What's on the horizon

here's what we're talking about in 2023

FEBRUARY

Tinned fish provide a shelf-stable economical protein source. I know my grandma understood this based on the number of canned salmon jars she had on her shelf. Let’s take a deep dive into this smelly commodity. photo by Mari Helin via Unsplash.

It’s Fishy Business 

Historically looked down up upon as low brow and cheap, the tinned fish is apparently making a come back. This smelly commodity is indirectly responsible for all of today’s jarred, canned, and tinned ingredients. Some of the recipes that we’ll be visiting this month may make you crinkle your nose, but I think you’ll find the stories fascinating.

MARCH

With rising costs of foods, let’s see what recipes we can unearth from other hard times. You might be surprised what homemakers before us did to keep their families in good health, physically and emotionally. photo by Michaela Šiška via Unsplash

Hard time foods

With the rising costs of well, everything, we’ll take a look at some “hard time” foods from cookbooks published during WWII that address rationing to foods developed during the depression. Its impressive to see what homemakers would do to ensure the health and well-being of their families.

APRIL

Watch it wiggle… How can such a colorful, happy food create so much polarization? Let’s dig into gelatin culture to find out. photo by Girl with a Red Hat via Unsplash.

All things jiggly - jello and aspics

For me jello is a comfort food. I love jello. Now, I know this gelatinous, jiggly food is polarizing, but its history is pretty darn interesting. Whether your a fan or a hater, the stories that accompany the recipes we’ll be exploring are sure to enchant. 

MAY

No, eating a plant-based diet isn’t left over from the 60’s. It’s been in practice for thousands of years. Come with me to the tables of some interesting plant-eating folks. photo by Jacopo Maia via Unsplash.

Plant-based eating - vegetarianism isn’t a new concept.

The concept of eating a plant-heavy diet isn’t a new age construct. It goes back a very long time. Like Pythagoras long time. So passionately promoted by this ancient philosopher, the diet was actually name Pythagorean before a 19th century society renamed it vegetarianism. This month, we’ll visit the tables of some interesting vegetarians. You may even recognize some names.

JUNE

Ice cream treats are a sure sign that summer is upon us. It also has a pretty long history. So, this June let’s scoop into some recipes and stories about this icy treat. phot by Lama Roscu via Unplash

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

The days are growing longer and warmer. Frozen desserts and ice creams seemed to capture the imagination of many of a homemaker throughout history. It’s the perfect time to celebrate with recipes for ice cream and frozen desserts. 

JULY

Come on you know your miss this decor! What memories are flashing through your mind right now? Maybe watching the Brady Bunch after school or Hawaii 5-0 after the dishes were cleared from the table. There were some pretty interesting foods in fashion in the 70’s, let dig them up. photo via Senad Palic via Unsplash.

That 70’s Food - Revisiting the past

Food is one of the most powerful medias for conjuring memories. This month, we’re going down the 70’s rabbit hole and take a look at the most popular foods of the time and discover what inspired them.

AUGUST

I think we can safely say that biscuits and gravy are a great example of a food associated with the Southern States. Regional recipes are interesting in their ability to define not only a particular area, but also the people in that area. This is going to be a delicious subject. photo by Leigh Olson

Authenticity and regional recipes 

In addition to penning The Heritage Cookbook Project, I am a co-creator of As We Eat. On that platform, we’re looking at the concept of authenticity and accuracy this month. And since it seems that many of us are starting the rediscover original recipes rather than “hacks,” I thought we would investigate some dishes that have come to define a region or group of people.

SEPTEMBER

One of my favorite sweet treats! They have been dubbed nature’s candy for good reason. This fruit from the date palm can compete against any commercial candy and win - IMHO. They also appear in many of the vintage recipes in my collection. photo by VD Photography via Unsplash.

Nature’s candy

I’m a date fan. I eat them as a way to satisfy an urgent need for a sweet treat. And although this tiktok video has brought the date “to the forefront” according to Delish magazine, when I look through my recipe boxes and vintage cookbooks, dates feature fairly prominently in the dessert, cakes, and cookie sections. This month, we’ll delight in this perfect confection.

@moribyanThe Ramadan recipe series is starting very very soon!!

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

OCTOBER

Back in the olden days, Halloween was way more fun. Who’s with me? Homemade candy and confections were the best. Along with some great vintage Halloween fare, we’ll sink our teeth into some fun lore. photo by Derrick Brooks via Unsplash.

Vintage Candies

I’ve become rather fond of a silly saying, “back in the olden days.” I use it when I’m comparing traffic patterns, developments, and all things from my childhood. One of those things that comes to mind in the month of October is the Halloweens from my childhood. You know, when you wandered through town, knocking on doors and receiving homemade candied apples, popcorn balls, whoopee pies, and rice crispy treats without a second thought. We’ll be revisiting some of these classics this month along with some fun holiday lore.

NOVEMBER

I have nothing against innovation and experimentation. Really I don’t. But I just can’t get into the butter board craze. But it did inspire the theme for this month, so there’s that. photo by Sorin Gheorghita

Butter boards

This is a 2023 food trend that I’m just not too sure about. Apparently the tiktok had something to do with it. Essentially, you cover a board with butter and top it with all manner of things like sun-dried tomatoes, dates, honey, balsamic glaces and then you scoop up the butter and topping with crackers, crostini or challah. Interesting, but I think I’ll forego the butter board. Though, it did inspire me to look at how butter has been treated over the years. So, let’s take a look at some fun butter history and some tasty recipes featuring the delicious dairy treat. 

DECEMBER

You can’t come out of December without having eaten or at least been offered a cookie. These tasty nuggets seem to take over the month and somehow demand to be made by every household. So we aren’t going to fight it, will join in with some fun cookie recipes and lore. photo by Leigh Olson

Cookies

December seems to be the month of cookies. Thousands are made for cookie exchanges, for handmade gift giving, or to celebrate a specific winter holiday. This month, we’ll focus our culinary exploration on the cookie.

Let me know what you think about this year’s topics. Hope you’re as excited about them as I am.

And don’t forget…

to vote on the theme for next year’s recipe card calendar

P.S. if you didn’t have a chance to grab the 2023 calendar, I have a couple more in stock.

Join me next week for A Cookie For… the illustration and article will feature a perfect cookie for the new year. For just a few dollars, you get access to The Heritage Cookbook Project printable recipe cards and select illustrations, early access to new merchandise and a discount code to use in the coming soon Mercantile !

---

Let’s Connect!

Find me on Instagram @leigh_olson, join the Family Recipes, Traditions, and Food Lore community on Facebook, or subscribe to The Heritage Cookbook Project on Substack.

Do you have a recipe, tradition, or story you think would make a great visual narrative, send me an email at connect@theheritagecookbookproject.com.

If you would like to further support this project, there are a couple of ways that you can become a patron subscriber. Choose one of the paid tiers here, purchase something from my Amazon wish list, or buy me a tea - I know it says Buy Me a Coffee, but I’m a tea gal.

Coffee is good, but my preference is tea. Here are some of my favorite tea cups.

If you aren’t able to support monetarily, sharing this with a friend really helps to grow our delicious community.