|
Tomorrow we would set out on the long ride home to Connecticut. We had been at my grandparents’ camp near Bailey Island, fishing, boating, sunning and relaxing for two exquisite summer weeks. Daddy was itching to go yard sale-ing one last time, and asked me if I wanted to go with him. I didn’t care that much for yard sales, but at fifteen I never passed up a chance to spend time with my Dad.
We pulled up in front of a weatherbeaten yellow cottage not far from the variety store where my sister and I walked two and a half miles for soda pop every day. There was only one small table of stuff for sale outside, but Daddy always had to stop and look. He was a tinkerer and you never knew when you’d find a vacuum tube, a hinge, or a little electric motor. We jumped out and went to see.
He took a quick glance around and turned back to the car. I lingered for a moment, and I spied a little wooden box that looked as if it had been too close to a fire. The paint was scorched away except in front, where traces of green and the word “Recipes” still remained. I opened the top, and it was full of yellowed index cards with someone’s ancient recipes. So I handed the white-haired woman a quarter, and hurried back to the car with my treasure.
Daddy glanced at the box . “What did you find?”
“An antique recipe box. Do you think it’s worth anything?”
He snorted. “If you want a box, why didn’t you say so? I could have made you one. Mine wouldn’t look like it had been through the war!”
I loved my Dad, but he just didn’t get it. I was developing my taste for “traditional country.” Old was beautiful. “No, Daddy, I like it just the way it is!”
On the way home, I flipped through the box and read the recipes’ names out loud. Every one was in a different hand; every card was stained liberally with a different flavor. With almost every recipe was a name where it came from, notes of changes the cook had made in it, and comments: “Aunt Sue’s Sweet Pickles (blue ribbon, Topsham Fair 1930);” “Mom’s Christmas Cookies;” “Diane’s Oatmeal Cookies, 1947,” and “Jane’s Sponge Candy (Bob’s favorite).”
At that, Daddy perked up. “Whoa! What’s in that candy?”
As I read the recipe, Daddy said, “That sure sounds like my favorite candy when I was a kid. You can’t find it anywhere nowadays.”
The recipe box went into my hope chest with all the other green antiques and I pretty much forgot about it. Years later, Daddy and Mom had moved to Maine. I had married and was raising kids in New Britain, but we were visiting my folks for Christmas. Money was tight that year. I had crocheted things for everyone, but what to do for Daddy? He wasn’t the type to appreciate crochet work, and I couldn’t think of a thing he’d really like.
I dug in the hope chest and looked in the old box for a cookie recipe - and when I came across Jane’s sponge candy, I remembered how it had caught his attention. “Gee,” I wondered, “Maybe this really is that candy he loved as a kid.” So I followed the recipe and made a big batch of Jane’s candy, filled a huge glass jar, and labeled it “Daddy’s Sponge Candy.” I wrapped it in bright red and green plaid paper and took it to Maine.
I’ll never forget the look on his face when he unwrapped his gift. His eyes got big and shiny, and he looked at me like a happy little boy. He said, “This is it!” and quickly tucked the glass jar inside the big recliner against his hip, guarding it like a fortune in gold nuggets.
While everyone else opened their gifts, I watched Daddy out of the corner of my eye. Every few minutes, he would open the glass jar and sneak a piece of the candy. He glanced over at me and saw me watching him. With shining eyes, he whispered, “This is it,” as the candy melted on his tongue.
Every Christmas I see that smile again when Daddy opens his jar of candy.
Years have passed, and I still keep my favorite recipes in the old box. Daddy, though, had long forgotten it until last year. When I was working on this story, I wanted to get a photo of him with a big jar of candy and the old recipe box. When I showed him the box, what do you think he said?
“You know, I could make you a box that looks a lot better than this old beat-up thing.”
It’s nice to know some things never change!
Jane’s Sponge Candy
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 1 tbsp baking soda
Combine the sugar, syrup, and vinegar in a 2-quart pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves. Continue cooking, but DO NOT STIR, to 300° F on a candy thermometer.
Remove from heat. Quickly stir in the soda. Mix well. The mixture will foam up! Pour into a lightly buttered 9x9x2 pan. Do not spread! Cool. Crack into chunks.
|