It’s not just the calendar that puts celebrators in the Christmas and Hannuka spirit. It’s a host of sights and sounds that makes these holidays special: the change to wintry weather; the hustle n’ bustle of gift shoppers; colorful decorations and lights illuminating neighborhoods, windows and shops; the gaiety of passersby offering holiday wishes; quiet moments spent in reflection and prayer. All help create a festive mood.
One of my favorites is the aroma of freshly baked desserts and treats filling our home and signaling the start of this special season. Yesterday, it was almond crescent cookies. The day before, I sniffed roasted walnuts and candied bark, white chocolate with craisins. Tomorrow will bring something new that tickles my senses and rewards my taste buds. But, today, I smell gingerbread.
What a pleasure to be awakened on a brisk winter morning with the smell of ‘just from the oven’ cranberry bread or molasses cookies wafting down the hall and finding me stubbornly stirring beneath the cover of a cozy quilt. My wife, an early riser, is eagerly preparing delicate desserts to be shared with friends and enjoyed with our meals. Yes, I know, I’m spoiled.
Later, the chilly air on a new December day welcomes those escaping kitchen aromas that intoxicate me with spices and sugars, as I finish some outside chores. My work can wait, I decide, and hurriedly make my way inside for some hot coffee and a sampling of today’s treats. Ahhh, I smell gingerbread.
These holidays have a ‘baking season’ like no other, where the kitchen is the arena and the clashing of the cookie sheets, muffin tins, bread pans and mixing bowls tells us that it’s ‘game on’, while the cook builds up to the highly anticipated call, ‘Bon Appetit’. It’s a race to blend, stir, beat and mix ahead of the beginning of the Hannukah and Christmas Day deadlines. The desserts and special dinners seemingly roll out of the kitchen and onto the dining table in a tsunami of meats and greens, biscuits and breads, truffles and spritz.๏ฟผ
When the calendar turns to January, the cooking slows, the menus change, and the emphasis is on dietary needs to help our bodies recover and prepare for spring. Is that possible? Yet, through the dark, cold winter months, I still yearn for the smell of gingerbread.
Spring rains roll into summer heat, and a warm kitchen loses its appeal. Quite unnoticed, the oven begins a period of involuntary hibernation. Delicacies are not a priority and a cold beer on a hot day will suffice. But nature is a wonderful thing. In a matter of time, the baking season will return in all its glory, and, once more, I will savor the smell of gingerbread in our home…
srbottch (11/23/2015)
Dedicated to my wife, who keeps our shelves filled with wonderful desserts during the Christmas holiday, and to cooks in their kitchens, everywhere.
S'amusing 
Our house had the aroma of peppermint candy canes this morning. Later in the week it will be gingerbread! Can’t beat that aroma!
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I could smell the peppermint all the way down the street . Mmmmm, yummy. Yes, this certainly is the ‘baking season’. Thanks for your comment.
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Steve, you are a lucky man!
Grandpa/Dad/Jim
>
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Thanks, Jim. I agree, and the ‘baking season’ has only just begun.
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You do such a good job of calling something to our attention that we may not have noticed, or something we knew but put away in the recesses of our minds. I love this idea of the seasons changing in the kitchen just as they change in nature. This piece is a delicacy every bit as delicious as any treat from the oven! Thanks for inviting us in.
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What a very nice comment. Thank you, Ida Beth. So, I guess in this case, ‘eating my words’ could be considered pleasurable..,
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Absolutely!
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Steve, this is a great post. I like it! I’m going to read more and then do a feature if you don’t mind. I’de love to share your blog with my readers.
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I am humbled by your request. I certainly don’t mind at all. I think a few more down-to-earth, uplifting essays that remind of something in our lives are worthy of exposure. Thank you for your interest. Steve.
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Oh, goodness, our kitchen was a gingerbread ‘sauna’ today. A fresh pan of gingerbread was on the dinner table tonight. Yes, again, I am spoiled…
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Stop ..๐ช๐ฐ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐
I am diabetic.Your description hurts !
I become nervous and addicted To Your description.
๐๐๐
Enjoy….lol
Xa
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That means my writing must have the right ‘recipe’ if it’s impacting you that way, my friend. You got me started on this adventure with your insistence that I keep writing. A few extra nervous tics keeps you alert. Thanks, X!
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Agreed
Expecting the next short story soon
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Thanks, Al. I’m glad they resonated with you.
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Love that your wife makes these wonderful goodies. I have such fond memories of treats at the holidays–and they do so add to the homey feeling. Enjoy that gingerbread!
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Gingerbread has the greatest aroma. And, my goodness, since it’s only the two of us here, guess who gets very, very spoiled. Gee, I think I’ll have some gingerbread right now…or pumpkin walnut bread…or, or…so many choices. (Thanks for the note)
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Okay. Now all I want is some gingerbread with my morning coffee. I’ll be baking cinnamon raisin bread today. Can you smell it? ๐
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Can I? The aroma tapped danced across my olfactory nerve straight to me sleeping brain causing me to wake, throw off the covers, leap from the bed and dash to the kitchen….just y make sure our Jake the Dog wasn’t ‘shop lifting’ again. He recently ate an entire loaf of cinn-raisin bread we inadvertently left on the counter. Now, I refer to it as the $700 loaf. (Thanks for the nice reply…)
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๐ Jake is charming. I can tell. That loaf is the gold standard for cinnamon raisin bread!
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Steve,
Your description of winter and the aroma of baking got a Pavlovian response from me. While I was reading, I was drinking my morning coffee with some roasted Almonds (my usual routine). Coffee tasted ok but all of a sudden the almonds got overhelmed by the mental feast of baked ‘menagerie’ in the kitchen. I had to get up and warm up a cookie.
And then the engineering flight: what if this rich, warm and enticing aroma could be collected in little capsules and be used as a dietry supplement without the worry of weight gain. Do you think it will sell? You are the expert!
Thanks for tikling some dorment neurons. Dursh
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Wish I lived nearer – I would be popping in for some if thst gingerbread ! I can smell it from here !
A lovely piece of writing , too Steve !
Well done !
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Anne, this is one of my favorite stories. Thanks for reading and your wonderful comment.
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I need to bake this week! Your beautifully written post reminds us of the all-important little things, especially over the holidays. Thank you for stopping to smell the roses…er, I mean the gingerbread.
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I also love gingerbread, Steve, although this year I have been make houses out of chocolate instead of gingerbread. They also smell lovely though.
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