Your Fabulous Food Memories
Thank You Notes #53
“Everything was different now. Everything. I’d not only survived — I’d enjoyed.” ― Anthony Bourdain
As I made desserts for Easter yesterday, some beautiful food memories flooded my mind. Each recipe tells a story that permeates your heart.
Making flan reminded me of the numerous summers and holidays I spent in Mexico. For six years, I stayed at Abuelita Estela’s house. I was in a relationship with her cherished grandson during my college years, and she opened her home to me.
The person who most captured my attention living there was the cook and maid, Lucina. What she accomplished with food and keeping a large household beautiful was nothing short of miraculous.
Every evening when I returned from dinner or the movies, she would still be awake. One time, she was lovingly babysitting the large flan in the oven. It was a delight to sit and chat with her as her whole heart went into that dessert.
Lucina was the heart and soul of the house.
She started there when she was only sixteen, and stayed on to help the family ever since. Our evening chats were an event I looked forward to all day.
It amazed me how she could prepare an early breakfast for us and organize and cook lunch for nearly forty members of Abuelita’s extended family every Sunday.
She could be direct and terse at times, but sometimes she flashed a little knowing smile, her magic.
Her spirit guided me as I made the flan, taking my time with each step. I know she is smiling down on me each time I cook.
Another joyful food memory came to mind as I attempted to create a restaurant dish. Sweet cinnamon-laced pineapple makes me think of a memorable evening.
Once a month, we used to go out to dinner with a large friend group. One time we went to a Brazilian restaurant. It was nearing closing time, and we were the only group left.
Lucky for us, they kept bringing out more and more cinnamon roasted pineapple slices. They never told us to leave and were very generous with this delicious dessert.
These two happy memories make me smile and enjoy preparing food each day. You never know the profound effect of a dish on your heart.
This week’s theme is:
Your Fabulous Food Memories
What dishes are the most memorable ones for you? What scents, sounds, and visuals do you appreciate when you cook them?
We look forward to your poems, articles, and stories!
Let us welcome our new writers this week:
In honor of our first anniversary, for this month’s challenge, I am providing a $50 prize to the winner. I appreciate each one of you and this is a small way of saying thank you.
Lorena of Sharing Randomly came up with a fantastic theme of What Is Your Greatest Achievement? Read more about her challenge theme in this article:
Please tag your entries into the April challenge with the Monthly Challenge. We are accepting submissions for this special challenge through April 30th.
Thank you to my fabulous co-editors of Thank You Notes- Lorena of Sharing Randomly and Ellie Jacobson. They are a beautiful team!
A Loving Note From Trista Signe Ainsworth:
Dear Lovely Readers and Friends,
I am happy to report my son will get his cast off on April 25th! We are so excited for him. Each day, I am amazed at his resilience and patience through the process of healing.
He teaches us to go with the flow and learn new things at every moment.
I took several days to slowly answer most of the loving comments on my latest stories. I was more than two weeks behind! Thank you for your patience as I continue to navigate my new schedule.
Today is a rainy day outside, so I am cozying up to the laptop with a cup of tea and replying to the rest of your sweet comments.
As I reflect on this journey in life, I feel deep gratitude for each one of you, my loving family of writers.
With love,
Trista
Thank you to all of our awesome writers here at Thank You Notes:
Sade Tolani Thank you, Sade, for this beautiful series of three-line letters. I often find special lines that speak to me each day!
Monoreena Acharjee Majumdar Thank you, Monoreena, for your beautiful painting and thank you note to friends! So touching!
Joanne Olivieri Thank you, Joanne, for your stunning nature photos and haikus. They usher us into the glory of spring!
John C. Davis Thank you, John, for this loving essay about how to appreciate each moment of our day!
Amanda Laughtland Thank you, Amanda, for sharing a sweet memory of a unique anniversary with us! It was so touching!
pockett dessert Thank you, Pockett, for sharing your heart and soul in this deeply creative piece. It is both visually stunning and soul-touching!
Lucia Landini Thank you, Lucia, for your lovely account of such a beautiful day in your life! It gave me so much joy!
Noorain Ali Thank you, Noorain, for this beautiful poem recalling a time in the summer. Let us look forward to the sunshine!
Barb Dalton 🇺🇦 Thank you, Barb, for sharing a time where you overcame many obstacles, and still help others to do the same. I found this so inspiring!
Susan Poole Thank you, Susan, for sharing your sense of home and what it means to you. Such a loving piece!
Thank you to our Thank You Notes Family:
Jeanine Tew, A. N. Tipton, Mohini Vats, Victoria Gregg, Ipshita Guha, Helen Miao Yu, Ketki Palande,Joanne Olivieri, Agnes Eveline Anton, Barb Dalton, Josh Balerite Acol, Kim Zuch, Sandra, L.L. Kirchner,Melissa Gouty, Robin Oakman, Noorain Ali, Melissa Herb, Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Brittany Renee, KM Fullerton Bridie D, Alison Levine, Drashti Shroff, Uwem Daniels, Jesse Wilson, Maia Thom, Emily Forman, Gaurav Jain, Rodney Brazier, Carrie Kolar, Tamil, Bingz Huang, Danielle Hestand, Liberty Forrest, Author, Maria H. Khan, Umme Salma, Rachel Idi, Sheryll James, Robert “Robbie” Walker, Kelly Aluna Martone, Sade Tolani, Adrienne Parkhurst, Fit$, Sally Prag, Elin Melaas, Monoreena Acharjee Majumdar, Pam Lilak, Sorina Raluca Băbău, Tonya S. Ware, Aemen Farooq, Brown Boi, Carrie, Lucia Landini, Karen Schwartz, Karen Madej, Winston, Dazzling Shene, Norlisa Alias, Donnette Anglin, Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Amanda Laughtland, Neha Sandhir S, Shivi Puri, Adelia Ritchie, Amy Marley, Anthony O’Dugan, A Rustic Mind (Manali Desai), Ashley Nicole, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Kris Bedenian, Bob Jasper, Bhavna Narula, B.R. Shenoy, Brajendra Kumar, Carolyn Hastings, Destiny S. Harris, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Scot Butwell, VIRGO, Donna Brown, Desiree Driesenaar, Elle How, Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻, Fiza Ameen, Gauri Sirur, Ija Mei, Indubala Kachhawa, Jenine Bsharah Baines, JoAnn Ryan, John C. Davis, Juana Flor, Pene Hodge, Katie Michaelson, Kyomi O’Connor, Lanu Pitan, Lucia Sugafield, Maryam B. Mirza, Mark Hackett, Mulan, Natalie B. Kemp, Niru, palvi sharma, Penofgold, Dr. Preeti Singh, Sanjit Sengupta, Sara Ali, Susan Poole, Shirley Jones Luke, Sahil Patel, Annelise Lords, Tree Langdon, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Yana Bostongirl, Dee S White, Deborah Barchi, Sharing Randomly, Nancy Blackman, Haley Whitehall, Arbab Z.