I love baking but recently realized that for me it is much more meaningful when I know that the things I make for my family are recipes that have been well tried, tested, and loved. Having recipes that are passed down from one generation to another seems to mean a great deal more to me as I learn to use this newfound love of baking as an avenue to express love and support to my friends and family.
There is no better evidence of a recipe’s steadfastness than to find it on a handwritten recipe card: stained and worn from many uses. Hunting through recipe boxes or flipping through books these worn cards and pages are the ones that cause us to pause and in some ways demand our attention.
As I work through the process of compiling our families time-tested favorites I feel compelled to get them written down: to have them tangibly available. While I am still searching for an heirloom recipe box that I think will be enjoyed through the many fads and seasons of life I thought it would be fun, at the very least, to begin writing down some of our favorites.
This simple vanilla cake is one we have always enjoyed and seemed like a great place to start. It is easy to assemble, requires only a handful of ingredients, and turns out delicious every time. It is versatile and timeless: great for a summer picnic or wonderful on a cold winter day. You can eat it with fruit such as strawberries or blueberries topped with whipped cream or make a simple white frosting to drizzle over the top. It is one of the winners in our home and deserved a place of honor in the recipe catalogue.
Simple Vanilla Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 6 Large Eggs
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour bundt cake pan.
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With a mixer beat 6 large eggs for one minute on high speed. Gradually add sugar and beat on high another minute.
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Add in flour, baking powder, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for 8 minutes, until thick and fluffy.
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Pour batter into cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Allow to cool for 10 minutes and then invert onto a cake plate to cool completely.
As I continue to work through what I truly want this space to look like I know that baking will be a big part of Fresh Wanderings. I believe it is a tangible way that we get to honor and serve others, and in a world that is fast paced and always moving it affords us the time to sit and bond with those we love. I know this is something that means a lot to me and I imagine this is important for some of you too. To help you assemble your own recipe box I have made these recipe cards available in my shop.
While the hunt for a perfect recipe box continues I thought I would share some of my top favorites as of right now. Currently the top two contenders are this one which is made from a nice solid wood and this metal one by Hearth & Hand. Do you love your recipe box or have a favorite recipe to share? If so, please let me know in the comments. I would love to hear what your family enjoys sharing around the table.
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I followed a link on Pinterest and found your blog! What a sweet surprise, I knew you liked baking, but I am enjoying getting to know you and your family and finding that we have so much in common. Tattered, stained, well loved recipes in my family’s own handwriting are one of my favorite things. Most of the recipes I have are from an older generation that didn’t so much use recipe cards, as they just wrote on whatever piece of paper they had available. I have been working my way through these, making and photographing them and putting them in cookbook using Project Life cards. Hopefully creating an heirloom treasure to pass down to my kids one day and share with my family. Both recipe of the recipe holders you linked are cute, and I also like the vintage floral tins.
Lee Ann! I agree completely. It has been a blast for our family to get to know yours. I, too, think that you and I seem to have a lot in common, and I love that! The next time we are together I would love to see some of the recipes from your family. You are so blessed that they did such a great job of documenting their lives. I am having a hard time finding recipes from my grandparents. I love floral recipe boxes too, but I wonder if I would love them 10 years from now. Can’t wait to see you all soon!