Ida Eckberg had at least two recipe books that have survived and are in the possession of her descendants. The oldest is a gingham bound booklet with blank, lined pages. On the first page of this cookbook, now pasted over with old recipes, is the inscription, "Kokbok for Ida Magdalena Almstrom, Athens, Illinois." In the book, Ida and other family members wrote out their favorite recipes. Ida also pasted many recipes and household hints into the inside covers. The booklet is about forty pages long. The recipes Ida recorded start out in Swedish, probably staring shortly after she arrived in America in 1903 (or possibly sent to her by her mother from Sweden), and gradually become English with time. Her daughters probably contributed to the recipes as well, as some of the writing does not appear to be Ida's. Ida or her daughters also recorded all the family names in the back of the booklet. This book is currently (2001) in the possession of Ida's granddaughter, Bernice (Richmond) Pettit.
In addition, Ida had a printed cookbook of which she was a contributor. She had the Cookbook of the Bureau Township Community Club, which was published in 1939. She and Alma both contributed recipes to this 200 page volume. Ida used this book for its recipes but, in addition, added many recipes and household hints to its pages, both by pasting articles into the book and adding recipes between the pages. Ida's granddaughter, Lucille (Bodelson) Warfield is currently caring for this book.
I have transcribed some of the recipes which seem of interest, and will be adding more as time permits. These recipes are a very interesting trip into the past to a time when mothers and wives had to make do with very basic cooking materials, and had to make by hand, at home, many of the things we take for granted when we buy them at the local grocery store. I hope you enjoy reading, and perhaps trying out, these old recipes.
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