Our Favorite Recipe Card Boxes –And Why We'll Always Love Our Old Ones

By Patricia S. York

Modern technology has put the culinary world at our fingertips, enabling us to quickly discover new and exciting recipes from around the globe. Southern cooks like to utilize our Ipads, Iphones, and laptops like everyone else, but never, ever suggest we part with our heirloom cookbooks or recipe box and cards. One simple reason we hang onto them is because they hold the family favorites, those tried-and-true recipes that have been on the dessert buffets and groaning boards of every birthday celebration and holiday get-together. We also love old recipe boxes and cards because they are a piece of our family history. Alongside the batter splatters and grease spots can be found our Grandmother’s note, in her precious handwriting, instructing us to add a pinch of salt to the cornbread or to adjust the bake time of a troublesome pound cake recipe. Every recipe has a story that relates to our past (we call this Aunt Margaret’s cake because…, your grandma and I made these cookies when…)and an early morning browsing through the recipe tin can be as nostalgic as looking through the family photo album. If there is a new bride or novice cook on your guest list, gift her with a personalized recipe box so she can start her own traditions.

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Wooden Podium Box

Amazon

This vintage-inspired recipe box resembles an old-fashioned breadbox. Along with the quaint look, it has a convenient ledge to hold your recipe card as you cook.

Buy It: Vintiquewise™ Old Style Wooden Podium Recipe Box, $23.99; amazon.com

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Engraved Monogram

Etsy.com/stampoutonline

This personalized recipe Box is a great way to collect those secret family recipes generation after generation.

Buy It: Custom Recipe Box & Dividers, from $35; etsy.com

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Citrus Floral Tin

Anthropologie

This pretty box, designed by Rifle Paper Company, is big enough to safeguard all your prized recipes for years to come.

Buy It: Grand Dame Recipe Tin, $38; anthropologie.com

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Olivewood Box

Williams Sonoma

Olivewood is beautiful as well as extremely sturdy, making this recipe box well suited for years of use in the kitchen.

Buy It: Olivewood Recipe Box, $44.95; williams-sonoma.com

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Black Floral Tin

Amazon

This beautiful metal recipe box is sure to bring back memories of cooking in Grandma’s kitchen, and it will look great on your counter, as well.

Buy It: Splendid Chef Metal Recipe Box Set, $25; amazon.com

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Museum Florals

Jet

This recipe box is too pretty to shove to the back of the pantry. A colorful William Morris floral print decorates the laminated sturdy cardboard recipe box with a hinged lid.

Buy It: Victoria & Albert Museum William Morris Recipe Box, $12.68; jet.com

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