Recipe Box Roulette

a culinary "card" game celebrating recipes from time capsules called recipe boxes

The first time I came across a recipe box in a local second-hand store filled with recipe cards, magazine clippings, and newspaper columns a sense of sadness washed over me. Why had these treasured recipes been handed over to this castaway retail shop?

Was it an oversight by the survivors of the curator of this culinary collection? I questioned the shop keeper who told me that they did indeed receive recipe boxes that were filled with recipe cards. Oftentimes, the owner had no survivors or if they did, they really aren’t interested in a bunch of “old recipes.” 

If that was the case, I was determined to do what I could to become the conservator of these culinary time capsules. So, I started my quest for lost and forgotten recipe boxes. To date I have become the guardian of 7 recipes boxes. Three of them belonged to my grandma and I’ve been able to identify the original owners of all of the others with a little gumshoe sleuthing. 

Each of the recipe boxes are filled with stories. Some tell of indulgences others of struggles. There are recipes for celebrations and recipes to help console sorrows. They provide a glimpse of daily life, friendships, family traditions, personalities, and the hopes and dreams of their curators. 

To celebrate the creators of these culinary works of art we have devised a “card” game dubbed Recipe Box Roulette. 

The rules are very simple:

1. Choose a recipe box

2. Choose a card, at random from the contents of said recipe box

3. Read the title of the recipe

4. Put your feelings aside and see what you can find out about the recipe. Hint, the card may provide a story from notes and marginalia  

5. Make the recipe and serve it to family and friends

6. Record any input from the “test” group

7. Share the recipe and discoveries with the world

8. Be gracious. This recipe was kept for a very important reason. The objective is to determine why. 

9. Don’t judge! Learn.

We’re very excited to announce that the fourth Friday of each month will feature a recipe from Recipe Box Roulette. And as such, you’ll become a witness to and collaborator in the celebration of these culinary time capsules as Kim and Leigh regale you with the wonders found within the Recipe Box Collection.

Let the game begin!