Lila’s Pie Crust
A handwritten 1969 recipe for Lila’s Pie Crust—with an unusual chilled flour-and-water mixture that makes this simple crust worth a closer look.
The Collection
At Aunt Bertha’s Recipe Box, you’ll find handwritten recipes, typed pages, clippings and back-of-the-box finds saved through the years. Shared as originally written, they reflect the ingredients and methods of their time. Enjoy them with a smile and a sense of nostalgia.
Peppernuts
A typed Peppernuts recipe from Christmas 1925—tiny spiced cookies and a century-old glimpse into holiday baking from the recipe box.
Laurene’s Oatmeal Crispies
A typed recipe for Laurene’s Oatmeal Crispies—chill the dough overnight, then slice and bake for crisp oatmeal cookies filled with chopped walnuts.
Myrtle’s Ice Cream
A typed recipe for Myrtle’s Ice Cream—with melted marshmallows standing in for the usual custard, this is homemade ice cream with a sweet little trick up its sleeve.
Meat Balls
A handwritten recipe for Meat Balls—with uncooked rice mixed right in and tomato soup poured over the top, these aren’t your everyday meatballs.
Macaroni Salad
A typed Macaroni Salad recipe submitted as someone’s favorite—with shrimp, crab, or cabbage among the optional ways to make it your own.
Lillian’s Stir and Roll Bread
Handwritten across a piece of 1959 mail, Lillian’s Stir and Roll Bread pairs a clever roll-and-fold method with a 4¢ little piece of history.
Lemon Filling
A typed recipe for Lemon Filling—fresh lemon, a double boiler, and everything you need to give a lemon meringue pie its sunny center.
Hershey Bar Cornflakes Cookies
A typed recipe for Hershey Bar Cornflakes Cookies—melt a candy bar, add cornflakes, dates, and nuts, and suddenly not turning on the oven sounds delicious.
Hawaiian Style Spareribs
Typed on a personalized recipe card, Hawaiian Style Spareribs bring pineapple, brown sugar, and soy sauce together for one sweet-and-tangy dinner worth saving.
Frosted Fruit Drink
A typed recipe for Frosted Fruit Drink that blurs the line between punch and dessert—orange, ice cream, and enough frosty goodness to keep a crowd coming back for another glass.
Susie’s Chocolate Oatmeal Cake
A handwritten recipe for Susie’s Chocolate Oatmeal Cake brings cocoa, oats, and coconut frosting together in one pan—proof that oatmeal knows how to have a good time.
Miriam’s Cherry Pie
A handwritten cherry pie recipe with a surprising layer of grated American cheese tucked beneath the fruit filling.
Bran Muffins
Raisin bran, buttermilk, and a curious six-week keeping claim give these Bran Muffins a little more story than you’d expect.
Apple Pudding
A handwritten recipe for Apple Pudding—shredded apples, warm spices, and the very good suggestion to serve it hot with ice cream.
Patience or Burned Sugar Candy
A handwritten recipe for Patience or Burned Sugar Candy—caramelized sugar, butter, vanilla, nuts, and a name that doubles as very good advice.
Chocolate Indians With Frosting
A handwritten recipe for Chocolate Indians With Frosting—24 cocoa-and-nut squares, warm frosting, and one important instruction: “Eat same day!”
Billie’s Angel Food System
Handwritten angel food cake baking notes with mixing and baking instructions for a tall, light cake that “never fails.”
Scott’s Sweet Pickles
A handwritten recipe for Scott’s Sweet Pickles—pack the jars, turn them every few days, and let two weeks do the rest.
Cressa’s Spice Cookies
A handwritten 1970 recipe for Cressa’s Spice Cookies—with molasses, warm spices, Cressa’s own shortcut, and one rule: “Do not over bake.”
Dilly Casserole Bread
A handwritten recipe for Dilly Casserole Bread—cottage cheese, dill, and onion baked into a golden yeast loaf with no loaf pan required.
Dumplings
A handwritten recipe for Dumplings—four basic ingredients, one simmering kettle, and a simple way to turn broth and meat into dinner.
Fudge Cookie Recipe
A typed 1954 recipe for Fudge Cookies—chocolate, marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs, and nuts come together without ever turning on the oven.
Ginger Snaps
A handwritten recipe for Ginger Snaps—molasses, warm spices, a roll through sugar, and five dozen very good reasons to fill the cookie jar.