Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Treasure Box



Last week while on a thrifting jaunt, I came upon one of my favorite finds, an old recipe file. Whenever I see one of these, my first reaction is excitement but soon a bit of sadness creeps in when I think how someone didn't realize that in this discarded treasure box, were pieces of this cooks life, a diary of sorts. There is also history hidden on some of the news clippings as you can see here in the photo below.




I'm happy to find recipes from magazine pages and newspapers. Sometimes the dates are found on the bottom or top of the pages but other times I must put on my detective cap if the era of the box is to be found. This one had none of the above but on the back a recipe for Roquefort French dressing was an article with the photo of the soon to be released postage stamp in 1959, so I know that it is at least that old. I also try to find out about how long the person added to the box and so we look for the latest date, in this case it was necessary to dig a bit deeper. The food article above for the Shrimp Curry, was by Alyce Hazeltine and she wrote of a recent visit to Hawaii and the Governor's mansion where Mrs. John A. Burns, the first lady of Hawaii serves this curry. So after a quick search on Bing.com I found Gov. Burns served from 1962 - 1974. Not an exact date but close enough to get the era.




After all of the investigative work and delicious recipes gone through, I decided there was only one thing left to do.....choose one and give it a try. Molasses sugar cookies, they are good in any era!
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Have you come across any of these 'treasure boxes', perhaps one of your relatives?
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I have more baking to do today, I think it will have to be Pumpkin Bars with that declicous creme cheese frosting, I can taste it now!
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Have a great day! xo

19 comments:

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

I have two boxes that were from friends of my mom's. One is all sweets (cookies, cakes, etc)and I must admit, I've only made one recipe out of it! I really should try more....

I think finding items like these or photographs at antique, junk or flea stores is sooo sad too. Such personal family items that nobody wanted... It's nice to know that you "saved" this one when you found it!

~Chris

Unknown said...

Mmm, those cookies look yummy. That's really neat that you found that whole box at the thrift store, recipes intact and all. Definitely a treasure.

Katiebee said...

what fun! i love to find sewing boxes too~ the cookies look yummy~

xo

kate

Lynn said...

I'm glad YOU found it:@)

RDA Pony Tales said...

Yummy looking cookies :) I once tried a recipe written by the 19th century cook Mrs Beeton, and have to say it was not very nice! However, my Aunts recipes from the1960's are all delicious! Have a great day baking xx

polkadotpeticoat said...

What a score.....treasure!

Lori P said...

What a wonderful treasure - and you're right, it's sad. BUT the fact that you now have it and are using the recipes makes it all the more special.

mamas collection said...

Oooh!! I love this too!! Such stories to discover! When I put a new clipped recipe in my files, I wonder who is going to find/use it in the future! Maybe I should leave notes to the future owner?? :D

trish said...

I have never found a recipe box like that. What a real treasure you have there. I know it is a little bittersweet. I would feel a little connection with who it belonged to. :0) I made a decision a few years ago to write out all our favorite recipes. It took a little while but they are in my handwriting and maybe one day a grandchild will treasure it. :0)

Rebecca Nelson said...

Sherri...all sounds yummy to me. I've purchased recipe boxes at estate sales and I always come away thinking the family missed out on a real treasure!

Blessings~Rebecca

Karen said...

oh, the cookie looked so delicious! Yes, I too find the sadness creeping in when I see recipe boxes & especially family pictures in antique/fleamarket stores. My treasure box is one that was created for me 25 years ago. My Aunt gave me a recipe box filled with handwritten recipes (her favorites). I've treasured this one! Thanks for stopping by to visit.

Lola Nova said...

How nice! I wish I could find one in a thrift shop. I do have my grandmother's (well one of them) and I love looking through it. What a treasure!

farmer said...

Those cookies make me want to bake some!!
Glad I found your blog, I will be following.

Catherine said...

The cookies makes me feel hungry! great find, i wish i could find such a treasure box!

Diane Mars said...

You know what I too just love to find a treasure trove of someones favorite recipes.. always a bit of that persons life in those recipe boxes, i bet those cookies were yummy they sure look wonderful! We should plan a vintage recipe card swap one day it sure sounds like fun! Hugs, Diane

Sandra said...

I love treasures like that, they really are the best aren't they? :)

Leigh said...

My grandmother had a huge wood recipe box. I'm not sure who got it when she passed away, but I know it is treasured. I still have some of her handwritten recipes. Those are my treasure. One of them is cookies that look just like those!

E Makes Art said...

What a great treasure! And oh my...those molasses cookies...drool!! I want one! And pumpkin bars? This blog is dangerous, lol. I love it.

xoEsther

Anonymous said...

Wow! I haven't ever found a treasure like that... When my grandmother died, her cook knew the recipes by heart - and didn't want to share. :(