Bringing Everyone Together: Utah's Recipes

Food is the heart of community and connection, acting as the centerpiece for gatherings ranging from casual picnics to major holiday feasts. This collection features recipes and photos gathered at various Scan-and-Share events held across Utah between 2023 and 2025. The visible wear on many of these recipes — the stains, knicks, and tears — are badges of honor, proving that they were frequently used. They are a tangible reminder of the beloved dishes that have successfully brought, and continue to bring, families and communities together.

This featured family recipe book, Catchy Family Recipes, was created by the Newbold Family of Ogden, Utah, in the 1980s. For family member Dory Newbold, this book is truly one-of-a-kind, as many of the recipes cannot be found anywhere else. The Newbold family traces its history back to the Mormon pioneers who settled Franklin, Idaho, in the mid-1800s, with descendants now residing in Draper, Farmington, Cache Valley, and Ogden.

The creation of Catchy Family Recipes was a collaborative effort involving many members of the Newbold family. Spearheaded by Newbold sisters Tina and Rean (née Senn), the book incorporated recipes contributed by their mother, brothers, in-laws, and even the family youngsters. One memorable contributor was Wayne Senn, who was under ten years old at the time. His inclusion was a recipe for Toasted Cheese Sandwiches, which calls for slices of bread and cheese, instructing the cook to toast the bread, then bake it at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted on top. 

Tamales are a staple food for many Latino families, particularly during holiday gatherings. A tamale is an oblong-shaped food made from corn dough (masa), steamed in corn husks or banana leaves, and traditionally filled with savory (though sometimes sweet) ingredients. The preparation of tamales varies significantly by region across Latin America, resulting in numerous delicious variations. Many families guard their own recipe, passionately believing theirs to be the superior version.

Dr. Ed Muñoz (pictured previously) began learning to make tamales in 2003 while he was living in Laramie, Wyoming. His sister and mother, who both lived in Nebraska, helped him master the dish by sending recipes through email and giving him instructions over the phone. Muñoz, who moved to Salt Lake City in 2013 to accept a professorship at the University of Utah, still uses this family-sent recipe today.

In August 2023, the Utah Historical Society partnered with PBS Utah to host a recipe-focused Scan-and-Share event at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan, Utah. The event featured special guest America’s Test Kitchen co-host Bridget Lancaster. Several guests who came to see Lancaster also brought their own recipes to be digitized. Nearly all were cherished recipes passed down from their mothers or grandmothers, such as the one pictured above: Haley McFadden’s great-grandmother's recipe for turkey dressing. This particular recipe is still treasured and used by the family today.

Paula McGee (pictured to the left) opened the Morning Ray Cafe and Bakery in Park City, Utah, in 1985. Driven by her passion for baking, she created scrumptious foods, including granola, a variety of cakes, flaky croissants, and coconut macaroons. In 2000, Paula sold the café portion of her business but retained the bakery, renaming it New Dough Rising Bakery. She eventually sold the bakery in 2003, though she remained its chief baker until her retirement in 2006.

At a Scan-and-Share event in Coalville in 2025, Paula donated more than 20 digital items, including several of her recipes, to the Utah Historical Society. Her baking legacy continues: One satisfied user recently reached out to share their excellent results using a donated recipe.

Family recipe books are great ways to preserve foods and favorite meals that have been passed down for generations and shared among extended families across great distances. Grandma’s Greatest Goodies, created by Grandma Linda Kay Smith Leonard and Grandpa Marvin Phillip Leonard, was compiled to do just that. The 182-page book is filled with recipes and short historical notes about the chefs who created them. The authors believed: “The best way to get to know a little about [the family’s ancestors] was in what they ate and how they cooked.”

Included in Grandma’s Greatest Goodies is a historical recipe from Emily Dow Partridge Young, one of Brigham Young’s wives. This Buttermilk Doughnuts recipe, which yields two dozen doughnuts, calls for standard ingredients such as buttermilk, eggs, and flour. Its unique touch is the addition of nutmeg. The story attached to the recipe notes that the nutmeg was grated by hand, which emphasizes its importance as a chief spice during the Mormon pioneer era.

From 2023 to 2025, the Utah Historical Society hosted more than 30 Scan-and-Share events across Utah. Community members were invited to digitize their personal photos and share their stories, effectively preserving their individual histories.

To view more digital items from this project, please visit the Peoples of Utah Revisited online collection. You can also click on any image on this page to learn more.