Going back to the good ol' days

I find it remarkable how our senses can trigger memories from our past experiences, especially from our childhoods. Even though my childhood is quite a bit more distant than most of yours, this phenomenon will become more amazing to you, as you grow older.

For me, my senses of smell, taste and hearing, respectively, dominate the connections to my memory and can transport me instantaneously back in time. For example, every time I hear the song, "School's Out Forever," by Sly and the Family Stone, I am taken back to the afternoon of my last day of high school in May 1972.

While I was driving my 1968 Ford Mustang, this song came on the radio, prompting me to sing along. All of a sudden, I got choked up, for the words hit home so hard they evoked a heartfelt crying jag.
Of course, I knew school wasn't really out forever, as I was off to college in the fall. (Little did that naïve 18-year-old girl know she still would be in school at 56!)

At the time, what was so upsetting to me was leaving the friends I had been going to school with since first grade. Also, the fear of change and especially the fear of the unknown contributed to this emotional outburst, as I would realize much later. Honestly, both still plague me quite frequently.
As for my sense of smell, anytime I get a whiff of freshly-baked bread or Pineapple Upside-down Cake, I am reminded of my Maw Maw Parker, my maternal grandmother. I really loved going to her house because she always had something yummy to eat.

The tastes of hot spiced tea or hot cocoa bombard my brain with memories of all the wonderful times I had with my great-aunt Clara.
Only 10 years older than my dad, she and her husband A. D. never had children; therefore, they unabashedly doted on my sister Beckie and me. Naturally, going to their house was always a much-anticipated treat.

Numerous times during my grade-school days, Clara threw impromptu tea parties for us. These events consisted of menus featuring cookies, cakes or pies, accompanied by our choices of hot spiced tea or hot cocoa with miniature marshmallows.
She made her own mixes for these beverages, which she served in antique china demitasse cups and saucers with tiny silver spoons.

Clara taught us proper etiquette, demonstrating how we should raise our pinky fingers when we lifted our cups to drink.
Beckie and I had so much fun pretending to be all grown up, as we noshed on mouth-watering pastries and sipped our hot beverages while wearing Clara's high-heeled shoes-ahh, the shoes. Oh, but that's another story I must tell you sometime.

Anyway, I still love to indulge myself and unwind with a lovely cup of hot tea or cocoa. Thanks, Clara.
Students' budgets usually don't permit splurging on expensive presents for everyone on their Christmas lists, but giving thoughtful homemade gifts could be the solution to this dilemma.

To help out, I'm sharing updated versions of my great-aunt Clara's recipes for Hot-Spiced-Tea Mix and Hot-Cocoa Mix.
Make one or both of these mixes and put whatever quantity desired into inexpensive containers, ranging from a resealable plastic bag, glass jar, plastic bowl or decorative tin.

Also, one could give a cup and saucer or mug along with the mix. If giving the Hot-Cocoa Mix, one could include some miniature marshmallows.
I'm sure recipients would be pleased to receive either one not only for Christmas but also for any other occasion. Here's wishing each of you happy holidays and a joyful winter break.

Hot-Spiced-Tea Mix

Supplies:
Large mixing bowl
Large spoon or whisk
1-cup dry measure
Measuring spoons
Ingredients:
½ c. instant tea
1 small pkg. unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid
1 c. Tang breakfast drink
2 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. cloves

Directions:
Put all ingredients into a large mixing bowl, stirring to combine thoroughly.
Place into airtight storage container.
To serve, put 2 teaspoons of mix into a cup of hot water and stir. (A standard cup easily holds 5 ounces of liquid; so depending on the size of your cup, you may need to add more mix.)

Visit Hattie's Recipe Box online to find a recipe for Hot-Cocoa Mix.