Is there a food smell that triggers a special memory for you? Or a food that takes you either back home to your childhood or a special place in time?
For me it is tamales. Growing up they were our New Year’s Day staple. Often friends would come over to help my grandmother make them. It was a busy, fun gathering and the end result was a delicious meal.
There is joy in the preparation of a meal with family and friends. And joy in eating together, it all adds up to a very festive occasion. Then, after the kitchen is cleaned up and the leftovers put away there are the memories that stay with us year after year. Memories of fun times had when we gathered around food.
Sometimes the memories fade a bit, until one day there is that familiar smell coming from the kitchen and we are transported back to those very special times. It is during these occasions that the “remember when…” stories begin and the joy bubbles up all over again in the memories.
Savor your meals, enjoy the preparations and have fun making new memories that will trigger a smile or a happy thought in the days and years ahead.
