Recipe Booklets, beginning with Apple

This is just the beginning of a series of books, simple books, with classical recipes, and an accordion- style component that displays reproductions of paintings which feature apples.

These photos are of the preliminary design, where the workings of this booklet are tested. Each book has its own set of engineering challenges. In the ocean of cookbooks, I wanted these to focus on the beauty and relationship of living with trees and their generous produce.

First, I have had some wonderful teachers in the kitchen arts. Primarily, my paternal grandmother who baked something almost every day. I have featured her recipe from her mother, who immigrated to the United States from Austria with her husband and nine children in 1901. Mary was one of the younger children, and like all farm kids, knew how to do helpful things.

I probably should have paid more attention as to how to make saurkraut, but that was not interesting to me as a child, especially when there was cake and strudel to make.

There were many different forms of this book before settling on this one. It needed a pocket or place for the accordion-picture-display, and another for the recipes. I also wanted to include an element of basketry for the idea of gathering the fruits and enjoying outdoor activities. These two pages work for their prescribed notions. For the final copy, I will either make a basket textured print or a drawing (more detailed than what is shown in this sampler). 

This design also gave me the opportunity to add two drawings, a tree in winter, and a tree with its bountiful branches. The folded tan paper is the accordion display with the recipe cards on the right side. These sketches are preliminary, to serve as visual elements for the plan.

Here is the accordion booklet with sample drawings on 4" x 6" card shapes, which will be replaced with reproductions of apple paintings.

We still have the old-time varieties on the property. An early, mid and late season types for different purposes. In this area of the Pacific Northwest, most people had these; Gravenstein, Yellow Transparent and Jonathans. 

The use of reproductions and simple construction will keep this book very affordable and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our lives and the support of these fine trees.

Please stay tuned as these books come together.