My girls (this includes daughters by birth and marriage and granddaughters) and my friends asked for my recipes often. I began putting them all on my computer so I could email them when I received a request. Then I thought about putting them all in a cookbook and publishing it, but I realized it would be out of date as soon as it was published because I find new recipes everyday. A website was the perfect solution and Vanilla Carrots was born!

Why Vanilla Carrots- originally this website had the very boring title “Yum.” During our time in Japan I was arranging a visit for some of my friends to the art studio of a new friend. When arrived he explained how his computer’s spell check changed my name, Vanalee Carruth, to Vanilla Carrots every time he put it in an email. I laughed and decided immediately that it was the perfect name for this site.

I created this website in 2009 while we were living in Japan. I think most everyone has forgotten about it. I still use it often. Recently, I have been reading about how family recipes are part of the legacy that we leave. As I thought about this I realized that I would like this website and our family recipes to be part of my legacy. Cooking and sharing food has been part of my daily life and still is as I approach my 70th birthday. Many of my friends eat out or get take out most days. I still cook most days. I have been doing it for almost 50 years and most days I enjoy it. It is one of the ways I channel my need to create.

I will be working on this website to get rid of recipes that I have never tried and won’t. I plan to add stories to the recipes, where I got them and why we love them. I hope that one day one of my great grandchildren will find this site and cherish these recipes just as much as I have.