Welcome! I’m So Glad You’re Here.
Have you ever tasted a dish so comforting it felt like a hug? A cookie so perfect it became a family legend? Or a simple weeknight dinner so delicious it earned a permanent spot in your rotation?
Those are the moments we live for in the kitchen. Those are the recipes we keep.
Here at Recipes To Keep, we believe that food is the thread that connects generations. It’s in the faded, handwritten recipe cards passed down from a grandmother and the new family favorites discovered together. Our mission is simple: to be your most trusted source for classic American recipes that you will want to make, save, and share for a lifetime.
This isn’t about trendy, complicated meals. This is about the good stuff—the timeless, soul-warming food that brings people together and makes a house feel like home.
Meet Caroline Hayes
My name is Caroline Hayes, and this website is my life’s passion, born from a very special wooden box.
My story begins in a sun-drenched kitchen in rural Ohio, standing on a stool beside my grandmother, Eleanor. Her kitchen was the heart of our home, a magical place where she turned simple ingredients into extraordinary memories. She kept her life’s work in a worn, wooden recipe box, overflowing with cards stained with vanilla and butter. Each one was a treasure.
When I started my own home, that recipe box was the first thing I unpacked. I began a journey of recreating her dishes, but I soon realized that her loving “a pinch of this, a dash of that” instructions needed a little translation for the modern kitchen.
So I made it my mission to test, perfect, and preserve these classics. I measured every pinch, timed every bake, and noted every tip to ensure the recipes were not only as good as I remembered but were also foolproof for cooks of all levels.
I’m not a restaurant chef; I’m a dedicated home cook and a meticulous recipe archivist. My expertise lies in honoring the past while making it work for our busy lives today.
What You’ll Find on Recipes To Keep
My promise is that every recipe on this site is a keeper. That means it is:
- Tried, True, and Tested: Every dish has been rigorously tested in my own kitchen to guarantee it’s reliable, delicious, and deserving of a place in your recipe collection.
- Rooted in American Tradition: We celebrate the classics, from Sunday pot roast and fluffy buttermilk biscuits to the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
- Written with Clear, Simple Instructions: You won’t find any guesswork here. Just straightforward steps that lead to success every time.
- Filled with Heart: I share the stories and memories behind the food, because knowing the “why” behind a recipe makes it taste that much better.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Thank you for visiting. I hope this site becomes your go-to resource for meals that matter. I invite you to explore the recipes, create your own memories, and build a collection of keepers for your own family.
Why not start with Grandma Eleanor’s Famous Apple Pie or browse our collection of Easy Weeknight Dinners?
And to make sure you never miss a new keeper, please subscribe to our newsletter for the latest recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
From my kitchen to yours,
Caroline Hayes