe cards that I can only imagine were her mother's or even grandmother's. SUCH a treasure. I'm trying to figure out how to nicely frame some of them to decorate my new kitchen once I move next week!

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  14. Like Brenda said, it's sad to think her family didn't want to try out those recipes for themselves. On the other hand, they could have thrown out the box, which they didn't! It will be interesting for you to go through them, and see if you get any keepers. -Lisateresa

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  15. I have that same recipe box!(mine came empty, however). It is my daughters now, who is a fledgling cook. So good to see you again, Anna!
    Amy F.

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  16. These items are as personal as a diary! I love finding cook books with notes and clippings in them too.

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  17. I'm so glad it was only 'summer vacation'. I love your writing style. I'm glad I checked in today and found you back. Smiling now just like I do with a letter from a friend.
    Elaine

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  18. A true treasure! I have handwritten recipes & books from both of my (deceased) grandmothers. And I am the only one who wanted them! I confess I don't understand how I was the only one else that could see their 'value'.

    I am dubious about tuna requiring a separate category... I am afraid my attempts at tuna dishes has led me to believe that cold tuna salad is the only dish that fish belongs in :-)

    Lisa

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  19. This same little box has been in
    my mother's pantry
    since I can remember.
    I am 51.
    It is faded and worn
    unlike your find.
    What you found inside
    would be the real treasure
    to me.

    {{* *}}

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  20. I find these recipe files all the time, but never have I seen one with the contents still in it. How fun! I imagine that the insides are discarded when placed for sale. So sad that all that work and history are just tossed away.

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  21. uh, one more tidbit..
    Our family ate LOTS of tuna
    in various hot & cold recipes
    in the 1960's.
    I think it was affordable protein.
    {{* *}}

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  22. Great find!
    I like the turquoise, too. It really draws the attention to the item.
    Enjoy experimenting with all those recipes.
    Peace.

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  23. I love the design on the box. It is so cheerful.

    What a treasure. I'm sure you will find some gems in there.

    I am very pleased to see you writing again. Glad I stayed subscribed!

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  24. How fabulous! Anna, you obviously have the absolute best thrift shops! Thanks for sharing!

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  25. My mom's recipes from home ec during the war included a "delightful" luncheon recipe for creamed baked beans on toast. Spaghetti sauce was butter and a can of Tomato sauce on cooked noodles. They are a treasure.

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  26. Just wanted to say that I was thrilled when a post from your blog popped up in my reader the other day, I have missed your blog!

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  27. Most certainly, a treasure! :)

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  28. I have that same recipe box! My mother gave me her's with copies of my favorite recipes at one of my bridal showers.

    Carrie Lynn

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  29. Oh my goodness, you're back! I was so excited that I didn't even read, I just went straight to the comments. Can't wait to catch up on all the new posts.

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  30. What?!! How on earth does a box of handwritten recipes find its way to the thrift store?!!! Sadness - with a happy ending. I'm glad it found a good home.

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  31. Such tidy handwriting! I can't seem to find the section for jello dishes though.

    Carol

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  32. I was so happy to see that you are blogging again Mrs. Anna! :)
    My great-grandmother's recipe box is a lot like this one- I was blessed to receive it recently, full of recipes copied in her handwriting... I treasure it!

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