For many of us a treasured family cookbook is a great way to recreate the beloved foods from our youth. Many of us have fond memories of particular foods or occasions. Incorporating these recipes within a scrapbook can create an heirloom that will be treasured for years to come.

Cookbook scrapbooking is taking recipes and incorporating them into a scrapbook. This can be done by transcribing the recipes onto paper or index cards and placing them into the album. But unlike a traditional cookbook, it’s not just recipes that are included. Adding comments and stories to correspond with each recipe is what makes these books so special. For instance, taking Grandma’s recipe for pumpkin pie and write it out on an index card. Attach that card into an 8X8 scrapbook page. Underneath the card, write a journal entry that includes when she made the pie, why you loved it, and special memory.  You can even write about the first time you tried to make it, maybe it was burned or flopped. This makes the recipes special for your children, their children, and continues throughout each generation.

To enhance cookbook scrapbooking, ask family members to write out their favorite recipes and include their own comments. Attach each handwritten note to a page and write who the recipe is from. You can also include your own thoughts on the recipe. If you have any photographs of the preparation or finished project be sure to include them. Maybe someone won a prize for a bake-off, include the newspaper article or other item. Let your children write out their favorite recipes, or if they are very young, ask them why they like a particular item. You can also add notes about where the recipe came from, why it was a hit. Maybe your favorite party appetizers came from the internet, write a short story depicted why you chose that and why.

When you are done creating your cookbook scrapbook, include blank pages at the end, so that other family members can include more recipes as the book gets passed down through the generations. Add page protectors to each page to avoid damaged pages. This will not only protect the pages from water or other spills, but make them easy to wipe clean.

Cookbook scrapbooking is a great way to pass on a tradition to our children. These are a great way to spend quality time together as a family by cooking and baking together. Not only will our children learn how to follow directions and patience, but they will also learn a little bit about their family history. It is a great item to pass down and it will still be useful for many years to come. Include your prized holiday meal recipes and it will sure to be a much sought after item. Other family members will be begging to borrow it. It’s an easy, innovative way to keep our recipes organized and our traditions intact for now and the years from now.

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