Cookbook with grandmother's recipes: Sütterlin is rediscovered!

Cookbook with grandmother's recipes: Sütterlin is rediscovered!

A very special cookbook is causing a stir in Güstrow: Andy Haensch, the owner of the Anmut-Bar, has combined his passion for old recipes and the Sütterlin script in a new work. As is well known, the best ideas often come from the past, and this is exactly what Haensch proved when putting together his book “My Old Cookbook”. As a child, he reminisced by learning the Sütterlin script from his grandparents and studying old recipes. These experiences inspired him to publish a cookbook that does justice to the spirit of his childhood. According to Uckermarkkurier the book contains over 120 pages packed with recipes from around 1850, which are tricky in Sütterlin script are printed.

Sütterlin, a Kurrent script that became popular in the 19th century, was taught in German schools until 1941. It is known for its complexity and is hardly deciphered by many today - except for the older generations, who often still get along well with this script. Andy Haensch spent over half a year transcribing the recipes and translating them into New German. “The old recipes not only have nostalgic value, they are also sustainable because none of the animals are wasted,” says Haensch.

Insight into the variety of recipes

The variety of recipes is impressive: it ranges from soups and vegetables to sauces, pastries and meat and fish dishes. The macabre humor of the old cooking tradition is not left out, as shown by the “Old Hen in Good Sauce”, in which the cutting of the poultry is explicitly mentioned. Another highlight is the 150-year-old bread dumpling soup, which was considered a classic dish in many households.

What is particularly interesting is that the book presents the translated texts alongside the original pages, allowing readers to immerse themselves in both the past and the present. In addition, there are also explanations of terms and the Kurrent alphabet, which makes it easier to understand this special script. If you would like to take a closer look at the Sütterlin script, you will find helpful tools for digitizing and translating such documents on Transkribus - a valuable resource, as old script is often difficult to read.

Ordering and library inquiries

Anyone interested can order the cookbook directly via the Anmut-Bar website. There are already inquiries from libraries, such as the Uwe Johnson Library, who are interested in the historical content and the special written form. Haensch not only sees this as an opportunity to keep old recipes alive, but also wants to increase awareness of cultural roots and traditions.

About the work with the Sütterlin script, Sütterlinschrift reports that this script was developed by Ludwig Sütterlin and was a standard form of German handwriting before the introduction of the National Socialists' standard writing decree. Sütterlin is great for reading old documents, including family documents or church records, and the knowledge is more valuable than ever in this digital age.

With his cookbook, Haensch not only recruits a hunger for traditional cuisine, but also a desire to preserve our cultural heritage and bring it closer to the younger generation. This is not just about eating, but above all about enjoying and preserving history!