Thank You

To all those family members, friends and relatives for contributing your recipes, ideas, comments, and suggestions. The involvement of so many of you in the process has been one of the fun parts of putting this book together and what makes it special and unique.

I feel that this book is a tribute to all the cooks in our families and a great representation of our history. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did putting it together and that it will inspire the next generations of cooks - Diane

Those of us who have responded to Diane's gentle encouragement share her pleasure. We remember the names, the personal styles, the special foods we have eaten, sometimes at the same table, grateful for those who served us so willingly. Mother was a bride at the turn of the 20th century and she cooked for her family sixty-seven years. Her Sunday chicken dinners, her mashed potatoes, and apple pies will never be forgotten. Much has changed since then but cooking for those we love still is a sure way to say "I care for you". - Mari

Overview

> Purpose

This Recipe Book was created to consolidate, preserve and share the recipes of the Leipper Family. It is also a history book; a place to share memories, to display recipes handwritten by various family members, and it includes exerts from old family recipe and cooking books.

> Definition of Family

Determining "family" as related to this book, has taken thought and discussion. To provide focus (loosely) it seemed best to start with myself (Diane Leipper) and go from there.

Therefore the families of the Robert and Myrtle Leipper and Bryan and Jo Harrison, my grandparents, provide the foundation. The families include Dale and Virginia Leipper, Dean and Mary Stitt, Al and Leah Grosse, Eugene and Aurora Leipper, and Ted and Dorothy Higgins. This also includes spouses, children and grandchildren on down the line.

Other relatives and special friends of these family member have also been included.

> Editorial Comments

To preserve the originality of the recipes, they have been transcribed as closely as possible to the way they were written by the cook or as they were written in the source. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and content (or lack thereof) have been copied as accurately as possible.

In many instances a specific recipe was found in multiple sources, in Grandma Leipper's, or Grandma Harrison's recipe boxes, or submitted by more than one person. Finding multiple copies is a good indicator that the recipe is favorite so they were definitely included in this book. The specific version of the included recipe was usually chosen by the identity of the source (cook), one from whom I had few or no other contributions. Sometimes, if there are major differences or if there is some other significant historical or anecdotal reason, two versions are included.

For convenience I have tried to group similar recipes together. For instance Mexican with Mexican and pork with pork. For a variety or reasons this was not always possible.

Mother (Virginia) found an old book that belonged to Dorothy Edwards. Dorothy is a relative on the Harrison side. A card inclosed with the book from Dorothy to Mother says that the book was Dorothy's grandmother's book and is from 1880. It appears to be a complete manual on running a household including recipes, menus, taking care of sick people, dress making, outfitting a kitchen, cleaning, and "management of the help."

I have included some comments from this book throughout this recipe book. They will be boxed text identified with a symbol.

This book also included illustrations, some of which I have interspersed throughout this recipe book.

> Notes

One of the things that I have realized in compiling this recipe book is the creativeness of our family cooks. It is something you know but don't really see till you start putting things together.

I noticed that on recipes written by Myrtle Leipper, Jo Harrison, and other family members that only the basics, such as a list of ingredients were included. Amount, measurement of ingredients, or instructions were often not written down. When I was talking to Dad about this he said that was probably because Mom (Myrtle) knew what do and so she just wrote down enough to act as a reminder.

When I asked Dad for some of his memories to put in this recipe book The first thing that comes to his mind is his Mom's chicken and dumplings.

> In response to an e-mail requesting family recipes

Oh golly, I will get out my recipe box. It is an emotional experience for me as I remember various special celebrations and the menus we used. I tend to new recipes and am a near vegetarian now. It is fascinating to think of how even our cooking styles have altered. I think you have Mother's recipes that I would include. - MLS

The cooking days I remember are from the time when we lived at Lake Placid, TX. I was 10 - 15 years old. Betty Crocker had the only cookies worth eating. I remember making cookies, cakes, quick bread and yeasted breads. I don't remember sweets in the house - so I guess we had to make our own! - ADL

Some of my fondest memories of trips to San Diego were when all the family, Grandma and Grampa Leipper, Mary and Dean Stitt and Dana and Rod, Leah and Al Grosse and their kids Karen, David, Jeannine, and Roberta, Uncle Eugene and Aurora, Aunt Tress and Bob Lang and various other relatives all got together for a big picnic. - DLL

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