Hi, I’m Meg, and this blog is called My Grandma’s Recipes.
- Your hostess
When my Grandma Sara died in September 2005, I inherited her recipe box. At that time, I promised my relatives that I would compile and share her greatest hits in the form of a cookbook. I even asked them for food-related stories and photos. It was a great idea, and I had the best of intentions.
Well, life intervened, and this project slipped waaaay down my to-do list… Until 2008. I was talking with my mom, right before Thanksgiving, and it occurred to me that a blog would be a fantastic way to publish recipes as I go, share them with far-flung family, along with stories and photos, AND solicit their input via comments. A collaborative cookbook! And, doing it this way eliminates the pressure I was feeling of having promised some kind of printed, finished product to share with everyone. Now, they can check back and watch its progress (and help me, too).
Meanwhile, I’ve been cooking along, perfecting some of the traditional recipes handed down from both of my grandmothers, and sharing them with my own family. And it occurs to me that I have strong food-roots on both sides of the family! Both Grandma Sara, who was my dad’s mom, and Grandma Losch, who was my mom’s mom, were fantastic cooks. And, for both, preparing food for their family was more than just something in their “job description.” It was an expression of love. I intend for this blog to honor their memories and their skills, and to preserve their recipes and their stories for those who follow me.
Accordingly: My Grandma’s Recipes is a recipe blog and a historical work, but it will be flavored by its author. A bit about me, then? I am a 40-something mother of three boys, married since 1993 to the most patient, wonderful guy in the world. I grew up on a farm in south-central Pennsylvania, moved to Washington, DC right after college, and have lived here since 1990. We currently reside in the Maryland suburbs of DC. For more about me, check out the main page of Soup Is Not A Finger Food (or read the about me page over there).
COMMENTS: Bring ‘em! In fact, this blog will be all the better for YOUR comments. So, family and friends, if you want to contribute recipes or stories or critiques - whatever – either leave a comment or send it to soupisnotafingerfood [at] gmail [dot] com. The first time you comment, it will be held for moderation, but thereafter, they will post instantly. I will usually reply to your comment within each post, so be sure to subscribe to the blog and/or to the individual post. Sometimes, I will reply by email, so keep an eye out for that, too. I’m kinda random that way.
Now – are you hunrgy? Have you eaten? Wow, you look pretty hungry. Here, sit down, let’s get busy. I must have some food here somewhere…
Just wanted to let u know i was looking for a ham potpie noodle recipe and decide on this one, being that its grandmother approved, and how easy it was! The dough was so easy to roll out it reminded me of my gram’s cooking….also i’m from hollidaysburg, pa
Meg–I just stumbled upon your blog looking for a recipe for butter brickle! When I saw your Grandmother’s handwriting–I got so excited! I absolutely love it! I’m just letting you know that (well, for one, I can’t wait to try this recipe!), but that I make custom dish towels with vintage recipes–I sell my elderly neighbor’s recipes on towels, but I do custom orders for people who have preserved their grandmothers’ (or grandfathers’!) handwritten recipes and want to do something a little extra special with them. I’ll give you the link to my etsy site so you can see some examples of the towels. Beautiful, beautiful blog! I’m so glad you’re doing something to preserve the recipes of the past!
I’m so glad I found this site. I was looking for a Sand Tart recipe and Google led me here. I also noticed a reference to Grandma Losch. My Great Grandmother was also a Losch. She lived in Berwick, PA, and I’m wondering if there’s any connection there. Could you please contact me by email? My daughter has been working on our geneology and maybe we could share some info. TGhanks for the recipe!
Hi Meg, I’m so glad I found your blog! I also grew up on a farm in south-central PA but recently moved to Germany. One of the things I miss most about PA is the food (and my family of course). Your recipes bring me back home without paying for a plane ticket! Do you know how hard it is to find a Chicken Pot Pie recipe… done the right way?? Thank you so much for sharing!
So glad you stumbled upon it, Ashley! If you are in germany, you can eat pot pie’s cousin, spaetzle; I’m envious!
I’m in Oley, PA and grew up on this food. Love the blog! And thanks frot he Sand tart recipe….it’s exactly the one I was looking for!
Your stories take me back to my childhood growing up in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in the 50′s. Just like you I had 2 grandmothers who were excellent cooks and my Mom used to make the recipes you remember…sand tarts, pot pie, chicken corn soup, saurkraut and pork, green beans & ham…YUM. Christmas baking with my Mom, grandmothers and aunt…what a wonderful memory. My mother’s mom was from Germany and baked out of this world cookies.
My Mom used to serve a hot sweet/sour bacon lettuce dressing with her Pot Pie. Are you familiar with this? I would love to find a recipe for that.
So glad I came across your site.
Doris, thank you for your comment! My mom probably could provide a recipe for the hot bacon dressing – I think she still makes it from time to time. That’s one I never learned to love. I do remember my grandma making it and serving it over dandelion leaves she’d pluck from out of the back yard!
Hi, my mother-in-law was from PA and my sister in law and me helped her every christmas make these. She passed away 13 years ago and we have continued the tradition. It is a lot of work but well worth it – the family loves them. She also used to store her cookies in these potato chip cans and large glass jars, which we still use. I just had a question, do you know any new way to help with rolling them and getting them not to stick. I did get a silicone mat and rolling pin last year which helped a lot, but I find I still have to use a lot of flour. I think I will try your recipe this year, because the I use has a lot more butter and maybe that is one of the reasons the dough sticks so much. Great story.
Hi, my mother-in-law was from PA and my sister in law and me helped her every christmas make these. She passed away 13 years ago and we have continued the tradition. It is a lot of work but well worth it – the family loves them. She also used to store her cookies in these potato chip cans and large glass jars, which we still use. I just had a question, do you know any new way to help with rolling them and getting them not to stick. I did get a silicone mat and rolling pin last year which helped a lot, but I find I still have to use a lot of flour. I think I will try your recipe this year, because the I use has a lot more butter and maybe that is one of the reasons the dough sticks so much. Great story. Annd