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Post by **Angie** on Jul 16, 2014 17:54:07 GMT
Dh's grandma passed away 5 years ago, and his grandpa passed away three months ago. I had recipes she had given me 20 years ago for spice cake and salt-rising bread. She always made Tollhouse cookies and said she got the recipe from the bag of chocolate chips.
I tried to make the bread a couple of times and gave up. The spice cake, I followed her recipe, and while it was always good, it wasn't as good as hers. The cookies, yum, but still not like hers.
I found a couple of her recipes when we were going through the house.
Can you see where this is heading???
The recipe for salt-rising bread that she wrote down for me! didn't include the fact that you were to start the bread the day before. Starter? What's that?!
The cake? Called for a completely different amount of two ingredients and process.
The cookies? Yeah, so NOT what was on the back of the chocolate chip bag.
I'd known that woman since I was 16. I got the recipes in my early 20's which means she was able to keep a straight face for TWO DECADES when I complained that I just couldn't get them right.
Grandma for the win!
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Jul 16, 2014 17:55:25 GMT
She got you!
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Post by sisterbdsq on Jul 16, 2014 18:00:32 GMT
That's HILARIOUS!
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 16, 2014 18:01:49 GMT
That is too funny
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,752
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jul 16, 2014 18:08:25 GMT
I guess I'm the odd one- I don't think it's funny at all. I don't get why people won't share their recipes but whatever- it's their right. But to give you the *wrong* recipes? And make you waste your time and ingrediants? I just don't find that funny. Glad that you found the real recipes and can enjoy Grandma's food. and I'm glad you find it amusing and a great grandma memory- just saying I wouldn't!
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Post by katlaw on Jul 16, 2014 18:09:39 GMT
I think it's funny. Reminds me of Belle Magic's Cream Cheese cookie story.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Jul 16, 2014 18:10:53 GMT
I'd probably be that grandma. But I would always give a recipe that works... never one that fails. But I always have my own personal tweaks for recipes, that are mine and mine only. But how funny that you found this out when you got her "real" recipes.
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Post by spitfiregirl on Jul 16, 2014 18:11:52 GMT
That's so funny! Sorta! Please tell what difference in the spice cake recipe! And you can trump her if you share the recipes here;)
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,544
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on Jul 16, 2014 18:13:43 GMT
I hate that! My Grandma did the same darn thing. My mom and I have tried on so many occasions to recreate my dad's favorite cake, and the cake has not turned out once. It always ends up flat and tasteless. We are both good cooks, so we just assume Grandma left something out of her written recipe, and we finally gave up on it. She also used to make this really delicious poppy seed dressing. I have her recipe, I have tried it, and it tastes nothing like her dressing tasted.
She always said she liked having "secret recipes." We thought it was funny at the time, but now that she is dead and no one can recreate her classics (and our favorites!) it kind of sucks.
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Post by keknj on Jul 16, 2014 18:17:54 GMT
When I first read the OP, I thought it was funny. Then I thought about it and I have to agree that it seems sad. Like the Dad's favorite cake. He can never have that again because she's gone and gave the recipe wrong? Just sad.
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Post by deshacrafts on Jul 16, 2014 18:18:49 GMT
I guess I'm the odd one- I don't think it's funny at all. I don't get why people won't share their recipes but whatever- it's their right. But to give you the *wrong* recipes? And make you waste your time and ingrediants? I just don't find that funny. Glad that you found the real recipes and can enjoy Grandma's food. and I'm glad you find it amusing and a great grandma memory- just saying I wouldn't! If you can't give the right recipe then just don't give it. What a shame. It could have been a nice tradition of passing down the recipes to new cooks/bakers.
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miyooper2b
Full Member
Posts: 330
Location: Central Indiana
Jun 27, 2014 15:38:05 GMT
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Post by miyooper2b on Jul 16, 2014 18:23:16 GMT
I hate that! My Grandma did the same darn thing. My mom and I have tried on so many occasions to recreate my dad's favorite cake, and the cake has not turned out once. It always ends up flat and tasteless. We are both good cooks, so we just assume Grandma left something out of her written recipe, and we finally gave up on it. She also used to make this really delicious poppy seed dressing. I have her recipe, I have tried it, and it tastes nothing like her dressing tasted.
She always said she liked having "secret recipes." We thought it was funny at the time, but now that she is dead and no one can recreate her classics (and our favorites!) it kind of sucks.
Yep! My grandmother was the same way. Nothing was written down and there are several recipes that my mom has spent years trying recreate with no luck. It's kinda sad.
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 16, 2014 18:34:31 GMT
I thought it was funny at first, but then, not so much. It's really kind of sad.
DH's aunt gave me a treasured family recipe that she refused to share with others. She died shortly after that, so I really appreciate the recipe and her memory.
Funny story - DD was super close to DH's grandma, her greatgrandma. GG was famous for her lemon meringue pie. DD was so disillusioned when she found out, after GG passed, that it came from the Argo corn starch box! DD was sure it was a "secret" recipe.
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Post by **Angie** on Jul 16, 2014 18:50:07 GMT
In her defense, only the salt-rising bread never turned out right. And to be honest, I was very happy to not try it again - have you ever smelled that stuff baking? Yech! For the cake and cookies, they tasted fine, but dh and his grandpa had 24 years of saying "not as good as Grandma's". Heck, for all I know, Grandpa knew where the actual recipes were but enjoyed all of my attempts to recreate hers. In a way, I'm glad that I found them when I did, that she hadn't told me. I was excited to find the papers, and when I told dh what they were, it was a bright, happy experience in a day full of sorrow.
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Post by **Angie** on Jul 16, 2014 18:51:07 GMT
Oh, and I'm fine with having "secret" recipes. Just write them down *correctly* and put into an envelope with "open after I die" on the front!
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Post by Prenticekid on Jul 16, 2014 18:56:42 GMT
I find it a great story in the "quirky" sort of way. I loved my Grandmother's quirks. I have been given recipes of other people's grandmas because they weren't interested in them, and that's okay too. At least they gave them to someone they knew would enjoy them.
I will add though, just because we are on the topic, that my "joy" in recipes is teaching them to my granddaughter...and teaching her ways to mix it up (pun intended LOL) if she so chooses. I'm a young grandma, and she doesn't need to spend the next 50 years of her life trying to make it like grandma! LOL
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Post by cynipidae17 on Jul 16, 2014 18:58:59 GMT
Awesome
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,763
Jun 25, 2014 23:21:30 GMT
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Post by scrapngranny on Jul 16, 2014 19:43:44 GMT
Way to go Grandma!!! Let the future spouses of my grandchildren beware
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Jul 16, 2014 19:48:32 GMT
No..... I would not do that..... My joy is having my dd use a recipe and hearing how happy she was to serve it to her friends or dh and get their compliments!
and I gave several recipes from my grandmother.... Making (and eating) them is a way to feel close to a grandmother that died more than 20 years ago!
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
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Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jul 16, 2014 19:51:32 GMT
I agree. I think you should post the recipes here for us!
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tarheelfan
One Post Wonder
Posts: 1
Jun 26, 2014 2:56:20 GMT
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Post by tarheelfan on Jul 16, 2014 22:14:24 GMT
I had a friend whose MIL gave her a recipe book of all her son's favorite recipes when they got married. She made many of the recipes and while they were good her DH always said that they were not as good as when Mom made them. Turns out that MIL left out key ingredients from every single recipe. You can guess at the kind of relationship she has with MIL.
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Post by susans sister on Jul 16, 2014 22:20:44 GMT
This sounds like an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" when Marie gave Deb the "wrong" recipe.
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Post by donna on Jul 16, 2014 22:58:15 GMT
I think that is awful! Family recipes are meant to be shared. Thank goodness my mil did not do that because we have an entire notebook of her favorite recipes. She died 22 years ago and it makes my dh feel so loved when I make one of his Mom's recipes.
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Post by NanaKate on Jul 18, 2014 2:55:58 GMT
Glad you now have the real recipes!
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Post by AussieMeg on Jul 18, 2014 3:28:58 GMT
Exactly!! I had to read it a few times trying to work out whether this was the old thread reposted! I am torn between thinking that (a) it's funny and (b) I'd be pissed off about the money I'd wasted on ingredients for a recipe that was never going to turn out any good.
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Post by Belia on Jul 18, 2014 3:46:02 GMT
I would not have been happy. We grandkids always loved the spaghetti that my grandmother would make for us- we always joked that it was her secret recipe that we would spend our lives trying to recreate after she was gone. Well, about 10 years before she died grandma wrote out the recipe for each of us (on notebook paper in cursive! ). It was ridiculously detailed, and I smile when I picture her writing out the recipe over-and-over for her dozen grandchildren! I remember her saying it was ridiculous to think that her recipe was anything special or would die out with her. I laminated that recipe so I would always have it in her handwriting, and I still make it to this day. I just made it earlier this week, as a matter of fact. I always think of grandma, too. I think its mean-spirited to purposefully sabotage someone by passing along a recipe that you know is incorrect.
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Post by nepean on Jul 18, 2014 3:52:18 GMT
I can't believe nobody has said this yet...."This thread is useless without recipes!"
Seriously though, I am so glad you were blessed today during a difficult time. And that you were able to take time to smile and remember good times and good food with your DH's grandparents.
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Post by nantini on Jul 18, 2014 3:57:54 GMT
My grandmother left a few of those from her mother. One recipe starts out..mix 2 cups flour with 1/2 cup scaled milk " to which has been added" wth? And the measurement and ingredient has been erased. Another recipe calls for a 50 cent angle food cake.
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perumbula
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Posts: 3,439
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Jun 26, 2014 18:51:17 GMT
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Post by perumbula on Jul 18, 2014 4:11:20 GMT
My dad's mother withheld a recipe from my mom. It was for her carrot pudding (it's a steamed pudding. sort of like a really dense, moist carrot cake.) My mom begged for years and grandma said "if I give you the recipe then you can make it yourself and then what will I send you for Christmas?" My mom did finally get the sauce recipe from her, so we have that. Mom has spent thirty years trying to find a carrot pudding recipe that's as good as her MILs. She may never find one. We have found many good ones though and so we have carrot pudding at Christmas. Mom even got a real pudding mold so we aren't even cooking it in canning jars anymore. I remember how sad my mom was about not having that recipe. I won't do that to anyone else. I'm so open with my recipes that I put them up on my blog. Everyone can have them. My dd has been making a list of all the ones she needs to have with her before she leaves this summer.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
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Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 18, 2014 4:22:47 GMT
I wonder if this withholding of recipes malarkey is a US thing? I can honestly say I have never experienced it or heard of it happening on this side of the pond. If someone asks you for a recipe, it is taken as a huge compliment, as it suggests that they have enjoyed something you have prepared. Why in the world would someone not want to share? Is it me?
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