Make a Family Recipe Book

This project is one of the most rewarding I have ever undertaken and I think you will love it also. Every family has favorite recipes and traditions that may go along with the recipes. Gathering together your family recipes into a homemade book makes a wonderful gift for family members and preserves the traditions of your family.

You will need the following items to get started: A medium size photo album with two 4x5 sleeves on each page, Family recipes, Photographs of recipes, food, and family members, and a computer .

The next step is to tell all of your family that you are preparing a family recipe book. Ask them to send you their favorite recipes and the stories behind the recipes. Ask them to identify where they originally got the recipe.

Next, type out each recipe on the computer. Play with the fonts and colors. Add colorful borders. Use clipart of spices and food preparation materials. Have fun with this part! Put the title of the family recipe book and the author or authors on the first page of the photo album. Print these items out on 4x5 cards and slide them into the photo sleeves. Print out the recipes on 4x5 cardstock. Use different color cardstock or decorative cardstock if you want. Place the completed recipe card on the right side of the next photo page spread, at the top.

Be sure to put a photo of the dish on the bottom right side of the photo spread. If you don't have a photo of the recipe, consider making the dish and taking a picture of it. In addition, put photos of your family enjoying the dish on the left-hand side of the photo spread. You can also add here a card that explains the history and traditions surrounding the dish.

Finally, continue with the steps above until your photo album is complete. You can make multiple copies of the book to give to family members. This project also works well by completing it entirely on the computer and uploading it to a self-publisher such as Lulu.com. To save money, consider asking family members for a small donation to defray the costs of albums and printing.