Cooking with Larry

Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, "What has been, it is what will be, and what has been done, it is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun." This book of recipes is "nothing new under the sun", but rather a collection of favorites, gathered from family, friends, friends of friends, cookbooks, online resources, and Larry's own creations-formulated from his gift of culinary inquisitiveness.

We may never know the origin of many of these recipes, some only providing a name, a piece of history, or a link to an internet presence. And while it is possible to investigate a bit deeper into the singular source in order to properly give credit where credit is due, the truth is, there is no way of knowing if any of these recipes are in their original form, as Larry had a unique way of making each recipe his very own, leaving his mark on everything he created, adding a teaspoon here or substituting there.

Many of these recipes were family favorites, familiar tastes and smells in the House of Brandenburg. They became our traditions, our expectations at family gatherings, along with the story of their history or a recollection of the inspiration.

Larry fed us physically and spiritually, pouring into us through his knowledge and his gifts. We were so blessed to have such a man in our lives, a man who loved the Lord and his family well. I hope that all who stumble upon this collection of favorites will find joy in the familiarity of those they remember and the novelty of those he finely tuned, seeing the husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend, as they embark on a journey while Cooking with Larry.