“I am still convinced that a good, simple, homemade cookie is preferable to all the store-bought cookies one can
find.” James Beard
“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” Kevin Arnold, The Wonder Years
Today on the radio they were talking about how food is such a strong factor with memories. How true this is, you can smell a certain food and it brings back a rush of memories. What foods do that for me? Well… the smell of peanut butter cookies and homemade chex party mix cooking in the oven. It brings me back to family get togethers. It was a staple. Any time the family got together my grandma (or as we called her, gran-gone) would have these two things ready for us! Sadly she has passed away and my son will never get to meet the wonderful woman that she was. But, I intend to keep her memories alive! I actually started a new tradition a year before my son was even born, the first year we got to host Thanksgiving. I made her party mix the night before so everyone could snack on it while waiting for the big meal. I have also decided to have the cookies be something that me and my children make together Christmas afternoon (once they are old enough of course). These amazing memories that I have are ones I want to pass down to my children. When it comes to raising children I believe it is so important to pass on traditions and that is what I intend to do. Now, I can’t pass down every tradition my family did because then where would it leave space for my husbands traditions or ones that we want to make for our family. But, picking those memories that really stand out and mean something are important. So, you may wonder why cookies and party mix are so important to me. Well, not only was it something to count on, but, it was just an example of her loving and generous spirit. It was something that only she would make for us, and we got to help to… usually licking the beater! She loved hosting and making us her snacks from the bottom of her heart, it was just one way she showed us her love, and… even though I have the recipe, no one can make it better than she did! What traditions are you going to pass on?
