I have to say…the lemon butter recipe is a hit! I think the women in my dad’s life who made this would be very proud! Those women were part of the Bothwell family of Maryland and New Jersey. Here they are from a 1948 family reunion…my dad’s aunts, uncle, and mom. Ella is on the left, then Carrie (whose recipe book I have), Frank, Grace, Lillian (my grandmother), and Blanche.

This was one of the easiest recipes I have ever tried, so let me show you. The only ingredients you need are eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon rind, and butter (forgot to include butter in the picture 🙁 ) Since this was my first attempt, I decided to halve the recipe in case it didn’t turn out. By the way, you can make this dairy-free by substituting Earth Balance for the butter…that’s what I did.

Everything gets dumped in. I don’t own a double boiler, so I improvised and put a metal bowl in a heavy pan filled with water.

Stir continuously to keep lumps from forming.

Well, I stirred and there were still some lumps so a strainer came in handy.

And that’s it! When I tasted it, I was transported back in time to when my Aunt Becky would make lemon butter. What a fabulous feeling! Next time I make this I will not halve the recipe…it’s too good!

There are so many ways to use lemon butter…in a parfait with fresh fruit, as a filling for a tart or warm over homemade gingerbread (one of my favorite winter desserts). The actual recipe can be found in the first part of this post here. What recipes do you have that can give you a taste of the past?

Genealogy tip: If you have a recipe and a picture of the person making the recipe, you can create some wonderful art pieces to put in your kitchen or dining room.

Our past is filled with old recipes, but we have to find those ancestors first. If you need help getting started or breaking through a brick wall, give me a shout.

They opened a B&B and welcomed guests from all over the world. Their little corner of the Northeast Kingdom allowed everyone to love the same things about New England that they loved.

Since my dad was a wonderful pianist, music was always a big hit with new friends.

But so was the food. That was Mom’s department. They put together a booklet that included recipes from family and friends, old standby favorites, and several from my dad’s childhood captured in an old (and very worn) recipe book by his Aunt Carrie.

One of my favorites was Lemon Butter (aka Lemon Curd):

I have fond memories of my Aunt Becky making lemon butter. I have never tried to make it myself, but I think it’s time! Check back with me next week to see how I did and if I discovered any other recipes from this treasured book.

Genealogy tip: Delving into the past doesn’t have to be all about records and documents. Find cookbooks and recipes from your family’s past and try them out on a new generation. You might just encourage a tradition that lasts for years to come.

You never know what may come your way, but help with your ancestry can start here: