Family Recipe Interview Cards

What you need

• Paper, 1 index card or sheet per dish, plus 1 scrap sheet for notes
• Crayons or markers, a handful

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Tell your chosen grown-up or grandparent about the interview ahead of time so they can pick a dish and have a few minutes to chat. Find a quiet spot at the table.

1. Pick a grown-up or grandparent to interview.
2. Choose one family dish to ask about.
3. Ask what the dish is called and who taught them to make it. Write the name at the top of your card.
4. Ask for every ingredient, and how much of each one.
5. Ask which tools and pan you need.
6. Ask what you do first, then next, in order.
   Ask: Which step do you think will be the trickiest to do?
7. Ask how it is cooked, and how they know it is done.
8. Ask for the secret tip, and the mistake to avoid.
9. Ask when the family eats it, and the story behind it.
10. Copy the recipe neatly onto your card, then cook it together!
    Ask: Who in the family should you interview next?

Ideas to try

• What is this dish called, and who taught you to make it?
• What ingredients go in it?
• How much of each ingredient do you use?
• Do you ever swap an ingredient for something else?
• What tools, bowls and pan do you need?
• What do you do first?
• What comes next, and after that?
• Do you mix, knead, chop or stir, and for how long?
• Is it baked, fried, boiled or no-cook?
• How hot does the oven or stove need to be?
• How long does it cook?
• How do you know when it is done?
• What is the secret tip that makes it taste just right?
• What mistake should I avoid?
• When does our family eat it?
• What is the story behind this dish?
• Who in the family loves it the most?
• Would you teach me to make it?

Play it again

• Dish detective: interview two relatives about the same dish and compare their answers.
• Recipe book: collect cards from different family members and tie them into a family recipe book.
• Cook it together: pick one card and make the dish with the person you interviewed.