The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook

There’s just something about vintage recipes that catch my interest.  I love trying to re-create the types of recipes that I enjoyed as a child. It’s not always easy to find good old fashioned recipes any longer. So many of the newer recipes use ingredients that our parents and grandparents didn’t have or wouldn’t have known how to use to begin with. I really prefer to cook from scratch whenever I have the time so recipes from heirloom cookbooks like The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook work very well.

The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook

The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook is a cookbook that showcases heirloom fruits and vegetables.  The Fabulous Beekman Boys from the Planet Green got together to share recipes from their farm, family, and friends.  This is truly a keepsake cookbook.  The front of the cookbook contains special keepsake folders where you can make notes, store some of your family recipes, or leave a note or photographs for your children when you pass the cookbook on. The photographs included in The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook are truly stunning.  Not only are there photographs of the finished recipes and many of the ingredients used, but also included are beautiful pictures of the historic farm in upstate New York.  I could sit and look through it all afternoon with no problem at all.

Each of the recipes in The Bookman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook is arranged by season which is a huge help for those of us who prefer to eat by the season.  You will find recipes that use ingredients that are typically available in your garden during each season. As an example spring might feature peas and baby spinach while winter might feature pumpkins and squash.   Each recipe is showcased on its own page with a brief description, detailed ingredients list, and easy to follow instructions.    To the side of each recipe is a notes section with cute graphics so you can make notes about the recipe you created or want to create.  There are also variations for most recipes that suggest substitutions you could make to the original recipe. I really love the range of recipes included in this cookbook.  There is everything you’d need to prepare a delicious variety of meals including appetizers, beverages, main dishes, soups, salads, and desserts. There are simple recipes like the homemade lemonade and the fried green tomatoes along with recipes for a more adventurous cook including the carmelized pear bread pudding and the asparagus torte. I tried the Strawberry Blueberry Crumble and it was delicious!

Whether you want to start a family cookbook tradition to pass onto your children or you want a beautiful gift for yourself or someone else, this is definitely the cookbook you need. There are over 100 different recipes you can try that use farm fresh ingredients.  Pick one up today and create a keepsake for your children.

Article first published as Book review: The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook on Blogcritics.

Disclosure: I received a product or products in order to write my review.  All opinions are mine and mine alone. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255 concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.