The Milby Project BHAG!

Project Managers, Brian Milby & Maggie Andrews

It's a new year, and with a new year comes new goals, new outlooks, and new very ambitious projects. At some point last year I had a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) to create a Milby family cookbook as a Christmas present for the Milby family. Since last year's Christmas has come and gone sans cookbook, I have set a 2016 goal to complete said cookbook by November 15th. So let me be clear, I'm not a Milby, but my boyfriend happens to be one. Since I'm not a Milby, the historical component of this project is beyond overwhelming; which means I will do what any great project manager would do, and delegate this task....to the Milbys!

For me, my memories are anchored by smells, flavors, and textures. My mother is Filipino and if any one is familiar with the Filipino culture they know that it revolves around weekly potlucks with 60 of your closest Filipino friends. I know the Milby's feel similarly about food, especially since I know that one of the most popular Christmas present requests are Eve's (the Milby matriarch) pecan sandies. Just like any great mom, she bakes them fresh, boxes them up air tight, fights the post office lines during the holiday rush, and ships those sugar dusted nuggets across country to her boys. Now that is quintessential mom love!!!!  Food draws us together even when distance parts us.

Since food conjures memory, I figured that instead of a traditional family cookbook focused on capturing great great great great (2 generations shy of Abraham) great grandma's pot roast type recipes, we would find a way to celebrate current generations too. So the BHAG idea is to create a collection of recipes that invoke a family memory. Each contributing Milby will provide 1-2 recipes that trigger a great family memory, even if it came from the back of a box of elbow noodles. Each contribution will have a dedicated a page in the cookbook to include the recipe, the family memory, and visuals of the final dish. 

My goal is over the next 11 months to work through each recipe. Brian and I will recreate it and photograph each finished plate. As we go along we will be updating this blog with the results. Once completed we will begin assembling the book, and will document how that process goes as well. 

Happy eating! Savor a memory!

Love,

Maggie