“My kitchen is a mystical place, a kind of temple for me. It is a place where the surfaces seem to have significance, where the sounds and odors carry meaning that transfers from the past and bridges to the future.” ♥ Pearl Bailey
Here I am in my “temple,” making “Curried Pumpkin Pots” from my Autumn Book. I look like a mountain in Vermont in that apron, but I love it . . . I am a fall festival all by myself in my kitchen! The third best place for me after we got home. Number one, was of course, seeing my kitty; number two, we needed to go out on our walk and see how everything was doing out at the pond; and number 3, into the kitchen to nest like crazy and get ready for the holidays.
When I pull a card from my recipe box, where there are recipes from my mom, my dad, and my grandma inside, (and chocolates I saved from the QEII and a note from my girlfriend Sarah) and pick up one of my old wooden cooking spoons, I go right into that “significance,” where the “past bridges to the future.”
There’s no better time of year to feel that connection and all the traditions that come along with it, than now. And there is no better time for the nesting part of it, than when you are home (home!) from a long journey; you’re alone in your kitchen, with your birds scurrying around the feeders just outside the windows; your guy is making hammering noises outside on the rose arbor (men making hammer noises, or lawn mowing noises is an aphrodisiac to me), because right that moment you know that all is right with the world. ♣
But all is not quite right if your cutting board looks like this, not really! I promised you I would write about keeping your wooden things looking healthy, so this is the day; and here is the “before” photo! Because #1, I love my cutting boards and old spoons and #2, I really couldn’t be making beautiful fall food with dried up wooden things . . . it’s really just not done! 🙂 (I’m nesting, leave me alone.)
I’ll show you the cutting board first, because it’s basically the same method for the spoons . . . the thing that solves the problem is Mineral Oil. Because, unlike other kinds of oil, it will not go rancid. You can get it at the supermarket, or at the drug store, and keep it under your kitchen sink.
You can already see how much better the wood looks under the puddle of oil!
I use a pastry brush to paint the oil on. And since it has a wooden handle too, I soak the brush part in a bowl of hot water and dish soap when I’m done . . . no dishwasher for wooden things, it dries them out, takes all the color out of them, removes the patina of chicken soup and creamed butter and sugar, all those cookie juices you worked so hard to instill into these things. Just a quick hand washing for them is fine.
The cutting board is done; now here is the “before” picture for one of my favorite spoons . . . a spoon that knows all my cooking secrets and the inside story of every dinner party I’ve ever given. A very good girl.
And now, she is oiled. We let her sit, absorbing, while we do the others.
This takes no time at all. After they’re all done I let everything soak up the oil for a couple of hours; it will all disappear. See the “Sue” spoon in the middle? My dad made that with his own two hands. ♥ You can also find old wooden spoons, even handmade ones, sometimes in antique stores, and all they need is a good soapy washing and some mineral oil to bring them back to life, carrying all their cooking history with them, adding more “mystical” to your kitchen.
This pig board is another thing that’s been with me through thick and thin and cheese parties and sparerib servings too. I got him when I was in my early twenties and he’s followed me everywhere, from California to Martha’s Vineyard, from small apartment to New England house, through cookbook writing and Joe-meeting too. ♥
I never use wooden cutting boards for raw meat or fish, I have a plastic one for that. But every once in a while I will clean my wooden boards by sprinkling salt on them, rubbing them with lemon juice, then drying them well before I oil them.
Deep dark and delicious, that’s what they look like when they’re done. Ready to return to their spot next to the stove, ready for the holidays, ready to help bring the past, through favorite old recipes (my grandma’s Turkey Stuffing!), into the future, again, for another holiday season. ♥
Now your turn. I have a very special wooden thing that I think fits right into the realm of mystical-kitchen making, although, in the end, it will be up to you to complete the picture. It’s a starter kit, and truly one-of-a-kind, a little original piece of art in my mind . . .
Would you like to have this? I’m a big rescuer of old wooden recipe boxes. I can’t bear to leave them behind when I see them in antique stores, especially if they have some family’s collection of recipes in them. So I give them for gifts. When I found this one, it had divider cards in it and a few recipes; of course I have no idea where it came from, because like quilts, recipe boxes aren’t signed. 🙁 I made it a little more homey by writing words on the divider cards; I added my recipe for Sweet 
Potato Casserole (it’s used, as you will see; it came out of my box) . . . I also put in the words to the song Cinderella sang, a dream is a wish your heart makes, that I keep in my own box. ♥ One of you should have this box is what I think. It has plenty of extra cards in it for your own recipes. I wish I could do one for all of you, but I don’t have that many! It’s a way to say thank you for giving me such a wonderful welcome home! It’s so fun doing this blog and knowing you’re out there!!! As soon as I find out the name of the winner I will write a note on the little gift card that you see under the box, and tuck it inside. ♥
All you have to do to enter the drawing for this box is leave me a comment telling all of us about your favorite holiday tradition. Or, even just say hi, and you’re entered! You may already have a recipe box, but maybe you want to add your own recipes to this one for your daughter, son, niece or nephew. (If you’re one of the Daring Girls Club, tell your moms about this so they can enter and do it for you! :-)) And then be sure to sign the box with your name and the year. ♥ xoxo
It will fly off Martha’s Vineyard into your hands — we’ll wait a couple of days for everyone to have a chance to see this posting, then we’ll draw the winner and the wooden box will come, from my mystical kitchen to yours . . .
I love your Autumn apron, Susan! You inspire me to be the feminine, creative woman I am! I have four sons and I sometimes have to fight to be girly! I love to cook and bake and your cookbooks have been a great inspiration. Just a few years ago I began quilting and it is just another way I get to take care of my family. I’m currently finishing a Civil War quilt for my oldest son! Happy Autumn Susan!
I grew up with four brothers and so I think I know what you mean! Quilting is so wonderful! Your lucky boys! Happy Autumn Tamara!
Dear Susan- I have a sweet older “girlfriend” who over the years has given me wonderful platters- three turkey ones, a beautiful red poinsettia one and my favorite- a green Portugese one. During the holidays I love bring them out- so many memories of our friendship, great food and family.
The recipe box you are giving away- so cute-I have one that’s a little bit like it. It would be a great surprise for my daughter to start her holiday kitchen memories.There is nothing like a recipe card, hand written from long ago.
I’m glad you are home safe, your blog is the best- Vivian
Thank you Vivian!
Susan~
It wouldn’t be Christmas morning at our house without homemade cinnamon rolls hot from the oven that have been slathered with buttercream icing! The recipe for the treasured rolls was passed down from Gramma to grandbabies and is included with other favorite family recipes in beautiful Susan Branch recipe binders that I gave to each of my four daughters as Christmas gifts several years ago. They love having their own copies of our family recipes! We will be spending this Christmas with two new grandbabies born in the past couple of months which brings our family tree to twelve grandbabies! More love to go with all the sweet cinnamon rolls!
I would love to receive the wooden recipe box from your kitchen to mine. I have felt connected to your kitchen for a very long time anyway. Thank you for always thinking of your girlfriends!!
Kisses~~Karen
You did four of them! What a good mom you are! xoxo back to you!
I love recipe boxes! One Christmas I glued bits of floral fabric onto the lids of recipes boxes, polyurthaned over all and gave them away to women in our family. They were well received and some still have them in their kitchens. Now I have one for Christmas, one for pies and another for canning recipes. All are sorted and stuffed with goodies. My Mom and I sit down each year at Thanksgiving and read through some from her boxes, remembering how good (or bad) they tasted. Always lots of fun. Thanks for the twain twrip and the great shots of Southern California; never been there and loved seeing bits and pieces!
Wonderful gift! Glad you enjoyed the twain . . .! Will be doing it again late February to go out for my Mom’s birthday!
OMGosh!!!!! I would LOVE to have this box! I have been scouring antique stores looking for just this for quite some time now! And with all the goodies inside too! What a bonus!.. My favorite holiday tradition is making a pumpkin pie for Halloween dessert. My girlfriend gave me a recipe that she got in Home Ec. class way back in 1971! She gave it to me back when I first got married, 37 years ago. It’s the best pumpkin pie recipe I have ever tasted. It has become a tradition every Halloween! Thank you for this wonderful blog, and sharing your treasures from time to time!
I know, I don’t see them very often. Nothing better in the world than a good pumpkin pie. I especially love it the morning after Thanksgiving, cleaning up, for breakfast! 🙂
Thank you Susan for your blog. Always enjoy reading it. Time once again to break out the mineral oil.
My favorite tradition is making Christmas cookies. My mom taught us kids ( I am one of nine) to make pfeffernusse cookies. I will always remember those wonderful kitchen aromas.
Thank you Karen!
Hi, Susan! Shame on me for not commenting before now to tell you what a touchstone you and your books and blog are to me, and what a creative muse, whenever I lose touch with the essential joys of day to day life. I’m the single mom of a precious daughter who will finally be moving out to start her own household in a few months. Our favorite holiday traditions are reading aloud to one another from the Little House on the Prairie books, crafting ornaments and making cookies together, and watching Little Women and White Christmas. : ) I will miss her something fierce. If I am fortunate enough to win your recipe box, I’d love to fill it for her with recipes we’ve enjoyed cooking together. Bless you for following your bliss… I’m sure you’ve been told this countless times, but you live the life I aspire to lead. PS- We love train travel, too!
I love hearing from you . . . thank you so much. I can tell your best friend is about to move out of the house! But also what a good mom you have been! xoxo
Hi Susan,
I love traditions, so picking one is difficult. The one that comes to mind right now was one that my daughter really loved. Christmas Eve, we would light all the candles, make hot cocoa (and of course drink it in our special Christmas mugs), and read several Christmas stories, and end always with “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. My daugher got married two years ago and as a quilter, I really wanted to make them a Christmas quilt for their first Christmas as a married couple. As I was hunting for all the “right” fabric I found a night scene of Santa flying over rooftops, mugs of hot cocoa, candles, the words of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. So it became clear that I needed to make a quilt to comemorate our tradition and to help them start their own tradition as a new family. With the quilt, I added Christmas cocoa mugs, a christmas candle, and of course their very own copy of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. I just returned home from seeing their first child’s birth, my first grandchild. If we are so blessed, we will all gather this Christmas and read “TTNBC” to baby Austin, on his first Christmas Eve. Like so many other women you have touched, I am in the process of creating a family cookbook for my daughter with your recipe binder. Thank you Susan for all that you give to us, in your books, calendars, and now this blog.
Congratulations on Austin! Going to make it an exceptionally blessed holiday Theresa! Thank you!
I’m just going to say “hi” and love your blog and Willard and all your books. I am buying them now for 2 granddaughters that are engaged to be married.
Wish, wish, wish that I win the recipe box!
Thanks Joan!
Susan…this could be the best giveaway ever! My mothers mother, who passed away before I was one, had a old wooden recipe box filled with old Wisconsin dishes. I remember being very small trying to just copy her handwritting. She had treasures written on every card, little stickers and taped a large leaf of the back of 7 minute frosting. I never will know why but I love knowing someone just by my imagination of cooking in the kitchen with her.
But I love holidays with all my heart! I live alone and try so hard to make it very special even just for me. My favorite part of Christmas is watching a very old 8mm film every year, The night before christmas, it is a castle film. Have you seen this version? It is just magical! My mothers family watched it every year and about 10 years ago we found the film and a projector on ebay and were the winners. You can watch the same film on youtube, and even on dvd but there is something really special about watching it projected on the wall.
Sending love your way….
Cary
I’m sure there is! A step back in time! Thank you Cary!
Wow, the Pearl Bailey quote made a beeline for my heart and reminded me of a Thanksgiving when I needed a bridge to a future that was hard to face.
In one awful summer, I lost both my parents suddenly, and Dan lost his only remaining parent. As Thanksgiving approached I didn’t think I could face it. We’d always gone “Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house” (except for us it was around the corner and down the street). My kids were 5 and 9 and I needed to do something for them, but it was two days before Thanksgiving, my heart was broken, and I didn’t know what to do. Then suddenly I did know. My mom had already given me the traditions. I poured my heart into recreating them. There were only four of us at the table that year, but there was so much love in that meal it was enough. What could have been a sad holiday became one of our best memories.
Traditions are the keepers of “… meaning that transfers from the past and bridges to the future.” They can show us how to go on when we don’t think we can, so I have to say, my favorite tradition is tradition itself.
On a completely unrelated note, can you believe I used to have a cutting board just like yours and I gave it away in a kitchen de-cluttering frenzy? Do I kick myself every time I see yours? Yes, I do! (Especially when it’s in its mineral oiled glory.)
The recipe box is a beautiful giveaway and I love seeing the joy you get from giving. xoxo, dear Sue.
Just like you Janie! Love that your favorite tradition is tradition, and that’s what helped you go on. Beautifully said!
Many years ago when I was a young mother, my mother asked me to bring a dish to Thanksgiving at her home. Just starting my collection of recipes I found a yam one in the newspaper. For the past 25+ years that has been a tradition at all of our Thanksgivings. This dish has been loved by all, including many so called yam-haters. My sweet mother has been gone for eleven years now but I am forever grateful to her for many things, one of which is establishing me in a family tradition for my precious family.
Lovely!
My favorite holiday tradition is spending time with my Mom—we cook her recipes side-by-side during the holidays. Her handed down recipes would sure look nice nestled in that lovely wooden box!
Yes they would!
Christmas memories we would visit the relatives on Christmas Day in the 1960’s & 1970’s, it would be non stop eating, including cakes & cookies. Everything was home-made and everyone would bring their speciality. My mom would always bring her Kolachys. Her recipe is still the best, and I’m so happy that now I carry on that tradition. I so loved the way we would all dress back then too. The ladies would be in festive colorful holiday outfits, sipping grasshoppers, & pink squirrels. The men in white shirts & skinny black ties, & us kids in velvets & plaids. Christmas music coming from the Hi-Fi, or if the TV was on, usually, Dean, Bob or Bing. Times were so much simpler back then. Over these past years we have been recreating those special times. Holiday sweaters, the music playing (even found dvd’s of Dean, Bob, & Bing’s holiday shows, & I just got a Lawrence Welk one.) And as hokey as it all sounds, we all love it.
Do the hokey pokey while you’re at it! 🙂 It all sounds very homey to me!
I thought I might tell you why I need this box instead of a holiday tradition? I read long ago to get favorite family recipes before it’s too late. I have {luckily} some old recipes written by the hands of extremely old family friends and relatives. Aunt Eva’s Shortbread, Lucille’s Baked Beans, Grandma’s Huckleberry Pie. Since these people have passed these recipes are treasures that I will have forever. This box is the perfect house for them!
Some really good reasons!
My favorite holiday tradition is the shortbread cookies we make every year. My mom was raised in Toronto, and she’s been making these cookies since high school…she’ll be 88 in three weeks. We still use the recipe from her high school cookbook, and we roll them out on the pastry board that my dad had made for her by his friends in the shop department at Kodak…he worked there for 25 years. Other people make fancy Christmas cookies with lots of frosting and decorations, but these are special to us, and everyone loves them. Just a few ingredients…butter, sugar, flour…but they’re yummy.
Tradition wins over glitz anyday! xoxo
Dear Susan,
I couldn’t believe your blog today (I’ll explain in a bit) first- I’m a regular reader of yours and cannot tell you how I enjoy the escape from this crazy, busy world into the heavenly world of SB! :-). I’m immediately transported to a place of comfort, memories and tranquility….it’s priceless to me…the joy you have brought to me over these past MANY years, well it’s difficult to describe. I’ve really been nothing short of a groupie 🙂 I was so excited when I found your website! Yay for computers…and you :-). I’m trying to remember when I got your first cookbook? Could it be 20 years? I have every cookbook of yours and still get that excited feeling when I get one out. Now back to why I was so excited about your blog today- you see- I have two wooden recipe boxes i found at yard sales that are treasures to me. I almost feel bad having them…like they should be with the
family….how could they have sold them?! I keep them on a bookshelf and count them as a
rare collection. When I first carefully went through them it was thrilling to read the handwritten recipes & notes in very old and beautiful handwriting. (cursive). And you are correct….they don’t teach it any more. To my horror I have three teenagers that can’t read letters from grandma… 🙁
This is why I haven’t written before…I never knew where I would begin or how I would end
Thank you for the never-ending joy,
Denise. xoxo
Thank you Denise, that was so fun to read . . . except for the cursive part, really, love the computer, but we need both! How great that you are the wooden box caretaker, they are obviously in very good hands! Thanks for writing!
Susan,
What a treasure you are giving away!! 33 years ago, for my bridal shower, I was gifted with a recipe file, along with 2-3 recipes from each lady attending. Such a beautiful gift. I love having Aunt Dolly’s Elegant Cheesecake recipe, Aunt Edna’s Spanish Rice recipe, and Aunt Mae’s Chocolate pie recipe, among many others. Personally handwritten, each one having their own unique style of writing a recipe down, how they abbreviate, etc., they reflect the beauty of who each of these women are. These sweet Aunts of mine have all passed on now, but many times they are in my kitchen with me when I pull out their special recipe. Susan, you truly give away the best gifts!!
Oh, and one of our Christmas traditions~ A tamale making day! All the women in our family come, and usually one of my daughters will bring a friend who wants to learn tamale making. It is always a fun and delicious day!
Wonderful. And what a perfect bridal gift! It has everything, family, friends, history, memories, and tradition, all tied up in love!
what a great idea. I am going to use this when my children get married. thanks!
Oh, Susan, I want this for my new daughter-in-law! How fun to be able to give her something that has a history, even if it’s an interesting story with some made up details (I’m talking about the cute little grandma who owned this box–given to her by her favorite son–who in turn, gave it to her favorite great-grandson’s new bride, filled with her all her famous blueberry recipes….See what I mean?!).
Yes, lol, I see it!
Like some of the other readers, I have always put mineral oil on my cutting boards……..but I never thought to do the spoons! Makes total sense. Thanks for the advice.
As for the recipe box, who wouldn’t want something so special from Susan Branch! Especially the hand written “used” recipe card.
I started a new family tradition when my children were very little. On Christmas Eve I give myself a break and order pizza so that I can spend the entire time enjoying my family. We always have homemade cookies and such for dessert. When I grew up we had lots of family and many traditions. When I raised my little ones there weren’t any grandparents or aunts or uncles around. I decided the time I spent on the floor with the kids was more important. We’d all have new “Christmas P.J.s” on to eat pizza, and then open presents. Christmas Day we spent with others celebrating and having special dinner, etc. Now, we do the same with the grandchildren! Everyone gets new P.J.s and pizza for dinner. We all relax and enjoy each other. The children put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, then off to bed!
I think that’s brilliant . . . I’m always figuring ways to have more time for the important things!
Dear Susan, your sight is so precious. I find it so inspiring and validating. I am a single nurse, do get together with what family remains on a “convenient” day which is not always THE holiday which could make for blue holidays if one let it. I have learned to especially enjoy Thanksgiving Day by watching the Macy’s parade, and decorating for Christmas. I light my balsam scented candles and put on Christmas Carols when the parade is over. My little home looks so pretty in her finery. My Christmas tree is my 7ft. weeping fig tree spiffed up with white lights and clear icicles. And I spend a day or two early in Dec. baking up a storm of cookies and fudge for impromptu gift plates or get-togethers. Makes me think of the Queen Victoria quote, as my kitchen gets really cozy with the tins of treats until I move them to the “walk-in” fridge, my uninsulated back porch. I enjoy your train trips, inspires me to fulfill one of my bucket-list wishes to go to Chicago from here. Thank you.
Love your traditions Chrissy! Isn’t it great we have the outside as our extra fridge on the holidays? Didn’t have that in California!
Dear Susan,
The holidays are special for me that I don’t know where to begin….but one of our traditions is to sit one evening prior to Christmas, we get out glass ornaments that are clear and wooden trinkets and we all sit around painting them…..none of us are very good, but we date them and hang them from a chandelier to dry…..we have fun ooh-ing and ahh-ing over each other’s work…..while Christmas music is playing in the background and there’s always lots of snacks on hand as well….
so happy you love home…..
cause it’s contagious…..and we’re all happy to have the ‘bug’
Love,
Joann
xo
It’s a good bug to have! Love your ornament party Joann!
Oh my goodness! I love your cutting board. I had one like it but gave it away because it was far too heavy for me to move around at that time due to “arthur” coming into my life and hands ….and I miss it terribly however, the real big surprise was to see your piggy cutting board. My parents had one for all of their 80 wedded years and we grew up with it and loved it. Seeing yours brought such warm wonderful memories rushing back to me. Thank you so much for sharing your kitchen with us …..
You are so welcome, thanks for stopping by Paulie!
I forgot our traditions. We loved to gather to make our Meat pies for the holidays for Christmas eve after Midniight Mass along with making our liquor frementing fruit cakes in November for Christmas. It was such fun and the aromas are still with us in spite of no one carrying on the tradition now. It makes me so sad not to have anyone carrying this forward but who knows…..maybe time will change that.
Maybe they’ll get the yearning one of these days . . . thanks Paulie!
I have a wooden recipe box from my paternal grandmother. It has my dad’s nickname “Butch” written on the inside lid. Grandmom GiGi baked almost every single day of her life. We have most of her recipes; and a few years ago I compiled notebooks of family recipes for my sisters and my daughter (before the binder Susan now offers). This inspires me to rescue the box from it’s safe place packed away and use it in my kitchen. Mystical magical kitchen witchery at its very best.
At its best! Thank you Marcia!
My favorite recipe tradition begins at the end of October when I start planning which holiday cookies I am going to make. I read through my mom’s box, my husband’s aunt’s, his grandmother’s and my own recipe box for inspiration! I start baking in November and finish up right in the middle of December. This way we have special holiday cookies for both Thanksgiving and Christmas tea! I usually make 10 – 15 different kinds and always make enough to give as gifts.
You have lots to be inspired by!! Thanks Sue!
Putting together a box for my son’s girlfriend…..we should be seeing a ring when they graduate from college next spring!!
Your blog is such fun to read. The seems to sparkle with interest after I
read it. Your books make me smile and my husband reaps the benefits. Your chili was great. The spareribs and juice were delish.
So happy to hear it Barbara!
I have pulled out my Autumn book and am ready for fall! Love your blog and would love the recipe box!! Thanks for sharing your ideas! Sandy.
Thanks Sandy!
Thank you for the caring of all wooden kitchen items! I have a piggy cutting board that I received as a wedding gift 21 years ago and he’s looking a little (a lot!) dull. I will revive him! My favorite fall thing to do is make or spruce up my wreath for the front door! Thanks for your blog. I love it!
Glad Colleen, Thank you!
Since my grandparents passed away (1982 &1996) I make there Anise Molasses cutout cookie recipe at Christmas. I had been told that the recipe came over from Germany with my great-grandparents in the 1800’s. My grandfather Robert Schoepke had to have these cookies (the recipe made over 400 cookies- I cut it in 1/2) from Christmas until Easter. Another tradition my husband and daughter had when his grandmother (Oma) was alive, she passed away in 2010, was to go to her home and make her cutout sugar cookies with her. They all lived into their 90’s and have given my husband, I and our 3 children (now 24, 22, &18) memories and hand written recipes that cannot be taken away.
Enjoy your nesting Susan!
Wonderful Amy, thank you so much!
I knew I shouldn’t have read this right now – now I don’t want to go to work! I want to stay home and oil up my cutting boards, bake something and curl up with a never-ending pot of tea and a good book! HHmmmm, how can I bring a little of this feeling into the office? Time to get creative here…..
I say, thermos. Sorry, it’s all I have…maybe cut a little something from the yard? Have a good one Tamsen!
Dear Susan,
I so love your blog, which was recommended to me by my twin sister. I would love to win the box for her. We turn 70 this summer, and we plan to celebrate with a trip to Sisters, Oregon for their annual quilt show. Can’t you just imagine two old ladies, wending our way through the rugged mountain roads of eastern Oregon, oblivious of our surroundings as we talk non-stop?? One year we drove to the Oregon coast during a tsnami…didn’t know about it until we registered in our motel…who needs a radio when you’ve got a twin?
My 15 year old grandson just reminded me that our favorite tradition is egg nog on Christmas Eve. It’s such a simple part of our celebration, but I catch h-e-double toothpicks if I forget to pick up the ingredients or dare to say we don’t need all those calories. The egg nog is a non-alcoholic, kid-friendly egg nog: equal parts of egg nog mixer, Sprite or 7-up, and vanilla ice cream.
Sounds good . . . lucky to be twins is what I think!!!
Susan,
You never fail to put a smile on my face. I just inherited my Grandmother’s wash board and was wondering how to bring the dull wood to life. Thanks for this excellent post.
The recipie box is just darling. I just started your recipie keeper for My Daughter and plan to pass it around the family so they can each write in a few favourites in their own hand writing. Your little treasure box would be amazing to add to her hopechest.
Happy Nesting
Liza-Ann Tucker
Thank you Liza-Ann – rain this morning, so the nesting continues!
My sister just used my mom’s piggy cutting boards last night for her birthday get-together. They’ve (we have a momma & baby pig) been in the family since the 1970’s at least. And I love the wooden spoon collection; so much recipe history in them. This weekend I’m spending time with my high school besties and we plan to do a little shopping. I think I’ll put a new wooden spoon on my list! Thanks for sharing your kitchen haven with us, Susan….I can smell the fall goodies as I write this 🙂
Thanks Kelly, say hi to the girls! 🙂
Visiting your blog and enjoying you entire website is something I get excited about doing when I have a bit of down time (I am sure this is true for so many ladies). My life is full: with a wonderful husband, eight children and their spouses and 33, with numbers 34 and 35 on the way, grand children. But when I get a chance, I “jump” on the computer and go to 162.240.10.175/~susanbs3/susanbranch/ and —well, I do not believe I can adequately describe the joy I get from reading your entries. I “discovered” you many, long years ago and have been a fan for years. Now, with the website/blog, I can enjoy your art, your inspiration, and your creativity more readily. I love your Willards, and I love the fact that you are so amazingly creative and such a GOOD watercolor artist and you take time share that with all of us. Thank you!
Thanksgiving is the holiday our family associates with traditions. We enjoy a big dinner with each family contributing its special recipe. Being a large family, we have enjoyed doing skits. One of our five creative daughters-in-law comes up with fun mini- skit ideas; people pull names from a hat and that combo of actors is paired with a skit. We take 20 minutes to a half hour rushing around the house looking for skit-appropriate wardrobe and make-up and props. We then regather to have a hilariously fun time watching and acting, in turn. Another tradition is a treasure hunt. The first year I filled bags of fun items for the grandchildren and adults and hid them. What fun they all had finding them and discovering the treasures inside. 🙂 Now, the older grand daughters talk on the phone, or write to each other ahead of time, and decide what things they can make and buy to contribute to the bag. They have made cute little aprons, doll blankets, and poke bonnets for the girls. They have made and purchased guy appropriate items for the boys. They do the hiding and bring much joy to all! We are thankful for these traditions–just the tradition of a loving family gathering together is a huge blessing!
Your creative ideas for gift giving are a delight and your generosity and desire to give are heart-warming, Susan! Much love and many blessings to you!
So sweet Paula, thank you . . . Loved reading about your fun family!!
Hello
I love, love, love making mince pies. I love the feel of making the pastry, the neatness of the cutout cases, the beauty of the glistening, rich mincemeat, the sweet sight of all the little cutout stars I put on the top and of course, the gorgeous smell wafting through the house. My husband and I are both weight-watchers and can only eat a few mince pies, so we make them for chapel services, surprises for family, house study groups and church get togethers. And living in this part of the UK (Cornwall), there is only ONE definitive topping – Cornish Clotted Cream. (Sigh, even more calories!)
When I have my eye on the scale I bake for others too, the only thing I really can’t do is make candy, it never seems to get out of the house! Say hello to Cornwall for me!
I am so glad you are back home and what a wonderful journey you (we) had. There were times I felt that I was the 3rd “person” in the group enjoying everything right along with you both. Now you can get right back into the swing of things and look forward to the holidays on your wee little island. Welcome Home !! JQ
My wee little island! Thank you!!!
Hi Susan,
It’s so good to have you back, love it when you blog from your kitchen, its just so cozy, I can practically smell the food you cook just by the pictures. Thanks for the info on oiling the spoons and cutting boards, I never knew about that, so I have sent hubby off to the hardware store to get me some as my poor utensils look like they need a big dose of moisturizer!
With the holidays quickly approaching I think our most treasured tradition is my family’s love of cookie baking while the old crooner’s sing on the stereo, (Bing, Perry and Andy.) The smells of cookie baking with vanilla, cardomom, anise just are Christmas to me. We have the teapot going sampling the cookies sipping tea and singing along, it’s just one of my favorite things to do.
Good Morning Suzanne, thanks for stopping by . . . you are going to love how your spoons look!
Susan, I am such a great fan of yours. I have your first book and have read your other books from the library. We downsized a couple of years ago and now my kitchen is small, but very functional. I love cooking in there….your hot cocoa recipe was our after dinner treat all last winter. Keep reminding us how beautiful God’s creation is and when to take time to enjoy it!! Would love the recipe box….I can’t leave behind handwork at antique shops…what are these doing here??? They were so carefully done with loving hands…I have more than a few. Love you bunches, Lee
Thank you so much Lee . . . going out in God’s creation this morning, despite the puddles, because it’s just so beautiful!
Wow, I think it is amazing that you read and respond to your comments! I love your Girlfriends Forever book. I’m about the same age as you and it just makes a lot of good memories come flooding back. Happy Fall!
Fun! Yes, the comments, how great they are! Been waiting forever for a way to connect everyone . . . have gotten such great mail over the years, always wished everyone could know everyone else! Now they do! Just like after awhile with the mail, I might not always be able to do this, but I at least wanted to try, to say hello to everyone who wrote, to let them know how much it means to me!!!
I love your blog! There is always something that makes me happy and brings a smile to my face everytime I read it! For holiday traditions, at Thannksgiving- after saying grace, we go around the dinner table and everyone says something that they are thankful for…we get lots of interesting things!
I bet! Lovely tradition!
What a treasure! I am totally enamored with old written recipe cards. I love to think about the person who wrote the recipe, and the many parties and family gatherings the recipe was made for. So sweet.
My favorite family tradition took place on Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving, family from all over the country would pile into their cars on Thanksgiving morning and head to my Aunt and Uncle’s house in Maryland. Their big ole house fit us all, and it was a party from the time we arrived on Thursday, to the time we all left on Sunday. A wonderful family weekend of togetherness. From the Thanksgiving dinner itself, spread out over 2 large tables, to the festivities of the weekend… singing together around the player piano, board games, eating ice cream and watching a movie on TV, walks in the neighborhood, staying up late around the kitchen table and talking, talking, talking. It was wonderful.
My Aunt and Uncle are gone now, and so is my precious Mom. But I dream of having a big, old house someday where I can fit all of my cousins and their families, my brother, sister and close friends, and spend a thankful Thanksgiving weekend together.
XO Helena
What a great memory . . . thank you for sharing Helena!
My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies and sharing them with our family on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.
Thanks Aggie!
Welcome HOME!!! Have a most blessed and fun time fluffing your nest, and reaquainting yourself with the familiar…and HAPPY FALL…which is just arriving in this far corner of the country…northwest Florida…almost Alabama!!!
Thank you Stefanie!
love the recipe box – I use a recipe basket!
Such fun – and I have my mom’s!
Want to try the Sweet Potatoe Casserole! Yum! Perfect for fall weather!
Nice idea! Happy Fall!
This post has inspired me. Handwritten recipes carry a history that a cold computer printout cannot match. I’m ditching efficiency and moving to handwritten recipe cards!
Good girl! There’s a place for everything!
Dear Susan,
OMG!! My mother in law just gave me her mother’s recipes and her grandmother’s recipes!!! How fabulous would it be if I won that delightful recipe box to put them in!!! Oh, I am so excited that I might have a chance to win!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!! Good Luck to everyone!!! How wonderful!!!
Favorite Christmas tradition is having my son read “The Polar Express” every Christmas Eve before he goes to sleep. I read it to my belly when I was pregnant with him and have done it ever since. When he started reading he took over the job. I love it!! Thank you for always making me feel so warm in cozy inside after I read your blog. I look forward to it everyday!! You are such a treasure!! Thank you Susan. GOD Bless. Hugs and Love, Tricia B.
Love you Tricia, very cute!
My family always went to Church on Christmas Eve and I always felt so happy to sing the lovely hymns and celebrate the approaching birth of our Lord. After services we all went home to have Christmas for my two nieces Heather and Michelle and they opened gifts and then we would eat appetizers we had made that day and of course Christmas Cookies. Christmas morning was always when we opened our gifts and then it was time for breakfast; we always had sausage balls, coffee cake, cookies, and of course cranberry juice. Then it was time to start making our meal and everyone was responsible for a specific food, and I will always remember the warmth, smells, and just spending time with family. After the kitchen was cleaned and everyone was exhausted (in a good way) from all the work of the day we always opened our stockings and they were gifts in themselves. Everyone is scattered across the country now and my parents live in Venice, FL and can’t come home anymore; but, the memories will live on forever and the Grandchildren will make sure of that!! Thanks for the pictorial on wooden boards/spoon care…..as for the wooden recipe boxes would you put mineral oil on those too?? Hope you are getting caught up on things around your home and I’m sure Girl Kitty is happy that her family if back home again.
I would put mineral oil on the outside, but only if the box is unfinished . . . not the inside, because the cards would likely soak up some of the oil. Thank you for the nice memories!
It brings me great joy to mix up batches and batches of “Hot Cocoa Mix”! I package it for gift giving in cute and decorative glass jars that I have collected throughout the year. The filled jars are finished off with a homemade instruction tag and it’s attached by using a twine tie around the lid. f.u.n.!!
Love that Carrie! Thank you!
Susan,
Love the apron! My favorite colors and favorite season!
The recipe box is charming! I have My Grandmothers recipes and even
my Great-Grandmothers apron and her oh so soft to touch butter paddle.
All the delish foods for the holidays are coming up and I feel a cookie making
session coming on!
Love visiting here with you on this blog.
Feels like home. 🙂
Thank you for being here Jennifer!
You’re going to think I am making this up – but some of our favorite and now “traditional” recipes come from you! My mom gave me a first edition of your Christmas book when my children were small and I fell in love. For the last 20 years or so, cranberry chicken and pears, with sweet potato casserole have been non-negotiables on our holiday table. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the recipe card you were including! Our family is big on traditional foods. Each holiday has it’s own – never made at other times of the year. ;0) The menu rarely changes year to year. ( We made an exception for you – a rare honor! LOL)
We have a cookie weekend in December! We make 10 different kinds of cookies. I keep trying to cut back as it is a lot of work and we really don’t need all those extra calories (really!!) But we can’t seem to agree on which one to leave out.
As you can see- you’ve become an inseparable part of so many lives that it is hard to even fathom – Like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”! So loved…
Oh, if I was a kitty, I’d be rolling over for that sweet thing! Thank you!
Susan – how wonderful of you to think of your girlfriends by sharing this precious wooden box! You are such a kindred spirit and much, much appreciated. One of my favorite holiday traditions is going as a family to cut down our Christmas tree. We go to a tree farm and ride the hay wagon out to the field. Then we scatter and start our search for the perfect tree. Everyone finds their favorite and then we look at each to make the final unamimous choice. Before we cut it down, we each give it a hug and welcome it to the family. Then home to vegetable soup and warm spiced apple cider. Later we’ll decorate the tree and reminisce over the ornaments… the gingerbread lady Beth made in kindergarten, the napkin snowman Cara made in preschool, etc…. so many very special memories. After the holidays, the tree goes to the backyard and will house special treats for the birds and critters through the winter. In Spring it goes to our city refuge to be ground into mulch that is used in the parks.
Have a beautiful day Susan. Blessings.
Love it! The tree! Just great.
Your little wooden recipe box is precious! My grandmother had one like it, and unfortunately I did not receive it when she passed as my Aunt wanted it as well, and “seniority” won . . . lol . . . but I did receive a lot of my grandmother’s recipes written in her own handwriting (which I will pass down to my granddaughters), which I cherish (and also still make) and they would nestle quite contentedly in this little box. My most cherished “tradition” was spending Saturdays with my grandmother, learning how to bake and helping her with the laundry. She had one of those old wringer washing machines, and it used to fascinate me putting the clothes through the wringer! Everytime I bake, especially bread, the smells that fill my kitchen remind of those Saturday’s cooking with my grandmother. I wish my granddaughters lived closer so I could carry on that tradition, but we bake together when we can!
You are so lucky to have had those memories!
Just this year I’ve started collecting wooden spoons from thrift stores. Now I know how to treat them (well, besides with love)!
Love old hand-written recipes too!
And exclamation points!
Love all those things myself!!!
Love your blog, love the Vineyard, love the recipe box!!
Thank you!
Having grown up with all brothers and having three sons – my kitchen is my place to escape! I love my recipes and trying new ones, of course my husband and boys don’t mind all my experiments either!
I guess not! 🙂
Lately I have been feeling like those dried up old wooden spoons and cutting boards. I read your blog and I feel inspired to shine. Not only do my wooden spoons and cutting board need a lift, so do I.
I have one vintage recipe box from the 60’s and would love to win the one you have! Have a great Autumn. Now to the challenge at hand………..
You shine here Ginny!
I so enjoy spending time with you! I love the old, the beautiful, the unique, the way you invision life, the colors that you use. You make my day! Thank you ever so much Susan.
My extreme pleasure Juliene! Thank you!
My family started a tradition years ago when our boys needed to travel for sports tournaments on Thanksgiving Day. We had our traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday night. Our extended family was all able to come, and it has become a tradition in my family. We love the evening meal together, and then family members can go to their other family on Thanksgiving Day. Now that my family is grown, the tradition still remains. We usually go out to breakfast and enjoy a great movie on Thanksgiving Day and have a longer holiday weekend!
I love recipes! They are treasures, and this recipe box looks just precious!
That’s really smart, hard sometimes to choose between families!
Love to get your blog and the great tips you have. My wooden board needs some serious tlc so thanks for the info. What a beautiful fall we are having. I wish it could stay for another month! All the best to you!.
Thank you Elaine!
This is my favorite time of the year, summer is over and the yard is done for 6 months and on to Halloween, thanksgiving and start planning the home made gifts. Our house now has quilts hanging of pumpkins and others harvest things for the seasoning. The front porch has pumpkins that will be keep their until after thanksgiving; then everything is put away and house is clean from top to bottom and out comes Christmas quilts, Santa and our Snowman.
Cook book and recipe boxes are the greatest thing to have to start planning the meals for the season. From Oregon, Sally
Sounds wonderful Sally!
My family started a new thanksgiving tradition years ago. My boys were involved in a Thanksgiving Day tournament, so we needed to travel on Thanksgiving day. So we had our traditional dinner on Wednesday evening. My extended family loved it! They could all attend because there wasn’t other conflicts with other family members. To this day, it is still our preference whether we are traveling or not. We usually go out to breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, and go to a great movie as a family.
This is my favorite time of the year, summer is over and the yard is done for 6 months and on to Halloween, thanksgiving and start planning the home made gifts. Our house now has quilts hanging of pumpkins and others harvest things for the seasoning. The front porch has pumpkins that will be keep their until after thanksgiving; then everything is put away and house is clean from top to bottom and out comes Christmas quilts, Santa and our Snowman.
Cook book and recipe boxes are the greatest thing to have to start planning the meals for the season. From Oregon, Sally
thanks Susan
A favorite Christmas tradition in our family is to make popcorn balls. We try to get as many relatives (and some friends) together as we can. My mother-in-law does most the the cooking of the caramel sauce but everyone has to help shape the popcorn into balls, wrap them in plastic wrap, etc. This event has gotten larger as the years have gone by, now that my mother-in-law has grandchildren and great grandchildren!
Yum! What a fun group thing to do!
Dear Susan,
Boy could I use a recipe box. Since redoing my kitchen almost two years ago, my recipe box has been MIA. The box it’s self is not old or special, it’s all those handwritten recipe cards that I’m crying over…literally! Especially since starting to write on a food blog where I could really use some of my tried and true good recipes. Now I spend a lot of my extra time hunting for it in my big old house. Luckily, I have my mother’s recipe box and recently figured out that the whole back section was my great grandmothers! My great grandmother wrote notes on everything she kept and handed down. So, even though she died when I was 6 (at the age of 94) I recognize her handwriting and feel like I know her better just through all her notes and collections that I now possess. I hope I win! I would treasure it if it comes to live with me! XO Eebie
PS Glad you are home safe and sound.
PPS Just read about your dog. This will be a hard week….sending you hugs and wags and pants from me and my “golden girls” Maggie & Martha
Oh no, not my dog, it’s Peg’s dog Pete on FOSB that she just lost! Such a beautiful dog too . . . but thank you and I’ll pass that on to her! Love your stories of the recipes, so lucky to have them!
I know this is silly but my sister and I love to watch “A Christmas Story” on Christmas Day (24 hour marathon). You would think one would get sick of it after the 3rd time but it’s timeless xoxo
I think it’s because you see the old tradition/family ways and it brings you back to those times.
It is so timeless, I still roll on the floor laughing when that little boy is so round in his snowsuit he can’t get up when he falls down!
Back in the 70’s, I checked out a recipe book at the library by Pearl Bailey. I enjoyed that book so much. It was a bit of an autobiography as well. Over the years I have often thought of that book but can’t even remember the title. It was a great read where she spoke of her husband, daughter and career and had really good recipes. I love the quote you’ve shared with us. I love this blog.
Oh thank you so much Cathy, love having you here! There are a couple of Pearl Bailey books that you might be thinking of. . .
Oh my gosh! Thank you! I think it was Pearl’s Kitchen. Don’t know why I didn’t think to Google it! Might have to go to Amazon.com to see if they have it!!!
It’s fun to find the old books that inspired us and just have them. 🙂
Having just lived in my “new to me” house for 1 year this month, I’m still developing traditions to go along with living alone! 🙂 My sister and I were housemates for 10 years, living in my grandmother’s house together. She got married October 9, 2010 and I moved right next door – into my GREAT-Grandmother’s house!! It’s a beautiful small cottage-type home with just enough room for me and my 16-lb. cat, Muffin.
I didn’t do any cooking before living alone because that was my sister’s speciality. Her kitchen. But now, I have MY KITCHEN with beautiful granite countertops and new black appliances and my grandma’s cast iron skillet. A perfect mix of old and new! 🙂 So at 36 years old, I’m learning to cook!
Your neighborhood is just wonderful!! And so creative!! Congratulations for both of your new lives!
Dear Susan,
You are such an inspiration to me. Thank you so much for the JOY you INCITE, the REMINDERS of how WONDERFUL the SIMPLE THINGS in LIFE ARE, and the TIME you SPEND SHARING the LOVE & LIGHT that is IN YOUR HEART.
You are simply a precious part of my day.
I am very grateful to be “lifted” by you 🙂 & You have no idea who I am … just a girl tryin’ to be a woman, puttin’ heart & soul into my daily chores & daydreams.
This time of year I want …
a bonfire & caramel apples & crunchy leaves under my boots & horseback rides & hot peach cider & varsity sweaters & old movies & chili ‘n’ tamales.
Sincerely!! I hope I win the wooden recipe box! But, if I don’t, I hope you will read this note to you so you can know how I feel.
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
with Love from Tennessee & the heart of my home,
Micol Anne Davis
Loved that Micol! Thank you! And you made all fall come alive! So happy you are here! You are just our cup of tea!
good morning susan! just wanted to let you know how much i enjoy visiting with you… you always inspire me! I’m so glad you are there! this morning it is raining and what a perfect day to gather my wooden spoons and give them some tlc the sb way…tee hee thank you! and… to gather up my so mistreated recipes and start giving them some tlc as well! Have a happy day…
Good Morning! You too, have a wonderful day!
Dear Susan, My mother passed away when my older brother and I were quite small, and my dad remarried and then there were two more brothers, so when the holidays rolled around, we had THREE sets of Grandparents to visit and eat huge meals at their homes. (It was a balancing act of how much food to partake of at each home.) My fav. tradition was going to my Grandparent’s homes and seeing how each of the Grandmothers decorated their tables and what foods they had prepared and what dishes were used. That may sound odd, but when you are shuffled from one heavy meal to another, there was sooo much to see and choose from to eat. I always enjoyed my Dad’s side of the family because it was so formal….pewter dishes, china, real silver and crystal and the dining room was absolutely beautiful. My Grandmother had taken cooking classes so there were gourmet dishes for the holidays each and every one. Then on to my other Grandmother’s where the food and decorations were plain and simple and wholesome. Then on to the third Grandmother…my own mother’s mother….and she would decorate the table and have the dishes filled with homestyle food….very homey and warm atmosphere…and my older brother and I would sit at the same chair at the same time ( meal times were tightly scheduled) and eat the same foods year after year. Very special memories! I would love to win the recipe box , but in case I dont, it is such a fun thing to remember those years! Thank you for your uplifting blogs too! With all of the pics I feel that I am right in the moment with you. ( I didnt know how to restore the wooden cutting boards and spoons either!)
Aren’t childhood perceptions just the best? And what ends up mattering to them! Always always the little things! Thank you Diane!
How wonderful you are, Susan! Thank you for thinking of all of us and bringing yet again another wonderful gift for someone to treasure (hope it’s me!). I love the wooden spoon that your dad made with his own hands….what a gift for you to cherish! We have many wonderful holiday traditions but I think my kids’ (all grown now and 3 grandsons) favorite is our Christmas Eve celebration. We all go to church first….then, after coming home from church we all get in our jammies….we set the table up with our festive Christmas dinnerware and tablecloth and napkins….and make everyone’s favorite snacky/appetizery foods! We have wine for the adults and sparkling juice in fancy glasses for the grandkids. It’s a huge feast. We have sternos and roast shrimp, and tenderloin and chicken chunks and make dips and veggies and fruit kabobs and Christmas cookies. Then, we clean up and head down to the family room to open gifts….one at a time, usually starting with our 10 year old grandson, Isaiah. We play Christmas music while we’re opening gifts and sip wine or hot chocolate or tea while we open gifts. Last year I made big, bright red Santa bags with the cutest fluffy, curly fur on the top and a big drawstring with furry pompoms on the ends for each of the boys with their names on a felt nametag complete with glitter. Love reading everyone’s comments. Thanks for doing this. xoxo…kp
And thank you too Karen, for adding to the sparkle dust that everyone is leave here!!
My favorite holiday memory is a tradition at our house. We load everyone up in the van, put on some crazy holiday music that we all sing along with, and take a ride through Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza to see all the lights. It’s a beautiful sight and it’s fun to watch the horse-drawn carriages taking people through the city streets. Then we tour the neighborhoods around the Plaza because they have some really neat light displays!
One year instead of drawing names at Christmas time. We had each family member choose a recipe that was their favorite. And then tell a story why it was your favorite. Add drawings and fanfare. Then we took those and made a book out of them and each family got a copy. That was our gift to each other that year….
Fantastic gift!
Hi Susan, our favorite Christmas”tradition” is a relatively new one. In 2009 my husband and I began to think about how our family- at the time Amy (20 years), Paul (17 years), and Caroline (13 years) could find an even deeper meaning to the Christmas season. Feeling that we were truly blessed we posed this to our kids: how about cooking dinner for those in our town who have no one with whom to spend Christmas day? In a minute they were all on board. This will be our third year of preparing Christmas dinner (either ham with pineapple or turkey with stuffing and cranberry, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, dinner rolls, and thanks to my beloved mother-in-law, homemade apple pie for dessert!) to some of the nicest people we have had the opportunity to meet. So on Christmas morning we will begin our assembly line of laying out take-out containers and packaging up hot meals for the list of people we will be serving. Once they are sorted and grouped we will send one car out with the three kids, one car with myself and my mother-in-law, and the last with my husband and my dad. Each “team” (as my husband calls us) will deliver meals and offer tidings of joy! When we return, we are a little tired, a little hungry, and filled with a sense of joy. Our original plan was to rent the church hall and bring everyone together for a community meal. Right now the people seem more comfortable to have the meals in their own homes, and we respect that. Who knows… maybe in 5 years we will be able to bring everyone together under one roof and enjoy our Christmas dinner en masse! 🙂
Thats so beautiful, you must feel wonderful when you come home! How did you find out who wanted you to come to them?
My husband and I got in touch with Human Services in town. We have a connection with them as we volunteer with our food pantry so they knew we would be very respectful of people’s feelings/privacy. We never impose- only try to bring food and a good feeling. Last year I delivered one meal to an elderly, sight-impaired woman. She had just dropped a glass in her kitchen and I ended up vacuuming up the shards (in the process finding a number of her prescription pills on the floor). She was so grateful. Something that small made her day. Imagine?
Oh yes, I can imagine and I think you are wonderful for doing what you do!
What a lovely idea to give a well-used and loved recipe box as a gift! Especially with family recipes inside. I have a niece who loves to cook and bake. I know what to do for Christmas this year for her!
🙂 Yay!
I love to bake as many of my mother’s recipes as I can during the holidays. Even though she is no longer with us, I feel she is baking right along beside me! This little box will perfect for all of her recipes and notes!!!!!
It would! Thanks Kim!
One of my favorite holiday traditions is one that my mother-in-law started when my husband was a little boy. His birthday is Oct. 25th and her tradition was to bake fruitcakes on the day after so that they would have time to cure before Christmas. We like fruitcake a lot in our family (especially when they are soaked with rum!) and so now I do the same.
I love the recipe box! My mother-in-law also has one just like it.
Rum soaking is always good! 🙂
I can’t begin to tell you what a cozy spot your blog is for me. After a terrible night at work (nicu nurse) to come read your coy blog is very comforting! Thank you.
Fall is my favorite season, I just love to “hunker down” as my friend would say, and fill our home with delight. My mom always set out the bread for the stuffing the night before to dry- on one of those embroided flour sack dish cloths (they Are just the best) She was up in the night to turn each piece over to make sure it was dry. -“why not just toast it, or put it in the oven?” because her momma did it this way, and so do I and now my grown daughter. A little connection to nanny.
Thank you for doing what you do Lori … my mom was in the hospital last spring, and I can get tears in my eyes when I think of the selfless job those nurses did!!! Amazing people. I dry my bread like that too, there is no putting it in the oven either ! 🙂
Good Morning, Susan~
I’ve been following your blog since I discovered it a few months ago while looking to purchase one of your books. I check back everyday to see what’s new. I love to see photos of your kitchen, especially, because it reminds me so much of my own. I am blessed to be living for the past 32 years in the very home that I grew up in and that was the home of my dear grandparents before that. We still have the original metal cabinetry from the 1940s! For many years after we first moved in, I was always dreaming of renovating and getting a brand new kitchen. But we had 4 children along the way and my dream of a fancy new kitchen kept falling further and further down the list of priorities. One day, a very dear friend of mine was visiting ~ we were having a cup of tea in the kitchen and I was lamenting…poor me…when she said, “You know, these cupboards are so old now they’re COOL! Did you know Susan Branch’s kitchen looks so much like yours?” That’s all I needed to hear. From then on, I have a whole new perspective on my home…I’ve opened my eyes (and my heart) to the blessings that are mine ~ to live in the same house as my grandmother (my great-grandmother even lived here for her last years) and my mother did ~ to be enveloped in loving memories each time I enter my pretty kitchen and to have created so many loving memories for my own children in this very homey, sweet kitchen. Needless to say, thank goodness for the kind words of my friend!
The holidays at our house are steeped in traditions but one of my very favorite is the “Christmas Jello Cake”. When our children were small, I found the recipe in a magazine. It’s a basic white layer cake that you bake and let cool for 10 minutes. You poke holes in each layer and pour over hot jello that you’ve dissolved in a cup of boiling water. I use one pkg. of green and one of red. You let the cake cool in the fridge for a few hours and then frost and fill with Cool Whip. The first year I made it, I decorated the top with Holly leaves and berries made from cut gumdrops. On that Christmas Eve, I came up with the idea to sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus before we cut the cake. My kids loved it! …and so every year that’s what we do…our oldest is 32 and the youngest is now 19 but it wouldn’t be Christmas without it.
In fact, my family enjoys the cake so much, that now I have requests to make it for birthdays, graduations and any special occasion year ’round. You can use any flavor combinations of jello to match the celebration! I made a b’day cake for my sister-in-law with pink and purple jello and decorated the top with pansies from my garden for her July b’day.
Thanks for inspiring such wonderful memories, Sue, and for sharing so much of your heart with all of us!
Our girlfriends are amazing, to see things through their eyes is so enlightening! She was right, you have the best there can be! The J-ello cake, the birthday song, the gum drops, sounds just magical!
I have an old metal recipe box that is stuffed with tattered recipes. My brother gave me a notebook that is called “I’m writting my own cookbook” I put the favorite recipes in there.
I was at a wedding shower once and the guests were all told ahead of time to bring one of their favorite family recipes on a card for the new bride to be.
Great idea! The perfect gift! Recipes you can trust.
Dear Susan:
I would love the wooden recipe box! My favorite Holiday memory is when my little brother had no gift for me because I showed up unexpectedly. So he went to my Oma’s (Grandmother’s) big bowl of red apples and picked out the most beautiful one and then polished it highly with the doily under the bowl and held the beautiful red apple to me wrapped in the doily and said, “Iche leibe dich”, (I love you). I must say it is one of my best Christmas memories. That sweet boy is now 42 years old.
Sincerely,
Rhoda Tuckey
Ohhhh, how totally sweet! Thank you Rhoda!
I just got back from visiting my children in Vermont and it looked just like your apron (at least in the Green Mountains it did!). The first holiday thing I do is set your Autumn book on my kitchen counter and fill the greatroom with 100’s (literally) of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes. Would love to have an old wooden recipe box to keep my grammas receipts in! I have some written by her own hand…from “Appleatcha” Virginia!
Welcome home Susan.
Doesn’t it? I really do look like a Vermont mountain in that apron! Thank you so much Kathy!
Dear Susan, I thought some of the other blogs you did couldn’t be topped, but I think this is my favorite so far. I have been reading everyone’s posts and it’s amazing how many beautiful things I’ve read on here. I honestly think you should do a Christmas book with these. There are so many wonderful ideas and important reminders to all of us to hold close those we love while we have them and that’s really what the holidays are all about, being together. As much as I would cherish that recipe box from you, there are so many others on here I think should have it. It’s going to be hard for you to choose this time, maybe you are just going to have to put the names in a hat. xxoo Sharon
Definitely Sharon, there would be no choosing!
I just love todays post! I just heard about the “new” trend of getting recipes from your mother ( or anyone else) in their own handwriting ~ Now, I must do this for my daughter and I need that recipe box to start:) I also love the collection of cutting boards and wooden spoons that you have ~ I am off to the store to buy some mineral oil right now and will never throw out another cutting board or wooden spoon again!
So happy to hear Janis! Have a wonderful day!
A favorite Thanksgiving tradition in our family is Oyster Dressing.We do not know how long ago or where it began?
Joe would like to come to your house!
I, too, love wooden cutting boards and spoons! I have several piggy shaped ones and one fish shaped and a couple of rectangular ones. They make the most fun placemats for a casual meal. You can put your grilled cheese sandwich right on the board and a cup of homemade tomato soup alongside. I would treasure the recipe box if I were to win it, especially coming from my favorite blogger. Thank you, Sue, for all the memory jogging and new ideas and sharing the fun things you do.
Thank you for being here Cori! It is so much fun!
Susan – what a wonderful thing you’re doing. Everyone should have a recipe box. Mine goes back to my great-aunt and has lots of wonderful handwritten recipes, magazine clippings, favorite recipes from cookbooks, etc. Christmas at our house is celebrated on Christmas Eve so that everyone can relax at home in their pj’s on Christmas Day. We tend to have non-traditional meals – last year it was a big pot of chili and fried chicken.
I would like you to know how much I really enjoy your blog. It takes me places that I’ll probably never see and allows me to do things I have longed to do. I think my favorite holiday tradition is “putting the ham” to sleep. In Kentucky we love country ham during the holidays so I always cook my whole ham the way my grandmother taught me; in a lard can wrapped in blankets. My family has done this now for four or five generations and now I am teaching my children. Thank you for the mineral oil tip today. Now lunch time is over and my students will be returning to art class. Have a great fall day!!
Of course an art teacher will wrap her ham in blankets to cook it! 🙂 Very creative!
What a precious treasure to share with one of us! My favorite time of year has ALWAYS been FALL!!! Somehow it just makes my heart swell even thinking of it in mid summer… during a heatwave! (haha). Please enter me in the drawing, I would love a chance to win, thanks, Linda*
You’re welcome Linda, glad you’re here!
my favorite traditon is a fairly new one that i made up. we used to have to hurry up right after opening presents and get everyone out the door to go visit all the various relatives who were expecting us. it was exsausting! a few years ago we switched to staying at home and doing christmas day “open house style”. i LOVE this and my 4 children do as well. anyone who wants to pop over is welcome! we stay home and watch the children play with thier Santa loot, graze all day on Christmas Eve spread left-overs, enjoy visiting in our house-slippers, and just RELAX in the prettieness of Christmas at home. LOVE THAT!
Love it right with you, sounds perfect!
Hi Susan 🙂
My favorite holiday tradition is makind and decorating homemade sugar cookies with my niece and nephew every year on Chrisrmas eve. It is so much fun watching these kids from 1 year old upward to 8 years old now rolling up their sleeves and painting various shaped cookies.
It is most fun to watch the youngest sprinkle the tops with spinkles and to see if they have adequate icing after “tastimg” all of the different colors!
I love reading your blog, your books, and trying your recipes. You inspire me 🙂
Thats the best thing you could possibly say to me Tasha . . . thank you.
I would so love this box. I love reading your website. It is always a good way to pass a lunch time at work. I have loved your work and cookbooks for so long I can’t even remember how long.
Thank you Sharon!
Oh Sue,
This little recipe box would look so adorable next to the spice cabinet I bought fromyour shop. You know, the one you burned into the surface Albet Einstein’s quote? One of my favorite things, too, by the way.
xxx/ooo Barbara
Ohhhhh Barbara, you have it! So glad to know it’s in a good place!!!
I also have a cutting board shaped like a pig that my father made for me. Luckily he signed it Papa, 1971. It is a treasure for sure, as is my Mom’s cookbook with all the recipes written by her, even though it is kind of falling apart. Happy Fall to you!
He signed it! So great Margaret!
Hi Susan! Just dropping a little note to thank you, thank you for your darling blog, that I look so forward to reading. I love that little moment of the day when I can escape my busy life and daydream about yours in Martha’s Vineyard, far, far away from Farmington, Utah!! 🙂 One of my favorite things to do is cozy up in a warm blanket and read one of your recipe books. I just love it!
Your Autumn apron made me smile. The leaves are brilliant in Utah right now and I’m just hanging on to those final days of Autumn before that crazy snow flys. Thank you again so very much for your blog that my coworker and I just love reading and talking about.
You’re amazing!!
xoxo Ashlee
You’re a doll Ashlee, thank you for that! Hi to co-worker too 🙂
Thank You Susan for making me smile. I love your blog, it warms my heart!
Oyster Stuffing is the bomb in our family, yum do I need to say more! We have wonderful oysters in the Great Northwest : ) By the way I love your photos on the train trip west. I am a big barn lover!
Christine Barnhart
Enumclaw, Washington
I have managed to get pictures of quite a few barns as time has gone by, someday I’ll just do a blog on barns, I love them too! Thank you Christine!
Our families favorite tradition is Christmas morning Brunch which grows as we have added daughter in laws, grandchildren and daughter in laws parents and my mom! Brunch includes Eggs goldenrod in toast cups, citrus fruit cup, maple baked bacon, pork sausages, stickey buns (homemade) and Hot coffee, tea or Wassail!!
Sounds just delicious!
We celebrate Canadian thanksgiving which is a bit different in that it isn’t tied to Christmas at all…! But we still have lots of pumpkin pie, warm with ice cream AND whipped cream (my favourite tradition of all!) 🙂
Sounds just right to me!