Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Recipes 'n Reads: Cookbooks with Old Recipes to Bring Back the Past, Tips on Writing Your Life Story #recipesandreads,#booksale, #RecipesnReads

 Hello and Welcome to the Focused on Story Blog! 

This is my "home" on the web--J.Q. Rose


Recipes 'n Reads Series

Today marks our 12th month of the Recipes 'n Reads series. 
What amazing recipes and books shared by my guest authors!

A BIG thank you to all of you!

2023

August—donalee Moulton

September—L.Diane Wolfe

October—Susan Bernhardt

November—Marsha West

December—Margaret Hanna 

 2024

January—Sherry Ellis

February—Karla Stover

March--Rosemary Morris

April--Helen Henderson

May—Joan Soggie

June—Diane Bator

July--JQ Rose (me)

* * * *

It's my pleasure to wind up the series this week with a little nostalgia.

Cookbooks with Old Recipes to Bring Back the Past


Atlanta Woman's Club Cookbook
1973-1974

I discovered this old cookbook in my mother's collection. The Atlanta Woman's Club Cookbook, filled with tasty recipes, was a fundraiser for the club and a tip of the hat to the many great cooks we had in my hometown, Atlanta, Illinois. I like collecting cookbooks, just like my mom. She had a shelf full of cookbooks and a bunch of recipes written on paper, recipe cards, and the back of napkins stuffed in her "Penguin Ice Bucket." I love reading through them. I don't think of myself as a fantastic cook or baker, but I can imagine how a recipe would be so tasty if someone else prepared it! 

As you may know, I am an evangelist for encouraging everyone to write their life story. What sparks memories any more than remembering the smell of food? How about grandma's yeast bread baking in the oven, mom's roast beef cooking in the Dutch oven for Sunday dinner? What "smell" brings you back to those good old days? Or perhaps, not such a good memory of a smell e.g. when a skunk sprayed our dog Cinnamon! I am wrinkling up my nose remembering that stinky dog and trying to get the smell out of her long-haired coat.


List of club officers

Take a peek at the page above and notice the list of officers. The only one using her first name is a widow. Otherwise, each woman is listed with her husband's name. Definitely a sign of the times.

The members of the Atlanta Woman's Club contributed their favorite recipes to be published within the pages.  You can be sure there are a lot of delicious dishes within these pages. But, can you prepare them like they did without your microwave, electric can opener, air fryer, instant pot and so many gadgets we take for granted these days?


A Book of Favorite Recipes


Maybe this blog post will inspire you to review your life and record or write about a family member who was a good cook or a lousy one.
Your Words, Your Life Story: 
A Journal for Sharing Memories

Start with that story and then continue with another memory in your life experience. One memory will lead to another. Keep going. Your kids and future generations will cherish learning about you. 

If you need some inspiration and tips on writing your
stories, check out  the first book in the Life Storytellers Series, Your Words, Your Life Story: A Guide to Sharing Memories

CLICK TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK AT AMAZON   

Click to download the e/Book from your favorite online bookseller 


Thank you for joining us for the Recipes 'n Reads series. I was privileged to share the recipes with you and delighted to introduce you to new authors or to re-visit authors you love to read.



I'll wrap up the series with this little recipe, Happiness Cake, which I discovered in another recipe book. We all need to stir this one up during these difficult times. 

Happiness Cake Recipe 
4 C. Faith in God
1 C. Kind Deeds
1 C. Consideration for Others
2 C. Sacrifices
3 C. Forgiveness
2 C. Well Beaten Faults

Mix thoroughly. Add tears of Joy Love, and Kindly services. Fold in 4 cups of Prayers and Faith. Blend with Human Kindness and serve with a Smile anytime. With Love, God

Enjoy some feel-good reads this summer.
Order my cozy mysteries, paranormal novels, memoir on sale through July 31.
Click here to download a copy at Smashwords for $1.49 each

UPDATE: Because I am online here on the blog, on Facebook, and Substack, I will no longer publish the Rose Courier newsletter. Those places give you enough opportunities to keep you up-to-date with me. And as my mom would say, "I don't want to wear out my welcome." Click the links below to visit me online.

Please Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on the J.Q. Rose blog.

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Click here to join me every Thursday at Substack. As always, Our Focus on Story on Substack is writing and reading fiction and non-fiction, writing/sharing life stories, shouting about new releases, and offering tips for writers. In one word,   storytelling!

What smell brings back a memory for you? Please leave a comment below. 











2 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

I LOVE your happiness cake recipe. It's cool you found your mom's old cookbook. I have a Luby's cookbook, which is out of print, that my mother-in-law got me decades ago.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's a good happiness cake recipe.
My mother was always a good cook.

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