Butterflies and Rosemary
Samuel Buchek
My maternal grandmother passed away when I was 4. I have a single memory of her, where I’m sitting at her kitchen table eating pasta with oil and garlic. After she passed, my mother took over one of her central roles in the family: cooking. She was now the one who had to prepare all the dishes my family enjoyed during assorted holidays.
My grandmother left behind a collection of recipe cards, containing dozens upon dozens of recipes that she had made or collected over her life. It’s through these cards that my grandmother’s memory lives on. After being asked by different relatives if they could get certain recipes, my mother made the decision to put together a recipe book containing scans of all the cards. She made multiple copies, ensuring that my brother and I would both have one. When I thought about these recipes and about that sole memory I have of her, I realized that the majority of my memories involve food. From eating passatelli at Easter to eating simple tomato sandwiches on my back patio, my memories revolve around food. With this realization, and my continual desire to honor my grandmother and make up for the time we never had, my thesis began with the idea of remaking the recipe book I was given. I wanted to take something practical and use my bookmaking skills to create something beautiful, a recipe book that my grandmother’s memory deserves. My thesis expanded to me giving my memories physical form, focusing on the positive experiences food has given me over the years. From the act of making pasta from scratch, to the process of getting pizza with my family, I want to share these memories with those around me.
My grandmother left behind a collection of recipe cards, containing dozens upon dozens of recipes that she had made or collected over her life. It’s through these cards that my grandmother’s memory lives on. After being asked by different relatives if they could get certain recipes, my mother made the decision to put together a recipe book containing scans of all the cards. She made multiple copies, ensuring that my brother and I would both have one. When I thought about these recipes and about that sole memory I have of her, I realized that the majority of my memories involve food. From eating passatelli at Easter to eating simple tomato sandwiches on my back patio, my memories revolve around food. With this realization, and my continual desire to honor my grandmother and make up for the time we never had, my thesis began with the idea of remaking the recipe book I was given. I wanted to take something practical and use my bookmaking skills to create something beautiful, a recipe book that my grandmother’s memory deserves. My thesis expanded to me giving my memories physical form, focusing on the positive experiences food has given me over the years. From the act of making pasta from scratch, to the process of getting pizza with my family, I want to share these memories with those around me.