Free Inquiry Post #2

When I decided to create a communal online recipe book for my inquiry project, I began exploring the best platform to bring the idea to life. There are many great recipe-sharing sites, such as AllRecipes and Cookpad, that allow users to upload and share recipes. However, for the kind of collaborative and personal space I envisioned, I chose to use Canva.

I selected Canva because I found an easy-to-use, fillable template that I can share through a link with anyone who would like to contribute or view and use the book. This allows the recipe book to remain a living, ongoing document something people can return to, add to, and grow over time. It feels less like a static collection and more like a shared community space. Whether that is people sending me their recipes and memories for me to add in or if they would like to do that themselves. For the purposes of this inquiry project I am speaking to friends and family in my life to talk about recipes that are meaningful to them not only to create this but also as a way to connect in a different way and learn something new about the people in my life.

The template includes a section for the recipe itself, along with space for a photo. Whether that is a picture of the finished dish, family members cooking together, or any image that feels meaningful. It also includes an area to share the story behind the recipe, its history in a family, the memories attached to it, or why it holds special significance.

Food is deeply cultural and often carries powerful memories. By creating space for both the recipe and the story behind it, I hoped this would become more than just a copy-and-paste recipe collection. I wanted it to reflect a meaningful gathering of traditions, connections, and precious moments shared through food.

This shows the cover and the template for the recipes.