As children, my siblings and I would sometimes spend our summers with our Grammy in Florida. She always welcomed us with tight hugs and warm kisses that left magenta lipstick on our foreheads and cheeks. But, mostly, she showed her love with food. I have vivid memories of kneading dough, rolling out sugar cookies, and watching through the oven door as our creations baked to perfection. My  own joy in cooking and baking is a direct reflection of those early experiences. Now, as a parent, I see my children making their own treasured memories in the kitchen. We often make a similar sugar cookie recipe to Grammy's, a simple combination of basic ingredients leading to significant memories together as a family. During these baking sessions, the kitchen inevitably becomes a scene of playful chaos: flour coats the counters, eggs are occasionally cracked in the wrong place, and once, an entire bag of flour burst open on the floor to my 4-year-old's delight. He rolled around in it spreading it to every crack in the floor and coating himself completely before announcing that he was ready to be baked in the oven. These moments are not without mess, but they are filled with laughter, connection, and love. I believe these joyful and sincere experiences will become some of my children's most cherished memories, just as mine with my Grammy have remained so vivid and dear to me. The legacy of love, care, and resilience that she infused into every meal now lives on in my kitchen which is the heart of our home. 

– Kristi Talbert

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