Family Traditions in the Kitchen: The Recipes Behind Just Among Friends
Just Among Friends is where we keep the recipes our family and friends actually cook: the ones that get requested at every holiday and texted around when someone asks, “How do you make that again?” Many of them carry a name, because they came from a person.
Recipes with a name attached
- Grandma June’s Meatloaf: ground sirloin and pork from the butcher, soaked bread for tenderness, and Hunt’s tomato sauce. Old-fashioned in the best way.
- Mom’s Famous Chili: ground chuck, kidney beans, tomatoes, onion and celery. Simple, hearty and on the table in about 80 minutes.
- Teresa’s Award Winning Chili: applewood bacon, ground chuck, Italian sausage and jalapeño, simmered for two hours.
- Teresa’s Glazed Meatloaf: a sweet and tangy ketchup, brown sugar and cider vinegar glaze.
- Debbie’s Baked Mostaccioli: hot Italian sausage and tomato sauce, finished with parmesan and mozzarella.
- Krista’s Pasta Salad: rotini, olives, tomatoes, salami and Italian dressing, a cookout staple.
- Rachel’s Bulgogi: thin-sliced beef in a soy, sesame and sake marinade.
Traditions evolve, and that’s okay
Family recipes aren’t frozen in time. Our Miami Spaghetti and Meatballs is the original; the revised version adds San Marzano tomatoes, red pepper and red wine to the sauce. We keep both, because the original is part of the story.
Some traditions come from friends. Our Beer Bratwurst recipe came from a friend in Wisconsin and has been a family favorite for more than 20 years.
How to save your own family recipes
- Write it down while you watch. “A handful” and “until it looks right” are real measurements. Measure them the next time the recipe is made.
- Record the details that matter. The brand of tomato sauce, the butcher-ground meat, the pan you always use. Our recipes keep those notes on purpose.
- Take a photo. Even a quick phone shot helps the next cook know what they’re aiming for.
- Put a name on it. A recipe with a person’s name gets cooked, shared and remembered.
Cook it together
The best way to pass a recipe down is to make it side by side. Pick one family dish this month, cook it with someone who hasn’t made it before, and write down what you learn. Browse our Family Favorites for a place to start.
