I have a group of friends with which we have about a monthly potluck, and often I choose a theme (favorite finger foods, for example), but this food-related memory idea is one we haven't done yet. I'm going to borrow it!
This also seems a good time to mention that your writing on this Substack has inspired me to put together a family cookbook- all our "secrets" and favorites in one place. Any advice on how to get reluctant family members to participate? The responses I'm hoping will be positive, but also along the lines of "I don't have time" or "I'm not very tech savvy."
Carmen, it makes me SO happy to hear about the cookbook you've started to put together!! Hmmm, reluctant family.... Maybe a starting point would be a phone call or Zoom to talk more about what you're working on, ask about the recipes you hope they might contribute. Maybe they'll build off your enthusiasm and be more inspired to take the time? And/or use that time to take notes about recipe details, or offer that you can help with some aspects of the process they don't feel comfortable doing? I hope most will be willing to jump right in and participate!
I don't know if you've come across the growing community of Family Historians gathering on Substack, but I think I can safely say that many of us would be thrilled by this idea as a project with a family twist.
I brought my community to Substack nearly 18 months ago, and we've focused on inspiring each other with platform-independent ways to capture our family memories as stories in a range of forms.
Here's what you have me thinking of... what if you were to take this idea to a group of family members (at a holiday, reunion, or other gathering of cousins) then, explicitly ask family members to bring that dish with that family recipe. During the festivities, you bring individuals into a little instant recording booth (a closet with a ring light and a phone will do) and have someone interview them. Capture those recordings with the collected recipes, and «POOF,» you've got a multimedia memory book of family traditions.
I think this would be especially fun during holidays important to a family's ethnic roots, such as Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, or Diwali, for example.
Let me know if this is something that might interest you, or if you know someone who might be interested in pursuing the idea. I'm excited and would love to celebrate it in one of my published Project Recipes, and host their description of it as a project in an online event.
You can see some of the "Project Recipes" our members have done at projectkin.org/recipes. Interestingly, only a few of them are related to food. 🍽️
I love this all, Barbara! Yes, I've been slowing getting to know more of the family history focus to be found on Substack and am inspired by the cross-over with my specific recipe/food focus. I look forward to talking with you more soon.
I have a group of friends with which we have about a monthly potluck, and often I choose a theme (favorite finger foods, for example), but this food-related memory idea is one we haven't done yet. I'm going to borrow it!
This also seems a good time to mention that your writing on this Substack has inspired me to put together a family cookbook- all our "secrets" and favorites in one place. Any advice on how to get reluctant family members to participate? The responses I'm hoping will be positive, but also along the lines of "I don't have time" or "I'm not very tech savvy."
Carmen, it makes me SO happy to hear about the cookbook you've started to put together!! Hmmm, reluctant family.... Maybe a starting point would be a phone call or Zoom to talk more about what you're working on, ask about the recipes you hope they might contribute. Maybe they'll build off your enthusiasm and be more inspired to take the time? And/or use that time to take notes about recipe details, or offer that you can help with some aspects of the process they don't feel comfortable doing? I hope most will be willing to jump right in and participate!
Yes, I think you're right...and if I just get started, and tell them I've already started, that might be a good motivator. Thanks for the ideas!
Oh, Cynthia, where to begin? This is brilliant!
I don't know if you've come across the growing community of Family Historians gathering on Substack, but I think I can safely say that many of us would be thrilled by this idea as a project with a family twist.
I brought my community to Substack nearly 18 months ago, and we've focused on inspiring each other with platform-independent ways to capture our family memories as stories in a range of forms.
Here's what you have me thinking of... what if you were to take this idea to a group of family members (at a holiday, reunion, or other gathering of cousins) then, explicitly ask family members to bring that dish with that family recipe. During the festivities, you bring individuals into a little instant recording booth (a closet with a ring light and a phone will do) and have someone interview them. Capture those recordings with the collected recipes, and «POOF,» you've got a multimedia memory book of family traditions.
I think this would be especially fun during holidays important to a family's ethnic roots, such as Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, or Diwali, for example.
Let me know if this is something that might interest you, or if you know someone who might be interested in pursuing the idea. I'm excited and would love to celebrate it in one of my published Project Recipes, and host their description of it as a project in an online event.
You can see some of the "Project Recipes" our members have done at projectkin.org/recipes. Interestingly, only a few of them are related to food. 🍽️
I love this all, Barbara! Yes, I've been slowing getting to know more of the family history focus to be found on Substack and am inspired by the cross-over with my specific recipe/food focus. I look forward to talking with you more soon.