I’m excited to welcome my first guest blogger to Mommie Cooks this afternoon. Melissa from Bons Vivants has offered to share memories of her grandmother. I have similar memories of my grandmother; wandering through her gardens and picking the gooseberries she had growing amongst the rows of beautiful flowers. They’re memories to be treasured for sure.
Please welcome Melissa and be sure to check out her blog when you’re finished reading her guest post. She is an amazing writer. Thanks again Melissa for sharing your memories!
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What does a strawberry look like to you? Whenever I see a strawberry, I see a heart. The strawberry smells likes hugs and kisses and tastes like love. My grandmother always had a bowl of strawberries waiting for me, every time I would visit her.
Food and memories are intertwined like the arms of a grandmother embracing her kin. Holidays, birthdays, and weekends spent at Grandma’s are full of meals and memories. My favorite birthday dessert was the strawberry shortcake from the Polish bakery. It was a special treat reserved for special occasions, but strawberries were always available.
In the years before my Grandmother died, she would laugh with me as we reminisced about childhood memories. Her favorite stories included me and strawberries. There was the time when I was two years old and smashed strawberry all over my face. Walking home from the farmer’s market, she placed the carton of strawberries on my lap as I sat in my stroller. She would say that the strawberries were bigger than my face.
My favorite story was the time that I wanted to make strawberry jam. Mid-August, in a stifling kitchen, my Grandmother dutifully indulged me. Husking the berries, simmering to perfection, then jarring the jam, she was muttering as she made the jam. When she finally served me a slice of toast topped with the sweetest smelling jam, I quietly said, “I didn’t want to eat it. I wanted to make it.” That was the last time she made me jam, but we had laughs for years!
I don’t remember the last meal she cooked for me, but I am sure that strawberries were the dessert. Every berry I’ve eaten since her passing has brought with it lovely memories of my Grandmother. What are you eating when you taste a memory?
To read more musing by Miel Abeille, visit her at Bons Vivants http://bonsvivantsblog.blogspot.com
Beautiful story, Melissa! Funny because tonight I've been enjoying the first truly yummy organic strawberries of the season. Can't get enough of them.
What am I eating when I taste a memory? Hmm…crepes were my family's favorite weekend breakfast growing up. We would beg my mom to make them all the time. They taste like my childhood. Sweet.
Crepes! Yes, that is a delicious meal & a delicious memory, I'm sure. 🙂
I have a surprise for you on my blog…come see!
I love strawberries – and what a great set of memories you have every time you eat them 🙂