About Me

This project started as a simple tribute to my grandmother, Val, whose handwritten recipe cards were my first lessons in the kitchen. Her dishes weren’t just meals; they were stories, memories, and acts of love.

After she passed in 2014, I found myself flipping through her splattered, scribbled-on index cards, laughing at her margin notes (“Add more butter always!”) and reliving moments spent at her counter. I realized these recipes deserved more than a dusty box in a cupboard, they deserved to be shared.

In 2015, I launched Val’s Recipe Box to honor her legacy. What began as a digital archive of her classics has grown into a space where I blend her timeless recipes with my own twists, because even tradition leaves room for a little bourbon in the apple pie.

What You’ll Find Here

• Family Recipes, Unfussy & Full of Flavor: Think hearty meatloaf, flaky pies, and pancakes that taste like Sunday mornings.
• Stories Behind the Dishes: Every recipe comes with a memory why Val’s lasagna was legendary, or how I (still) manage to burn garlic bread.
• A Community of Home Cooks: I love hearing how you adapt these recipes for your own families. Your comments and shared stories keep Val’s spirit alive in new kitchens.

Why It Matters

Food connects us. Whether it’s recreating Val’s double-crust apple pie or discovering your own family’s version, these dishes tie us to the people and moments we cherish. My hope is that Val’s Recipe Box inspires you to dig out those old recipe cards, gather around the table, and keep the tradition going, one imperfect, buttery, delicious bite at a time.

Thanks for being here. Now, let’s get cooking.