At my mom’s bridal shower in 2001, something special she did was asking her guests to write recipes on recipe cards. I chose to focus on this apple muffin/cake recipe that came from my great-grandparents. This is a recipe my family uses often at home, and it is a connection to my great-grandparents, who passed away while I was in elementary school. The extra comments added, like “love you always” and “they are good for you,” show the love and care with which it was written. My parents met in college and moved to New York City for work, but had their wedding in Buffalo, New York, where my mom grew up. A couple of years later, they moved to Connecticut, where I was born. My parents and siblings drive from Connecticut to Buffalo multiple times a year to see my mom’s family, which has helped me learn the value of quality time spent together. As a child, I spent almost every major holiday at my grandparents’ house, and it feels almost as if I lived there. Making food and eating meals with my extended family are some of my most cherished memories from Buffalo. These were events full of laughter and familiarity, and now that several family members have passed away, I have a greater appreciation for our visits and know how lucky I am to have these memories. I look forward to making apple muffins every fall, not just because they are delicious, but because they connect me to my family in Buffalo, especially my great-grandparents, whom I only knew for a short amount of time.

– Jasmine Stops

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more