1. Gather Your Recipes
Start with the recipes that have a story. The cake Grandma made for every birthday. The Thanksgiving stuffing everyone argues over. The Sunday dinner that was never quite written down the same way twice.
You can include up to 50 recipes in your order. They can be handwritten 3x5 index cards, clipped newspaper clippings, spiral notebook pages, or typed recipe cards from church bake sales.
2. Photograph with Your Phone
You never have to risk losing irreplaceable family treasures in the mail. Simply place each card on a flat surface (a clean countertop or kitchen table) near a window with natural light, and snap a clear overhead photo.
- Both sides welcome: If a recipe has notes or frosting instructions on the back, snap both sides.
- No scanner required: Any modern smartphone camera produces more than enough resolution for our transcription team.
- Submit in batches: You can upload all 50 at once in our intake portal, or add them over a few days as you sort through the box.
3. We Transcribe & Design Your Book
This is where the heavy lifting happens. Instead of you spending your weekends squinting at faded ballpoint pen and typing ingredients into a blank document, Recipe Restore handles the entire transcription and layout:
- Faded Cursive Decoded: Our team carefully reads vintage handwriting, vintage kitchen shorthand (like T. vs tsp, or oleo), and margin notes.
- Handwriting Preserved: We don't discard the handwriting. Each recipe spread features the original scanned card photo on one page and the clean, legible directions on the facing page.
- Cohesive Theme: Your cookbook is styled in your chosen design theme (Heritage, Heirloom, or Modern) with an elegant cover, dedication page, and table of contents.
4. Review, Download, and Share
Within 3 to 5 business days, you receive a private proof link. You can check the ingredients, review any tricky handwriting spots, and ensure every name and family note is perfect.
Once approved, you receive the full, high-resolution PDF cookbook. Keep a copy on your phone or iPad in the kitchen, email copies to all your siblings and cousins, or print copies at your favorite local print shop.