Smells of the Season

Scent Memories

“When treasures are recipes they are less clearly, less distinctly remembered than when they are tangible objects. They evoke, however, quite a vivid feeling...”

          Alice B. Toklas (The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook)

Last night, my church held its annual Christmas party. Everyone brought either an appetizer or a dessert, or both, to be shared. I decide to make banana cupcakes—the ones I used to make for my kids birthday parties when they were very young. I haven't baked them in at least twenty years, but when son Jake walked in, and smelled them cooking he knew right away what was in the oven. Such is the power of olfactory memories, especially those from childhood.

I can't take credit for this recipe. It came from “Magic”, the Junior League of Birmingham Cookbook, published in 1982, and was submitted by Sharon Mann Piper. Here goes:

Oatmeal Banana Cupcakes: Makes 24 cupcakes.

Preheat oven to 375. Line two muffin pans with baking cups.

½ cup sugar                    1 tsp. Baking soda

1 stick (½ cup) butter       ¾ tsp. salt

2 eggs                          1 cup quick cooking rolled oats

3 ripe bananas, mashed (1 cup)

¾ cup honey

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp. Baking powder

In the mixer, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, bananas, and honey. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in oats. Fill baking cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 18-20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Remove pans and cool on wire rack.

I ice them with cream cheese icing and sprinkle on whatever topping suits me—yesterday, I put toasted coconut on some and chopped pecans on others and left some plain. You could also use colorful sprinkles, as my sons did when they were little.

All sorts of scents evoke memories for us. I will never encounter the smell of boxwood without thinking of my great aunts, whose house was enclosed by a low hedge of it. I have some overgrown boxwood shrubs just outside my front door—love to prune them and remember. I wonder what scent memories come instantly to you this time of year. Cinnamon? Fir? Part of the joy of the season is having many such sweet memories. I hope your season is filled with the aroma of happiness cooking.

                               In the Spirit,

                                   Jane