Twenty-five years ago, when Tim and I were planning our wedding, I thought it’d be fun to give our guests homemade cookbooks as favors. I’m not sure why I thought this was a good idea. We were already dealing with the challenge of distance since I was living in Virginia and the wedding was going to be back in Minnesota. Plus, I was working at Special Olympics International and we were up to our eyeballs with preparations for the World Games in New Haven, Connecticut, that summer.
But I optimistically included blank recipe cards with the wedding invitations and asked everyone to send us their favorite recipes.
And they did. We received well over a hundred recipes from friends and family, who shared an amazing mix of drinks and desserts, entrees, side dishes, appetizers, breads, and muffins. Some even offered marriage advice.
Needless to say, I did not manage to produce the cookbooks. But over the years, whenever I’d use one of the recipes (which was often), I’d think, I really should make that cookbook someday.
With our 25th anniversary coming up in October, this seems like the time to do it. It’ll give us a chance to reflect on the people we love who’ve been part of our lives all these years. I know it’ll be bittersweet at times because we’ve had to say goodbye to some. And we’ve lost touch with a few—although only a few, for which I’m grateful.
My Grandpa Edward’s cousin, Fran Winkler, a Franciscan monk who taught at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, provided the perfect epigraph for this project. Such good advice.
I think this’ll be a lot of fun, and I’m glad to have the chance to share some really fantastic recipes.
Jeff Kycek says
Hi Shannon,
What a lovely write up regarding my mom. Thank you. It’s nice knowing that a parents legacy continues on with others besides immediate family. Also puts me in the mind of my legacy; what will be remembered about me by others not called my daughter and possibly her children.
Fun to read and I’ll prob make those in the next week or two. (They’re kinda mini, fried meatloafs.) I like the butter noodle idea.
Later buddy.
Jeff.
Shannon says
I love this, Jeff: “Also puts me in the mind of my legacy; what will be remembered about me by others not called my daughter and possibly her children.”