Lost and Found
Wow, it’s hard to believe the year-end holidays are already in the rearview mirror. They snuck up on me like a thief in the night and stole another 365 days right from underneath me. However, I’m thankful for the holidays because Christmas gatherings in my family are always about ritual. “Family traditions reveal what you value enough to repeat, and if done with love build warm and happy associations” - Daniel Willingham.
Christmas Day is always celebrated at my brother and sister-in-law’s home. Each year we plan some sort of fun gift exchange. To date, this past one is my favorite. To set the stage, let’s go back a bit, actually several years to bring you up to speed.
As in most families, certain recipes are made throughout the years that are love and revered. My Mom made many throughout her life, but perhaps none more famous than her blueberry muffins. She baked them regularly and made an appearance at most dinner-time meals. She would always have some on hand if anyone unexpectedly stopped by. People would be thrilled when she offered them a blueberry muffin. I believe some often stopped by just to enjoy one.
Over the years, I’ve often thought about gathering all my Mom’s recipes in one place and ensure everyone had access to them. Unfortunately, it never came to fruition. After the passing of my Dad, my Mom sold their home. Along with that came the sorting and organizing of two lifetimes. While packing up the kitchen, my brothers and I wanted to make sure to keep her recipes but they were no where to be found……POOF, gone! We asked my Mom about them and she had no idea what happened to them.
UGH … I was sick thinking I never did anything about the family cookbook. This year I suggested we start a new tradition and build one over time. A family cookbook would be used as our gift exchange. The rules were simple. Everyone must supply two of their favorite recipes and include a tool or item they used to make one of the recipes.
Over the years, we’ve all collected a few of Mom’s recipes and thought we would add those to the cookbook, however, no one had the blueberry muffin recipe. It felt like a punch to the gut. We took it for granted she would always make them. Then at one point my Mom insisted she used a box mix! No way! My brother Jeff and I disagreed. Growing up, she made everything from scratch.
While I was going through all my loose recipes I had gathered over the years, I was looking for one of hers. What happened next took me by complete surprise; I had her muffin recipe! Lord have mercy upon my soul! I had it! I was so excited I couldn’t decide to let it be a secret and reveal it Christmas Day, but in the end thought I had to at least tell Jeff since we were both devastated by its disappearance. I was crowned the SHERO of the day….LOL!
We kept it secret until the gift exchange and the news was met with joy. Although I submitted the recipe under my name, it was in honor of my Mom’s famous blueberry muffins. The gift exchange was filled with laughter, wonderful memories around the recipes, retold stories, great kitchen tools, and a bit of present stealing. Everyone loved the outcome so much, we’re going to repeat it again this coming Christmas as we continue building our family cookbook.
The recipes created a feeling of nostalgia, love, family, and home. They will help connect our generations and build a solid foundation of our family’s legacy. To be lost and found was a wonderful reminder of what matters. “Traditions are like a love note from home that your children will take with them into their future” - Janet Hovorka. What traditions do you hold dear, or perhaps need to be found again? Long live the muffin!
xoxox…..Sheryl
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