MLIS alum Rosie Grant uncovers and preserves gravestone recipes, showing how cherished dishes keep loved ones’ memories alive across generations
"To Die For" A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes By Rosie Grant
In CBS News’ feature “To Die For: Beloved recipes etched in stone,” INFO MLIS alum Rosie Grant is spotlighted for her unique archival work documenting recipes engraved on gravestones. What began as a graduate school assignment to choose a niche topic for TikTok led Grant to create GhostlyArchive, where she shared unusual headstones including one featuring a spritz cookie recipe she decided to bake. The video went viral, launching a project that uncovered recipe memorials across the country and revealing how food traditions can become powerful, enduring tributes to loved ones.
Rosie Grant ’22
Grant’s work evolved into the cookbook “To Die For”, which captures the stories behind these headstone recipes and the families who continue to bake them. Through interviews and archival research, she shows how cherished dishes like spaghetti chicken casserole, cheese dip, and carrot cake preserve memories just as meaningfully as photographs or letters. Families in the article describe the emotional experience of tasting these recipes again, which become bittersweet reminders of the people who shaped their lives. This ultimately underscores Grant’s belief that gravestone recipes reflect generosity and a desire to spread love across generations.
For more on Rosie Grant’s innovative approach to preserving memory and community history, read the full article here and view the CBS interview below.
The original article was written by David Morgan and published by CBS News on November 21, 2025.