I am a great one for writing in the margins next to the recipes, but I make important notes as to the date I made it, who I made it for or what holiday it was......some recipes have become certain holiday traditions....I don't make it all year, except for that particular holiday.....I find myself still making things that I made when I was with my first husband, years ago.....I'm carrying over old created traditions..... I was raised by several families when I was growing up & I have recipes from all of them..... I however am childless, that is why I am passing on my treasured recipes to my friends & their families..... My friends & I are also exchanging recipes....we are from diverse family he ritages & have much to share with each other...

Every bride should have an old German (or other) grandma-type Living upstairs. When I went to make my grandma's Pierogi recipe It called for putting the dry ingredients on a breadboard, then Adding the eggs and liquids and kneading them together. This Resulted in a mess since I wasn't experienced enough to do it Gradually. Grandma Graff (bless her) explained: In the old country they Had to haul water and heat it to clean up a bowl. On the bread Board they simply scraped the remaining dough and were done! Therefore, I could put everything into my mixing bowl and simply Clean it in the sink when done. Viola! It worked well and I made pierogis without having to Clean the kitchen floor as well. I bless Grandma Graff -- not even related to me -- for all she Gave a new bride/new cook. Every bride should be given one, a grandma That is. AnnEllen Barr ellen@barrFinancial.com.