My mother died and I can't stop baking.

[cali]

My mom was an amazing cook. best cook I've ever known. She grew up in France and Italy and went to boarding school in France in the early 30s where cooking was part of the curriculum- and boy did she learn. she was almost as good a baker as she was a cook. She bought a commercial Blodgett Gas Range in 1964 with 6 burners and a griddle, broiler and two ovens. When my parents built a house in the late 60's she had a coal burning grill and rotisserie (and fireplace) installed in her dream kitchen, as as another restaurant stove.

She could bake anything- from a Sacher Torte to a Dobos Torte to the best Buche de Noel.

Since she died, I've been baking like crazy. Today I baked a kind of Panettone type thing. Yesterday I made these bars with a yeast crust, an apricot layer that I made from dried apricots, a vanilla layer and a chocolate glaze. I don't bake from recipes. I just make it up as I go along.

Good thing I'm giving it away and not eating it.

[japple]

1. What a nice way to pay homage to your mother. It sounds as though she

was a quite ahead of her time as regards cooking/baking ideals. You are so lucky to have learned from her. I am so sorry that she has gone from your life and hope you will take all the time you need to mourn her passing. God speed mother of cali. She must have been wonderful!

[cali]

2. ah thank you. what a very sweet thing to say

I appreciate it.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

3. So sorry for your loss Cali

Your mother sounds amazing and I am sure you will have many fond memories of her. My mother was a very good baker also. She has been gone for over twenty years now and everyone still calls one recipe "Grandma's coffeecake" even though I have been filling her shoes for all those years. So sorry for your loss and hope you recieve peace from your baking. Sounds like a fitting memorial to a wonderful lady.

[elleng]

4. Its wonderful that you have something so substantial

with which to remember her.

[adirondacker]

5. "Scent Can Be a Powerful Memory Trigger"

"Have you ever noticed that a particular scent can bring forth a rush of vivid memories? The smell of cookies baking might remind you of spending time at your grandmother's house when you were a small child. The scent of a particular perfume might remind you of a romantic partner with whom your relationship ended on a sour note.

Why does smell seem to act as such a powerful memory trigger?

First, the olfactory nerve is located very close to the amygdala, the area of the brain that is connected to the experience of emotion as well as emotional memory. In addition, the olfactory nerve is very close to the hippocampus, which is associated with memory as you learned earlier in this article.

The actual ability to smell is highly linked to memory. Research has shown that when areas of the brain connected to memory are damaged, the ability to identify smells is actually impaired. In order to identify a scent, you must remember when you have smelled it before and then connect it to visual information that occurred at the same time. According to some research, studying information in the presence of an odor actually increases the vividness and intensity of that remembered information when you smell that odor again."
http://psychology.about.com/od/memory/ss/ten-facts-about-memory_8.htm

PS I owned and operated a continental pastry shop in my former years. Everything from scratch including puff pastry, genoise cakes, tortes, etc. The only thing that came in a can was almond paste and apricot glaze.

Condolences Cali and enjoy the fond memories.

[grasswire]

6. ..and do you still bake today?

welcome to our group here!

[adirondacker]

9. Generally, no.

My ex stated that I should make that known to any future relationship involvements.

I occasionally bake for the holidays to give out to friends, but have taken up building a house solo and lack the energy to go all out in the kitchen. I also have a bad back and some tendonitis in my wrists and elbows from long term abuse hand rolling dough and also working as a carpenter. When things in life settle a bit, I'll get back into it a little more.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

[grasswire]

7. so sorry about your mother passing, cali

I sure do understand the urge to bake. My mother was a professional chef, and she did a lot of baking and experimenting at home. My favorite day would be the one each June when she would make strawberry jelly and buttermilk bread on the same day. The "foam" from the top of the jelly, spread on a crust of that warm bread.....heaven.

Tonight I'm making whole wheat banana bread for my cousin who is batching it this week, cinnamon rolls for the new college grad who is heading through town tomorrow, and reading baking books for the perfect cake for a family gathering mid-week.

The beat goes on. Baking, one generation after another.

[Portland Cyclist]

8. When my grandfather died...

I was the same way. I'm so thankful that he wrote down all of his recipes which I was sure to make copies of. I still think of him whenever I make a pineapple upside down cake or greek salad.

[TxDemChem]

10. I have always felt that food brings my family and loved ones together.

It sounds as if you and your mother appreciated that sentiment as well. I think it is wonderful that you are revering your mom in this way.