I'm a Spice Sniffer

My husband and I were making baked cinnamon sugar doughnut holes for the farmers markets one Friday evening. The recipe we were using called for nutmeg. My husband measured out what was needed for the recipe, and I grabbed the container to sneak a sniff before I closed the lid.

Yes, I am a spice sniffer. Is there a support group for that? I digress.

In an instant, I was brought back to my childhood. My mom would always save empty food containers for us so we could play house or grocery store in the basement whenever it rained or was too cold to play outside. The moment that I was brought back to was sitting backwards on the steps going down to the basement. There wasn’t a back to the steps, so you could sit and let your legs dangle through, and step above you became a desk. Sometimes I’d watch my Mom doing laundry in the basement, but that moment I remembered in that flashback was sitting on the steps and coloring. Next to me were a few empty red and white containers of McCormick spices—nutmeg and cloves. Every now and then I’d sniff one of the empty spice containers, smile, and continue coloring. Perhaps I’m the only one who finds the aroma of cinnamon, anise, cloves, nutmeg or allspice comforting. To me they are like a fragrant hug, reminding me the years past of holiday baking, memories of family members who have passed, and the joys, the thrill, and the anticipation of the upcoming holiday seasons. As we begin the final quarter of this year, remember to take time to sniff the spices and be thankful for what you have and especially for those who surround you. #paulaszzerts #memories #baking #spices #mccormick