
The dish that defines me: Rosie Grant’s gravestone recipes
Defining Dishes is an IndyEats column that explores the significance of food at key moments in our lives. From recipes that have been passed down for generations, to flavours that hold a special place in our hearts, food shapes every part of our lives in ways we might not have ever imagined. I run a TikTok called @ghostlyarchive, where I share recipes from gravestones mainly across the US that I make and eat. It all started in 2021, while the Covid pandemic was still ongoing. I was studying to be a librarian. One of my classes was about social media and we were tasked with creating a fresh social media account and had to pick a niche. At the same time, for the same library programme, I had to choose a library or an archive to intern with. I found a fairly virtual internship that let me do things safely outside and in person – which was at a cemetery. I ended up interning in a cemetery archives at a congressional cemetery in Washington DC, and this ended up being my social media niche, too. I chose TikTok, which I was new to at the time, and the class required me to post something about my niche every day for three months. So I learnt that there was a whole section of TikTok called “GraveTok”, where there were gravestone cleaners, preservationists and historians posting content, as well as people who just really loved cemeteries and the storytelling around them. I was posting everyday, and when you post everyday, eventually you’re just sharing anything that you come across that’s vaguely interesting. So at first, it was just about the internship, then I moved on to featuring other gravestones in DC. I started sharing any interesting grave or memorial that I was learning about, and that’s how I heard about Naomi Odessa Miller-Dawson’s grave recipe. Naomi has a really beautiful gravestone in Brooklyn, New York. It’s shaped like an open cookbook and features ingredients for her signature spritz cookies, a type of butter cookie that is made using a cookie press. I remember seeing a photo of Naomi’s gravestone and wondering what they tasted like. Because it was during pandemic times, when we had a lot more free time, I had been learning how to cook more and became really curious about this recipe. So I made them, shared the process on TikTok, and it exploded overnight. People were really intrigued by the grave recipe. In the comments, they were asking questions like: “I didn’t know this, who makes these? Are there other gravestones like this?” Or sharing their own experiences saying: “My mum has a really good recipe” or “This is how I make my cookies”. After that, I learned more about who Naomi was and while I was doing that, I was learning about other gravestones with recipes on them that were featured in local blog posts or posted to Twitter, or even on local news. That’s where the project originated. I’ve now made 23 grave recipes, but that first one was such a journey and I’ll remember it forever. The very first time I made the spritz cookies, I baked them incorrectly because there were no instructions on the gravestone and I didn’t know what a spritz cookie was. I made them in little circles and later learned from people commenting on the video that I was supposed to use a cookie press, so I bought one and made them again. They are really beautiful, delicate little butter cookies that you can decorate. I initially thought they were a sort of sugar cookie, because that’s what the ingredient list sounded like to me, but when I figured out what they were and the proper way to make them, it was such a revelation. Eventually, I met Naomi’s family and made her recipe with them. It was so interesting to learn about her family. I felt very honoured that they welcomed me and took the time to talk about who this woman was and what she meant to them. Naomi was the matriarch of her family and an excellent cook. No one was allowed to bring takeaway food into her home because she would say: “I can cook better than anything you can get at a restaurant.” Her son talked about sitting at the counter in her kitchen, just waiting for the cookies to come out of the oven so he could have a freshly baked one immediately, and he did the same thing when we were cooking together. I often think about how the recipes that get put on these graves are such a big part of family food traditions, which is very cool to me. When I met Naomi’s son and granddaughter, who now live in Pennsylvania, we drove past her old house and visited her grave in the cemetery and heard stories about her. I felt close to Naomi, even though I’d never met her. There’s something about food that connects you to so many memories and people of the past. For example, I’ve never met my great-grandparents, but my mother still cooks her grandmother’s recipes and she still talks about this person when she cooks them. It’s a really interesting connection to the tastes, smells and sights that my great-grandmother, who was an Irish immigrant, had. Weirdly, she is actually buried in the same cemetery as Naomi! There is something about food that makes us feel more present with our deceased loved ones. I don’t know what it is, but food has this amazing quality to do that. Other grave recipes that I’ve tried and continue to make include a fudge recipe from Utah and a snickerdoodle recipe from California. I’ve also made two grave recipes from Israel, which were both written in Hebrew. One of them just had the ingredients on it and his widow told the press that if you know how to cook, you’ll know what to do with them. Well, apparently I don’t know how to cook because I had no idea! Luckily, I work part time at the American Jewish University and their librarians both read and speak Hebrew, so they helped me translate the grave. They decided it was a type of mildly sweet yeasted bread and I’ve made it a few times now, it’s really delicious. My friends have asked for that one very frequently because it’s really an objectively good bread. Most of the recipes that end up on graves tend to be baked goods, or sweet recipes, there are a lot of cookies, cakes, pies, cobbler, ice cream. There are a few savoury ones, like a meatloaf, two cheese dips, and a chicken soup. But the rest of them are pretty much desserts. I think they are chosen according to what is comforting for those who are still around. They think: “My grandma made this thing and I immediately associate that thing with her, or my mum or dad, or whoever”. They have a signature dish and get excited when they think about it, and I think that’s how they choose what to put on the grave. Rosie Grant is an archivist currently living in Los Angeles. She visits cemeteries with grave recipes whenever she travels, and shares her process for making these recipes on her TikTok, @ghostlyarchives. Read More The dish that defines me: Michele Pascarella’s Neapolitan ragu The dish that defines me: Evelin Eros’s rum cake The dish that defines me: Mallini Kannan’s baked honey-soy salmon Is there such a thing as British pizza? Courgette season is nearly over – here’s three ways to make the most of them How to cook to keep your gut healthy
2023-09-25 13:46

How tall is Liver King? Bodybuilder Brian Johnson was bullied for his short height: 'I was very tiny'
Known for his massive physique, 'Liver King' Brian Johnson was once accused of having 'fake' abs
2023-08-09 18:58

Estrada, Flores hit home runs as Giants offense comes alive in 7-0 win over Rays
Thairo Estrada homered with one out in the sixth to break up a scoreless game, Wilmer Flores hit a two-run drive three batters later, and the San Francisco Giants came alive on offense to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-0
2023-08-16 13:19

China Weighs Unprecedented Builder Support With First-Ever Unsecured Loans
China may allow banks to offer unsecured short-term loans to qualified developers for the first time, people familiar
2023-11-23 15:46

Miami Hurricanes look to avenge last year's loss when they host No. 23 Texas A&M
The Miami Hurricanes gave themselves a short window to celebrate a dominant 38-3 win over Miami (Ohio) in their season opener
2023-09-08 06:26

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC partners with Florida Prepaid College Foundation to Launch $2.8M Scholarship Program
TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 8, 2023--
2023-08-09 04:25

'Morning Joe' host Mika Brzezinski slams GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy while calling him a 'Trump apologist'
Mika Brzezinski slammed Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as he said that he would 'pardon' Donald Trump 'in the interest of moving this country forward'
2023-08-16 10:22

Ukrainian attacks continue in key southern Zaporizhzhia region
Russia reports Ukrainian tanks in the Zaporizhzhia region, while Kyiv says the "enemy is in active defence".
2023-06-09 09:59

South Korea partially suspends inter-Korean agreement after the North says it launched spy satellite
South Korea says it will partially suspend an inter-Korean agreement to restart frontline aerial surveillance of North Korea, after the North said it launched a military spy satellite in violation of United Nations bans
2023-11-22 13:52

John Cena doesn't even need to look when signing autographs
John Cena has shared a new TikTok video of himself signing autographs for fans - and he's such a pro he no longer needs to even look at the paper. In the clip, the WWE star has an assistant moving each image after he's signed it so he can get through more in one go, however, despite his speed, he can look straight into the camera while he does it. "Why is that pen moving on its own", one user joked in the comments. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
2023-10-26 17:48

South Korea should maintain current monetary, fiscal policies, IMF says
SEOUL South Korea should maintain current, restrictive monetary and fiscal policies as it needs to take steps to
2023-09-06 16:17

Oil prices stable as market awaits data on inventories, economy
By Stephanie Kelly Brent crude futures hovered just above $90 a barrel on Tuesday, as investors awaited a
2023-09-12 08:53
You Might Like...

Former teen performers accuse an agent of sexual assault. They're hoping it's Japan's #MeToo moment

Manchester United storms back for thrilling 3-2 win at Old Trafford

Gal Gadot says 'Wonder Woman 3' being developed

A look at Tracy Morgan's infamous 'sex' parties as Jane Doe claims 'SNL' stars didn't react to Horatio Sanz 'groping' her

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis reports racist threats over Trump case

Messi goes to Hollywood as Miami seek to close playoff gap

'She’ll be mortified': Kaley Cuoco reflects on how daughter Matilda will react after seeing her pregnancy on TV

AP Top 25: Oklahoma slips to No. 10; Kansas, K-State enter poll; No. 1 UGA and top 5 hold steady