Editor’s note: We kicked off our first annual Food Loves Tech event last summer in Chelsea—here’s a recap. We’re bringing a taste of the food and farming future back this year, but just across the East River at Industry City. Leading up to the event, this story is part of about technology’s effects on our food supply.
Whenever I need solace whether from anxiety, a broken heart or simply to process the events of the day, I always find myself making one of either two dishes. Each are breads; one banana-walnut, the other pumpkin. It’s not so much what they are or even how they taste—I admit it’s pretty spectacular when that pumpkin bread comes out with a crispy crust that gives way to a moist bread, with just the right of spice—but the recipe cards themselves that soothe.
Both were written by my great-grandmother. The blue ink is faded, the loopy cursive is hard to read, but staring at them I imagine her standing in her kitchen making these breads and there’s a “this will pass” comfort I find.
So, I was naturally intrigued when I heard about Cooking with Grandmothers, a website that encourages people from around the world to share their grandmothers’ recipes.
“I find grandmothers to be the true keepers of food tradition, bringing families together and maintaining culture over the kitchen table,” founder of Cooking with Grandmothers, Jessica Theroux said.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBf1bclE9E/?taken-by=cookingwithgrandmothers
Theroux, who said her paternal grandmother was a huge influence on her life and a driving force behind her interest in recording an older generation, spent a year researching grandmothers influence on food for her book Cooking with Italian Grandmothers, which inspired the website.
Currently the site features roughly 30 recipes that range from the gluten-free danish meatballs to walnut black pepper cookies to mac and cheese. The recipe also have a short story about the grandmother who created the recipe and you can add your own family recipes.
From now through, Grandparents Day, Sept. 10, 2017, if you upload a photo of your grandmother along with a short memory and/or recipe to the site, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to Sur la Table.
Even if you don’t have a recipe to submit, the site is worth browsing through to find a new recipe and maybe stumble upon some grandmother wisdom.
