Every family has a dish that nobody has written down. The measurements are “a little” and “until it looks right,” and the person who knows it best learned it by watching someone else. Here’s how to keep it.
Cook it together
Recipes come out best while the cooking is happening. Ask to help, tap Tell Story, and put the phone on the counter. When Lana hears both of you talking, she steps back and listens quietly while your hands are busy and stories flow freely.
Ask about more than the steps
- Who taught you to make this? Where were you?
- When did your family make it: every week, or only for holidays?
- What’s different about how you make it now? What couldn’t you find here?
- What’s the mistake everyone makes the first time?
- Who in the family likes it the most?
The story around the dish is often what the family treasures later, more than the quantities.
Pin down the details
When they say “a handful,” ask them to show you, then measure it. Take photos of each stage: what the dough looks like when it’s ready, how thin the slices are, what color the sauce should be. Add the photos to the story so they sit next to the words.
Make it again
Cook it yourself a week later and call with questions. Each question gets a better answer, and another small story.