Tuesday, July 28, 2015

THE QUESTING HEIRS ARCHIVE 
Our Society’s Cookbook

In 1992, QHGS published a Society Cookbook. It was not a simple project to undertake, but the results were definitely worthwhile.

 photo: QHGS Archives

How did they do things like this “back in the day”? Favorite recipes were collected from all the members, a committee was formed to type each recipe on a 5x8 card, and the finished cards were pasted on 11x17 sheets of paper. These tabloid sheets, with two cards on the front and two cards up-side-down on the back, were arranged in order for photo-copying and taken to a printer where the images were printed on different-colored card stock paper: green for salads, pink for desserts, etc. After the card stock sheets were cut apart, they were reassembled into the finished cookbook and it was offered for sale at meetings and seminars. A lot of work to be sure, but where else can you find a recipe for homemade beer with the following recollection from QHGS member Marjorie Lloyd: “Mother usually ate a sandwich for lunch and liked a glass of beer with it (the only liquor in the house). This beer was made in a crock and kept in the hall closet. I vividly remember the aroma when she skimmed off the foam.”

RESEARCH TIP: Look for old society cookbooks online, in antique malls, and at swap meets and garage sales. They may contain memories of times past as well as information about your ancestor’s church friends and/or club buddies. You might even find a relative’s recipe in one of them!



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