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A couple of years ago, Bored Panda introduced readers to TikTok creator and archivist Rosie Grant, who was doing something equal parts unusual and unexpectedly touching: visiting cemeteries and tracking down recipes engraved on headstones, then recreating them as a way of preserving the food legacies people chose to leave behind.

Since then, Rosie hasn’t slowed down. Her project, best known online as Ghostly Archive, has turned into a growing collection of “lasting favorites,” from desserts and comfort-food staples to the kind of potluck classics that instantly tell you what someone was famous for in their family.

Do you have a recipe to leave behind? Which of these recipes would you try? Let us know in the comments!

More info: Instagram | tiktok.com

#1

“Snickerdoodles” By Unknown

Tombstone etched with snickerdoodles recipe beside a red plate of cookies and pink flowers in a cemetery setting.

“1 cup soft shortening (part butter)
1½ cups sugar
2 eggs
2x3/4 cups cold medal flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
¼ tsp salt

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix shortening, sugar, and eggs thoroughly. Measure flour by dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Blend all dry ingredients. Stir in.

Roll into balls the size of small walnuts. Roll in mixture of 2 TBSP sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. Place 2 apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

These cookies puff up at first then flatten out.”

Ghostly Archive Report

As part of her journey, Rosie has visited the families of many of the people whose recipes are featured. Although, in some cases, the people whose recipes she found are still alive! Christine W. Hammill, behind the “Good Carrot Cake” recipe, and Peggy of “Peg’s Sugar Cookies”, are still around, and Rosie had the honor to bake the recipes with their creators.

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    #2

    Gramma Guppy's “Chocolate Chip Cookies”

    Woman sitting beside a tombstone with a chocolate chip cookie recipe etched, tracking down recipes across the USA.

    “2 cups Crisco shortening
    1 cup brown sugar
    2 cups white sugar
    4 eggs
    1 tablespoon vanilla
    4½ cups flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    2 teaspoons salt
    2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
    1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

    Directions
    Cream together the shortening and sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla; mix well.
    Sift dry ingredients together and mix into the creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet.
    Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until set and just lightly brown. Do not overbake!”

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #3

    Fleda's “Sugar Cookies”

    Tombstone engraved with sugar cookie recipe and plate of cookies, highlighting recipe etched on tombstones across the USA.

    “Makes about 35 cookies.

    1 cup sugar
    1 cup confectioners sugar
    1 cup margarine
    1 cup vegetable oil
    2 eggs
    1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    ½ teaspoon lemon zest or extract (optional)
    4 ½ cup all purpose flour
    1 tsp baking soda
    1 tsp cream of tartar
    ¼ tsp salt

    Combine sugar, margarine and oil. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla and lemon extracts. Add all dry ingredients, mix well. Use a ¾ ounce cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) and place on an ungreased pan. Flatten with cookie press or glass dipped in sugar (Fleda used a cup with a starburst on it, as depicted at the top of her memorial bench). Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-16 minutes.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    Some recipes are carved in full, while others are only partially inscribed, with families filling in the missing steps so the dish can live on the way it was meant to be made.

    #4

    Whanita's “Fried Ripe Tomato Recipe”

    Gravestone etched with a fried ripe tomato recipe, part of a woman tracking down recipes on tombstones across the USA.

    “Tools: Electric frying pan, baking dish, spatula

    3 large ripe tomatoes
    3 cups of flour
    3 tablespoons butter
    3 tablespoons olive oil
    ½ cup milk

    Pre-heat pan to 350-400 degrees
    Heat butter and olive oil in a pan. Put flour in a dish for coating. Cut tomatoes into thick slices and dip in flour when the pan is hot.

    Place tomatoes in the pan and cook the first side for 4-6 minutes until dark brown. Flip and cook the other side for 2- 4 minutes.

    Place tomatoes in a baking dish. Deglaze hot pan with milk by stirring milk in the pan until mixture becomes a little thicker (2-3 minutes). Pour the milk mixture over the tomatoes and let sit for 30 minutes salt and pepper to taste.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #5

    Sharon's “French Silk Pie”

    Tombstone etched with Sharon’s French Silk Pie recipe, part of woman’s recipe tracking across the USA.

    “Filling
    1 stick butter (½ cup)
    3/4 cup sugar
    2 squares chocolate, unsweetened, melted, and cooled
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    2 eggs

    Crust
    2 cups flour
    1 cup chopped pecans
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    2 sticks of butter (1 cup)

    For the crust: Melt the butter. Combine with the flour, pecans and vanilla. Press the dough into a pie plate.

    For the filling: Cream butter, add sugar gradually. Cream well, blend in choc. And vanilla, add eggs 1 at a time. Beat 5 min after each egg.

    Bake just the crust at 400 degrees until golden brown, around 15 minutes. Once removed from the oven, let it cool before adding in the filling.

    Pour the chocolate filling on top of the prepared crust.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

    Now, Rosie’s journey has been gathered into a cookbook: To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. It brings together 40 recipes that were either etched directly onto gravestones or closely tied to a grave’s story, each one a small, edible snapshot of a person’s life, their community, and what they loved enough to be remembered for.

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    #6

    “Chocolate Mint Brownies” By John Rodda

    Chocolate mint brownie recipe etched on a tombstone with a woman holding freshly baked brownies nearby in grass.

    “Bake 350

    Time: 20 Minutes

    Beat: 4 Beaten Eggs.
    1 Cup Melted Margarine, 2 Cups Sugar. Add: 4 Squares melted unsweetened chocolate, 1 tsp peppermint flavoring, 1 cup flour
    Beat.

    I put in a greased and floured small cookie sheet (can use a 9x13 baking dish)

    Bake for 20 minutes at 350. Bake a little less with the thinner brownies.

    Cool.

    Frost with: for a 9x13 top: 1/4 Cup margarine, 2 TBLS.

    Cream, 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 Tsp peppermint flavoring. (I go 1.5 of this to frost the cookie sheet top) Place the frosted brownie in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. Melt 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate, 2 TBLS Margarine. Cool. Drizzle over brownies and sprinkle with crushed peppermint.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #7

    “O'neal's Peach Cobbler”

    Tombstone engraved with a peach cobbler recipe, part of woman tracking recipes etched on tombstones across the USA.

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    In this post, we’re sharing the remaining recipes Rosie collected after our first feature—recipes that made it into the cookbook as her archive expanded far beyond those early finds. Scroll on to see what people chose to “sign” their legacy with, and how something as simple as a cookie, cake, or casserole can quietly outlast the years.

    #8

    “Carrot Cake” By Kimette Lee Decota

    Gravestone in Missouri etched with a carrot cake recipe, part of woman’s quest tracking recipes across the USA.

    “Butter, for greasing the pan
    3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
    3 cups sugar
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 tablespoon baking soda
    1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    1-1/2 cups corn oil
    4 large eggs, lightly beaten
    1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    1-1/2 cups shredded coconut
    1-1/2 cups shelled walnuts, chopped
    1-1/3 cups puréed cooked carrots
    3/4 cup drained crushed pineapple

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch springform pans.
    Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in the walnuts, coconut, carrots, and pineapple. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Set on the center rack of the oven and bake until the edges have pulled away from the sides and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 minutes. Cool on a cake rack for 3 hours. Fill and frost the cake with the cream cheese frosting.

    Cream Cheese Frosting
    Doubling the frosting recipe is highly recommended.
    8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
    3 cups confectioners sugar
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)

    Cream the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl. Slowly sift in the confectioners sugar and continue beating until ingredients are fully incorporated. The mixture should be free of lumps. Stir in the vanilla, and lemon juice if desired.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #9

    “Peanut Butter Cookies” By Unknown

    Tombstone etched with a peanut butter cookie recipe, part of woman’s recipe tracking on tombstones across the USA.

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #10

    “Heavenly Daze Ice Cream” By Marian Montfort

    Tombstone with a recipe for Heavenly Daze Ice Cream etched, part of woman’s quest tracking recipes on tombstones in the USA.

    “1 cup apricot preserves
    1/2 cup sugar
    1 tsp vanilla
    ½ cup dried apricots in tiny pieces
    3 cups cream
    ½ tsp nutmeg Stir preserves, apricots, and sugar on low heat so preserves melt and sugar dissolves.

    Cool and mix in cream. Chill. Add vanilla and nutmeg. Stir and freeze.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #11

    Debbie's “Tea Biscuits”

    Gravestone etched with tea biscuits recipe, part of woman’s unique journey tracking recipes on tombstones across the USA.

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #12

    “Date & Nut Bread” By Connie

    Recipe for Connie's Date & Nut Bread etched on a tombstone as part of woman tracking down recipes across the USA.

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #13

    Mom's “Christmas Cookies”

    Tombstone etched with a Christmas cookie recipe in a cemetery, with a plate of frosted cookies in the foreground.

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #14

    “Natalee's Famous Brownies”

    Woman tracks down recipes etched on tombstones with brownie recipe featured on grave monument in the USA.

    “Two boxes Betty Crocker supreme triple chunk brownie mix
    ½ cup tap water
    2/3 cup Crisco vegetable oil
    Five large eggs (preferably at room temperature)
    Two cups Nestle’s toll house milk chocolate morsels

    Instructions: Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 metal pan (or two 8x8 pans) with *pam nonstick spray, set aside. In a large mixing bowl - crack open the five eggs. Whisk until thoroughly blended. Whisk in the oil and water. Add the dry ingredients and chocolate morsels and mix well no dry pockets in the batter! Pour the batter into the sprayed brownie pans)

    Bake for 50 minutes. It’s done when the toothpick comes out clean. If not, give it an extra 5 to 10 minutes, no more!

    Let cool on a cooling rack. The brownies may shrink from the sides. When the pan is slightly warm (not hot cover with aluminum foil Crimp the edges to preserve the moisture.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #15

    Peg's “Sugar Cookies”

    Woman holding plate of cookies next to tombstone with a recipe etched, part of tracking recipes on tombstones across the USA.

    “2 eggs
    2/3 cup vegetable oil
    1 teaspoons vanilla
    3 tablespoons water
    2 cups sugar
    3 1/2 cups flour
    1/2 teaspoons salt
    2 teaspoons baking powder

    Beat together the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla, water and sugar. Add in the flour, baking powder and salt and mix well. Roll out on a floured surface, you may have to add more flour while rolling it out. Using a cookie cutter, cut into cookies. Bake on a greased pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 6–8 minutes.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #16

    Karen's “Spaghetti Chicken Casserole”

    Gravestone etched with a spaghetti chicken casserole recipe, showcasing unique recipes on tombstones across the USA.

    “110.5 oz can ocam of mushroom soup I medium, red pepper, chapped fine 1 small onion, chopped fine
    1/4 pound (8 tablespoons) butter. Cooked for 5 minutes.
    2 cups diced cooked chicken
    ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
    110.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
    1 cup milk
    ¼ tablespoon pepper
    ¼ tablespoon salt
    1 jar pimento, chopped and drained
    1-7 oz spaghetti, cooked and drained

    Combine ingredients in a casserole dish. Bake 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Served and baked with love every time.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #17

    Valerie's “Chicken Soup”

    Woman tracks down recipes etched on tombstones holding a bowl of chicken soup near a gravestone with recipe inscription.

    “This makes 1 large pot or 2 nice sized pots.

    1 Perdue oven stuffer (1 whole chicken, about 6 lbs) cut in 10 pieces
    1 small parsnip
    2 stalks of celery
    4 carrots
    Parsley
    Half leaf Dill
    Salt

    Clean the chicken. Cover with cold water. Add salt, celery, carrots, parsnip, and turnip. Bring the pot to a boil. As it boils, skim the fat off the top. Keep skimming fat until gone. Add the leafy vegetables while you are skimming. Reduce the heat and cook the soup for about 2 ½ hours.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #18

    Deb Nelson's “Red Lantern Cheese Dip”

    Cheese dip recipe etched on a tombstone as part of woman tracking down recipes across the USA.

    “8 oz spreadable (Merkts) sharp cheddar cheese
    1/4 cup real mayonnaise
    1/4 cup sour cream
    1/2 tsp garlic powder
    1/2 tsp dried minced onion
    Splash of milk
    Handful of dried bacon bits

    Combine all ingredients in a mixer. Refrigerate. Enjoy with clubhouse crackers.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #19

    Karen Darr's “Chocolate Chip Cookies”

    Recipe for chocolate chip cookies etched on a tombstone, part of woman’s quest to track recipes across the USA.

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #20

    Beverly's “Meatloaf”

    Recipe booklet and a plate with meatloaf served outdoors near a tombstone, part of woman tracking recipes etched on tombstones across USA.

    “2 points lean ground beef
    1 packet dry onion soup mix
    5 slices of white sandwich bread cut into cubes
    ¾ cup milk
    2 eggs
    ⅓ cup ketchup
    1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    1 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp pepper
    2 slices undercooked bacon for top of meatloaf

    Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large bowl combine dry onion soup mix, milk, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

    Add bread and meat and mix well with hands. Press the meat into a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Layer bacon on top of meatloaf. Bake in preheated oven 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes until the meat is done. Let cool for 10 minutes.”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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    #21

    “Chicken With White Wine Sauce” By Unknown

    Recipe for chicken with white wine sauce etched on a tombstone, part of woman tracking down recipes across the USA.

    Ghostly Archive Report

    #22

    Bonnie's “No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies”

    Gravestone with a recipe etched on it visited by a woman tracking down recipes on tombstones across the USA.

    “2 cups of sugar
    ½ cup of milk
    ¼ cup of cocoa (swiss miss)
    ¼ cup of margarine (1 stick)

    Bring to a full boil in a sauce pan. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

    Then add 3 cups of quick oats 2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 teaspoons of vanilla Drop off wax paper and let set until firm”

    Ghostly Archive Report

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