The Recipe Club - MORE Magazine

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Like food itself, stories about food tend to be loaded with emotional content. In The Recipe Club, part novel, part cookbook (it's packed with more than 80 recipes), lifelong friends Lilly and Val write each other intimate letters in which they share their hopes, fears, deepest secrets—and recipes.

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Like food itself, stories about food tend to be loaded with emotional content. In The Recipe Club, part novel, part cookbook (it's packed with more than 80 recipes), lifelong friends Lilly and Val write each other intimate letters in which they share their hopes, fears, deepest secrets—and recipes.

January 8, 1972

L—

Once you told me I was the kind of person who always wanted things to stay the same. At the time it hurt my feelings, but then I realized you were probably right.

Now I think YOU’RE the one who can’t handle change. Look, I’m sorry you’re so upset with me, Lilly. I wish we could have been together on New Year’s Eve, too. And I’m really sorry if I left you in the lurch. But Ellen and I couldn’t finalize our Chicago plans until the last minute, and I assumed you would understand. I hope you do.

Anyway, it was good I went. Ellen’s family is fantastic! I loved her parents, and also her brother Jeff is amazing. He’s two years older (Ben’s age). Jeff’s a lot like Ellen—brilliant and kind, and funny and deep. Only he’s a lot more handsome! I am sure he and I will stay friends. Right now he’s at school at UCLA, but he’s transferring to Harvard next year! So until then we’ll be pen pals.

But you are still—and will always remain—my favorite pen pal of all time. Happy New Year, my dearest friend.

Love,
V.

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Like food itself, stories about food tend to be loaded with emotional content. In The Recipe Club, part novel, part cookbook (it's packed with more than 80 recipes), lifelong friends Lilly and Val write each other intimate letters in which they share their hopes, fears, deepest secrets—and recipes.

July 25, 1972

Dear Val,

Well, I’ve been given an ultimatum. Either I try college for a year, or my father says he will “disown” me. I told him, go ahead! Disown me.

We didn’t speak for three days.

But here’s the sad and sorry truth…I gave in. I’m going to NYU in September. The only good thing: it’s down near the Village Gate and all the other clubs. But even so, I don’t know how I’ll get through a year.

Do you have a recipe for survival?

Speaking of which, you owe me two recipes. I know I should wait for yours, but I just have to send you this one. It’s from Jamaica. I got it from a man I met who sings reggae. We jammed together at this dive in Brooklyn. It was really cool. Ben came with some friends. I think the recipe is really named for my father.

Love,
Lilly