I Am Looking for Ideas on Making Family Reunion Memorable Treats

Your older family members have some wonderful stories to tell about your family's past.

During a family reunion, there will be lots of talking and laughing and good food. Many people will spend time sharing stories about growing up together and what things were like when they were young. And to get the conversation flowing, they will need treats that inspire them to talk about themselves or about their past. Below are some ideas for foods that are designed to do just that. Does this Spark an idea?

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Family Tree of Cookies
- Draw a family tree on a paper tablecloth, or make a tree shape out of construction paper. Bake sugar cookies shaped like leaves and write the name of each person in the family on the leaf in icing. Arrange them on the appropriate position on the tree. Bake extra for people who have married into the family and leave icing out so they can put names on their cookies as well.
Family Elders' Favorite Treats
- Ask the oldest members of the family what treats were popular or what their favorites were when they were young. If you need to buy a brand of food that was popular long ago, you may be able to find it online or by tracking down the original manufacturer, or you may be able to find a recipe to replicate the taste. Also ask if there are any stories to tell about the treats and why they loved them. You may hear stories about candy such as Turkish Taffy from the Woolworth's counter, violet flavored sugar drops or bubble gum cigarettes.
Family Crest Cake
- If your family has a crest, use it as a template to decorate the top of a cake. If there is no crest that you know of, this is your chance to have fun by inventing one. When you are coming up with a family crest, remember to incorporate the first letter of the family name, anything that the family is known for and a reference to where your family came from. Invite your family members to submit designs for the crest before the reunion, as a way of including everyone in this project.
Country of Origin
- If your family traces its history to a particular country, include a treat or two from there or include an ingredient from that country. For instance, if your family is Irish, you could include soda bread or cupcakes flavored with chocolate and Guinness stout. If your ancestors are from Mexico, you might include candied limes or huevitos. If your family comes from many countries, try to include one treat to represent each.