Blog #18: Food Memoir Rough Draft

Rough Draft

“College? He’s going to… where?” Confused and alarmed, my 5 year old brain did not fully understand what that meant. It’s probably like school, I reassured myself. He’ll ride the school bus, take really hard classes, go to recess, take some more really hard classes, and then be home in time for dinner.

Of course, college is not like kindergarten. The impact of my brother graduating high school to live three hours from home did not sink in. Until it did. Bags packed and hugs graciously given, the car motored away. Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days.

Lonely isn’t the right word. I still had my mom, my dad, my other brother, and our two dogs. Sadness was not a complete way to describe my feelings either, not with the important topics of elementary school to keep myself preoccupied. That paper isn’t going to cut itself. Still, something was missing.

Then one day my mom had an idea, “Noah, why don’t we make those brownies you and your brother like? You know, the peppermint patty ones?” Josh was known, is known, for his sweet tooth. I glanced out the window imagining him walking through the door, surprised by tasty sweets and a cool aroma in the kitchen. I nodded my head.

With winter break approaching, my parents let me (me!) help bake. This huge honor was not to be taken lightly. [go through procedure of making the brownies, incorporate the senses]. Finally I could fill the empty void nagging at me. As we ate at the dinner table, everything felt complete again.

Throughout my childhood these brownies served as a lifeline between me and my siblings. Saying goodbye is tough no matter the age, but it made the return home that much sweeter. No matter where we were in our different phases of life, on a small level we still shared that simple brownie recipe.

I realized this may be the last time I eat these brownies, until I myself am coming home from college for the first time. It’s an unnerving thought imagining a complete role reversal that requires a different kind of maturity.

But it’s not a truly scary proposition. In fact, it will be comforting to know family is waiting back home. Maybe it’s true family never really left.

Ingredients:
Pillsbury Fudge Brownies Mix (9x13 Family size)
2 eggs (amount listed on box)
oil (amount listed on box)
water (amount listed on box)
1-2 bags of York peppermint patties

Directions:
1. Make and bake brownies according to directions on box
2. While the brownies are baking, unwrap the peppermint patties and squish them
3. Take the brownies out of the oven 5 minutes before they are done baking
4. Place the squished peppermint patties evenly all over the top of the brownies
5. Put the brownies back into the oven for the remaining 5 minutes
6. When the brownies are done take them out of the oven and spread the melted peppermint patties with a metal icing spreader or butter knife
7. Let the brownies cool. Eat and enjoy