My grandmother's handwritten recipe card got ruined by a splash of water and I was actually relieved about it

So my grandma passed away 2 years ago and I got her recipe box. Everyone in my family treats her recipes like holy relics, always talking about 'Mom's secret ingredient' and how nothing compares. Last month I was making her famous apple pie and a cup of water tipped over on the counter, soaked the card completely. Ink ran everywhere, half the ingredients were unreadable. I expected to feel terrible but honestly I felt kind of free? Because now I can't follow it exactly anymore so I just winged it. Used brown sugar instead of white, added some cinnamon I had in the cabinet. Turned out WAY better than hers ever did. Made me wonder if half the 'family tradition' stuff is just nostalgia talking. My sister found out and got mad at me for being careless. I told her maybe Grandma's recipe wasn't that great to begin with and she stormed off. Anyone else ever secretly think a family recipe is overhyped?

2 comments

2 Comments

drew79114d ago

That relief you felt is just honesty breaking through the guilt you were taught to carry.

david_adams14d ago

Yeah, @drew791, that's exactly right - I felt the same weight lift when I finally admitted the same thing to myself.