When I was a young wife, far from home, I decided I wanted to make candy kiss cookies like my Grandmother made. I gathered all the ingredients, baked them perfectly, and had a joyous time smooshing the candy into the middle. Then, finally, biting into one. Only to be disappointed by them. They didn’t taste anything like Grammy’s cookies. They weren’t bad, but no matter how many versions of the recipe I tried, it just didn’t taste right. Until I gave up.
When we went home, I asked for Gram to make those cookies. I told how I had tried to make them, but they were never right. She couldn’t understand because they were nothing special. We joked that it was gramma magic. I took one bite and, astonished, said “This is a PEANUT BUTTER cookie!” For years I had been making a sugar cookie. I can only think that I was so happy to be getting the chocolate, I didn’t pay attention.
Memories have a way of letting important details slip through the cracks of time. As I get further away from those happy memories, I am glad for the time I spent journaling the details. Writing down recipes, who made special ornaments, and what was important at the time. Making sure the details are remembered.
Now when I make those cookies, it is two good memories. The find one of my Grandmother. And the funny one of the look I must have had when I bit into that cookie.
Good memories are easy to make. They don’t have to cost a lot of money or be fancy. A walk in the neighborhood singing carols, instant cocoa with marshmellows, wrapping gifts in comic pages, simple cookies made together, then eaten while watching a favorite movie. Enjoying time together, that is the magic in it all.
Peace, Love and Peanut Butter cookies for any one who wants one!
