In a blink 25 becomes 35.

Did I ever tell you this story? When I turned 25 my mom went through all the tried and true recipes that she made when I was growing up. She hand wrote each and every one on a separate sheet, placed them in a plastic sheet protector and organized the entire list in a three ring binder complete with different sections. She covered all the bases – from Salads, to Main Dishes, Cocktail recipes, to Pies and Cookies – I have all the recipes that she is known for.
Mom presented the binder to me on my birthday “To my favorite Chef.” If I ever follow a main course recipe, it’s my attempt at recreating a meal “like mom made.” Fact is, I own hundreds of cookbooks – I am an addict. I love food photography!What really and truly makes my heart sing is baking. Maybe it’s the perfectionist Virgo in me? {winkwink} The fact that if you follow a baking recipe down to a T it will look, taste and be exactly what the photo looks like in the cookbook. I love that. It is so incredibly satisfying! Celebrating as a kid, I always wanted my birthday cake to be white cake with lemon yellow frosting and have colorful sprinkles on top. Funny thing is, I don’t even like cake very much. It’s the icing – it’s too sweet. I am more of a coffee cake kind of gal.
Anywhoo… there won’t be any baking for me today. Heck, we’ll be lucky if the kitchen is installed and unpacked in time for Thanksgiving! I am simply marking the date. It’s been ten years I have had my binder and I am incredibly thankful for that. I am off to enjoy what’s left of my 35th birthday in New York City. I am so happy to be taking a break from the cleaning and the boxes in Connecticut and celebrating in the city I have called home for so many years. Have a wonderful day!

Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / Nesting and Personal and Uncategorized

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25 Responses to “In a blink 25 becomes 35.”

  1. Belly on 31 Aug 2010 at 11:29 am

    Happy birthday, Amy! What an amazingly thoughtful gift from your mom – the best kind! Enjoy every bit left from your day, and have the best year!

  2. ABC Dragoo on 31 Aug 2010 at 11:32 am

    Thank you so much Chedva!
    xo

  3. susan on 31 Aug 2010 at 11:36 am

    Happy “B”!!! Enjoy. I remember 35, a great feeling.

  4. stacystyle on 31 Aug 2010 at 11:56 am

    Happy Birthday, Amy!
    What a beautiful post and a slightly tear-inducing gift from your mother 10 years ago. May every day just get better and better for you!
    P.S. Absolutely gorgeous photo of you in the kitchen!

  5. carrieitly on 31 Aug 2010 at 12:19 pm

    This post makes me smile. Shortly after moving to Italy my mother sent me a similar binder my favorite family recipes. It is the first place I go when meal planning, and I treasure it.

    The Swedish Tea Ring looks scrumptious.

    Tanti Auguri!

  6. ABCDDesigns on 31 Aug 2010 at 12:32 pm

    It is one of the most wonderful gifts, isn’t it? To be able to recreate dishes that bring a sense of history and nostalgia to your heart..

    Thanks for commenting today.
    xoABCD

  7. ABCDDesigns on 31 Aug 2010 at 12:34 pm

    Thanks so much Stacy – I really appreciate the birthday wishes.
    xox

    As for the photo ~thanks for the compliment. That is my Hip Hostess “Cherry Me” apron… from what I understand, I am going to get featured on her wall of “hostesses with the mostesses!” ;)

  8. Maggie on 31 Aug 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Happy happy birthday to you!

  9. simply grove on 31 Aug 2010 at 1:28 pm

    Happy Birthday!!! xx

  10. Susan on 31 Aug 2010 at 2:45 pm

    Happy Birthday…and that first cake photo is sinful! ;)

  11. ABC Dragoo on 31 Aug 2010 at 3:03 pm

    Susan, click the image and you can get the recipe!! xox

  12. Maybelline on 31 Aug 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Happy Birthday!!!! Gorgeous photo!!! :-) Enjoy the celebration!!!

  13. Design Blahg on 31 Aug 2010 at 3:30 pm

    Happy Bday senorita! 35 is totes the new 25!

  14. ABC Dragoo on 31 Aug 2010 at 5:07 pm

    LOL! @designblahg, I am so old that I had to read your comment 3 times before I realized what totes means. Ha!

  15. Ludmila {creamylife.com} on 31 Aug 2010 at 5:47 pm

    Once again happy birthday, Amy! your mom is amazing! xoxoxo

  16. ABCDDesigns on 01 Sep 2010 at 7:59 am

    Thank you Ludmila ~ I really do feel lucky.
    Not only to have my mom, but also all the sweet wishes I received both here and on Twitter yesterday.

    It was *so* wonderful to have everyone wishing me such a lovely day. :)
    xoABCD

  17. maureen on 01 Sep 2010 at 10:02 am

    happy, happy birthday Amy! everything look so lovely & scrumptious! and u look so adorable in that cherry apron and what a sweet Mamma u have…so happy that u had a fabulous birthday!

  18. Debbbie @TheHipHostess on 01 Sep 2010 at 11:08 am

    Your Mom and I think alike. The first Christmas Andrea was married, I did something similar, I printed up all our favorite family recipes, including many of my own mother’s dishes and organized them all in binder. Like you, she absolutely loved it and says she uses it all the time and couldn’t be without it now. I think it’s such a lovely way for a Mom to pass down a generation of recipes to her daughter. By the way, you’re looking so darling and domestic in your apron, hope it will serve you well in your charming country kitchen!

  19. Jenny on 01 Sep 2010 at 12:01 pm

    Happy, happy Birthday! What a great gift your mother gave you, family recipes are the best for sure.

  20. Melinda on 01 Sep 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Happy Birthday, ABCD!!! So excited for you-perfect timing with Fall almost upon us. It’s the perfectionist in me that caused me to give up baking when I moved to 7500 feet. I know I need to just dive in and start trying those adjustments. I always loved to bake growing up. Maybe I’ll follow your lead. Best wishes and have a great day.

  21. Margaret Murphy Tripp on 02 Sep 2010 at 3:16 pm

    Happy Birthday! Love your site and the chocolate torte looks absolutely amazing!

  22. ABCDDesigns on 02 Sep 2010 at 3:20 pm

    Margaret, click on the image and it will take you to the recipe!!
    Thanks so much for the birthday wishes.
    xoABCD

  23. Sarah Devaney-O'Neil on 02 Sep 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Amy, just after 5 when I have no idea what to have for dinner, you totally sucked me in with that first picture…:-)!! Yum… good thing its not “actually” sitting in front of me :-)

  24. Kelsey on 02 Sep 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Happy Birthday – I’m a Virgo, too! (15th). Happy belated birthday!

  25. Recipes for a happy marriage, #5 | Richmond, Virginia Wedding and Event Planner | Merriment Events on 15 Oct 2010 at 9:17 am

    [...] often blogs yummy dishes she’s making, many of them from a cookbook her mother prepared for her. I’ll let Amy tell you the story…When I turned 25, my mom [...]

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