I woke up one day and decided to make this blog. It was never something I had always thought of doing. Sure I liked cooking, and I LOVE food, but writing was never something I thought I was good at and social media is usually something I avoid (I’m a scroller not a poster.)

Then I got it in my head one Mother’s Day that I wanted to re-organize my mother’s recipe book. I poured over magazine cut outs, paper covered in vanilla extract and caked in sugar, and hand written scribbles on scrap pieces of paper all of which my mom had collected since before I was born. But you know what I also found? Emails from family friends of recipes they suggest, faxes from co-workers, and hand written letters from grandparents.

I ate every word.

Then my dad pulled out his mom’s recipe box and said when I have the time I would enjoy going through them and if I could organize them he would greatly appreciate it. . . . 6 months later while we have family in town we pull out her box. The same familiar smell of old paper mixed with baking grease and sugar seemed to cover us like a blanket fort; taking us back in time to where MSG was an acceptable “flavor enhancer” and a jello mold was a must have item in the kitchen.

Once again I ate up every word.

It’s only been a short time since starting this adventure but I feel I’ve learned a lot about myself and especially about my family. I’ve realized how important it is to think about who is coming after you, whether that be kids, grandchildren, or even just close friends that want to reflect on those memories they have of you. I’ve started writing things down more, both on here and in my cook books. Because even when the person you want to think about is still around, it’s nice to see their internal reflections, or quiet tendencies you might not have noticed yet. Like the way they shape their letters, or how messy they actually cook because of how sticky the cook book is.

Eat it all up. Every word, every smell, every smile. Consume the people around you, that built you up, that are the reason you are here today. Because unfortunately, someday you will only have those sweet memories you’ve devoured over the years.

Today I will be eating ice cream for a man that could never say no to sugar. My Grandpa Addy (my mom’s dad) passed a few days ago. His sweet tooth lead to many adventures for doughnuts in Florida, and ice cream on the way home when he picked me up from college. It’s never easy saying good bye, but the best part about our memories it that the simplest things can take you back. A smell, being back in a specific room, being surrounded by others that loved him. I will always have the recipe to bring him back to the forefront of my mind. In this place, he pulls out a gallon of ice cream from the freezer, grabs two spoons and turns the kitchen light on, and keeps it on for whenever I want to visit.