When I think of my mother, I always picture her standing in the kitchen with apron on, rolling pin in hand, baking something. I grew up on freshly baked light-bread, as she called it, and never knew there was such a thing as store bought Wonder Bread until my first day of school! I, along with my sisters and brother (yes! I meant for that to be in the singular, 1 boy out of all 8 of us, poor guy!)
would board the school bus for our long trek home with visions of the treat that would be waiting for us. You see, my mother baked a fresh batch of desserts EVERY DAY! Some days it was a moist, flavorful carrot cake, others it would be pans of her thick, fudgy brownies or a variety of cookies or pies made from freshly picked peaches with just perfect amount of cinnamon, yummmmmm!! At least twice a week was fresh light-bread day, and those were very special days, indeed! The smell of the baking bread filled our home with the aromatic sweet scent that only freshly baking homemade from scratch bread can. She would always bake extra loaves so that when they came out of the oven, we would each pull off a huge hunk, slather it with butter, and shove it in our mouths! I can still remember that smell, the taste. and the feeling of pure bliss that washed over me. My mom has been gone for quite some time now, but she passed along her joy of baking to all 7 of her daughters! What a lucky bunch of ladies we are! I always imagine what she might say if she were tasting my baked goodies, and I strive for the same perfection that came out of her oven with every sheet of cookies, pan of brownies, loaf of pumpkin bread or any number of desserts that I make. I always feel closest to my mom when I'm baking. Maybe that's why I love it so much!! Here's to you, Mom!!