When Grandma Rachel moved to a smaller apartment, the family helped her pack. In a box of old papers, Holly found a notebook with a torn blue cover. On the first page, in neat handwriting, it said: "Recipes — 1972".
Holly opened it and started to read. There were recipes for soups, cakes and cookies, but there was more. Next to the recipe for orange cake, Grandma had written: "Made this for Alex's first birthday. He ate the whole thing with his hands!" Alex was Holly's father.
Some pages had stains of oil and chocolate. Other pages had notes like "too sweet — use less sugar" or "Mom's way is better". Holly realized that the notebook was not just a book of food. It was a diary of her family.
That weekend, Holly and Grandma baked the orange cake together. Grandma didn't need to look at the recipe; she remembered every step. While the cake was in the oven, she told Holly stories Holly had never heard before.
Now Holly has a plan. She is copying the recipes into a new notebook, and next to each one she is writing Grandma's stories — so that one day she can give it to her own children.