Meet the Original “Keepers”
Some of the original keepers of our family’s recipes and food traditions are pictured here. L to R: Edna, Ede, Tilly, Hilma and Grandma Annie Salvevold (seated).
If your recipe box looks like mine, it includes dozens of family recipes connected to the special women in your life.
Some are handwritten by their namesakes and include their personal tips and tricks. Others have been duplicated and passed down through multiple generations, but will be forever tied to that one particular person whose signature dish has brought so much joy to the table over the years.
I consider myself, or anyone else in possession of such recipes that they continue to make and share, to be a “keeper”—the caretaker of those beloved dishes that represent their family’s history, culture and traditions.
Keeper [kee-per]
The caretaker of those beloved dishes that represent their family’s history, culture and traditions.
There are many keepers in my family whom I’ve loved tapping through the past few years to collect and share our most beloved recipes. But first, I need to give credit to the following ladies whose vintage recipes are the ones we “keep” and whom I consider to be the original keepers for their role in shaping the food traditions that my family still celebrates today.
The Original Keepers
While each of these women brought their own unique flair to the table, they also had similar life experiences which likely influenced their own cooking. All were born in the early 1900s to large families that immigrated from Norway, Ireland and Germany. They learned to cook on their family farms or by helping to prepare meals through the Great Depression when ingredients were scarce. Later, they experienced a changing time in American culinary culture when modern kitchen conveniences (refrigeration! deep freezers!) started to emerge and foods like Jell-O, prepared cake mixes and canned soups became more mainstream, opening up a whole new era of menu possibilities.
While these lovely ladies are no longer with us, I can tell you this…their vintage recipes will forever have a place in my recipe box—inspiring me, and hopefully a new generation of keepers, when we cook for our own families.
Hilma
My sweet grandma was happiest when she was feeding others. With Norwegian roots, she did love her lefse and lutefisk, but some of my family’s favorite dishes from Hilma include her Heavenly Hotdish, roast beef hash, homemade buns, blueberry pie and an abundance of cookies that were always at the ready, stored in coffee tins in her deep freezer on the back porch.
Edna
Hilma’s older sister and sidekick, Edna, was always there to lend a hand in the kitchen or help with the dishes at our family celebrations and gatherings. However, Aunt Edna was an amazing cook and baker in her own right. Some of her signature dishes included lefse, glorified rice, lemon meringue pie and klub—a Norwegian dumpling that she topped with melted butter and served with fresh pork on the side.
Ede
When Ede got married, her new mother-in-law worried “poor Johnny” might starve as she thought Ede couldn’t cook. Actually, Aunt Ede turned out to be the Martha Stewart of her time! In addition to being a great cook and baker, she was a master hostess who loved to entertain in her adorable home with her always perfectly set table. Some of the dishes she is known for: meatballs, creamy cucumbers, $250 Chocolate Chip Cookies and Church Egg Dish.
Frances
Frances, or “Grandma Granley,” was a career woman with a full-time job outside of the home so it’s no wonder she grew to appreciate dining out more than spending time in the kitchen! However, she did love making (and eating!) dessert. Every Sunday afternoon, we’d visit her and my grandpa to catch up on life, watch sports and enjoy her special treats such as chocolate cherry cake and her strawberry or pineapple frozen desserts.
Myrtle
A proud German with a twinkle in her eye, my grandma-in-law who we called “Gam” was such a joy to spend time with! I am so glad to have had a seat at her table where there was always so much laughter and where she introduced me to many great dishes like German potato salad, ham loaf with mustard sauce, macaroni hotdish and the absolute-best sloppy joes.
Charlotte
I never had the chance to meet my husband’s grandmother Charlotte, but I feel lucky to have gotten to know her through her many recipes we can’t get enough of such as her famous baked beans, easy-but-so-delicious homemade pancakes, cinnamon rolls and “never fail” doughnuts! Not too mention our holiday favorites like lefse and flatbread!
