The Aromas of Love

 

The aromas of Mom’s kitchen were unique,

Only source of aromas world wide,

The only source of these delicacies found nowhere,

Except for that familiar place,

In everyone’s hearts, Mom’s kitchen,

Romantically named, “Mama’s Place,”

By the partner in her life.

 

Mama’s kitchen provided everyone,

With food made from recipes,

Located in the mind of Dona Antonia,

None written in books on shelves,

All perfected with amounts,

That rarely included spoons or cups,

A pinch of that, a bonche of this,

Creating meals of we will never forget.

 

Mole made of chicken and a heavenly sauce,

Made with care and skill,

Taking painstaking care to make her mole,

A special meal for usually a special occasion,

For us any time for mole was an occasion.

 

Christmas brought the annual rite of tamales,

Each one wrapped up the mixture of spices and flavor,

Masa of corn wrapped in corn husks,

Each one a masterpiece of tradition mixed,

With the touch of Mama’s own special tamale mix,

A mix of meat, spicy sauce, and flavor,

Everyone helping to create this family tradition,

But it was Mama’s touch that created the unique flavor.

 

Mama’s Chile Rellenos were a meal in themselves,

Filled with meat, cheese,

 Cooked to perfection,

Chiles dipped in her special egg mixture,

Then cooked, emitting a special aroma,

That tantalizes  the senses,

That wait hours for the sound of Mama’s voice,

Calling us to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

 

There were other special meals,

Enchiladas and spaghetti, made with a special sauce,

Again tasted in no other place,

Except for Mama’s Kitchen,

Enchiladas of cheese and onions,

Morsels of which  seem to melt in ones mouth

Spaghetti with a unique taste,

A flavor forever lost.

 

Tacos and tostadas created,

With fresh vegetables,

Tostadas covered with her special tostada sauce,

Burritos or tacos our daily work staple,

Of beans and flour tortillas.

 

In the morning the daily staple

A filling mixture of atoles,

Oatmeal was the daily workhorse,

Kept one filled and warm,

Special occasions called for

Rice atole and punuelos,

A child’s delight on a cold winter morning.

 

Tortillas were a daily staple created in Mama’s kitchen,

Dozens created by hands that made the process seem so easy,

Feeding a large family with dozens of tortillas,

Soft, hot, filled with beans, rice, butter, peanut butter,

Mama’s tortillas were the favorite snack for after school,

Tortillas that kept many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren,

Still until dinner or filled with a delicious specialty,

Only Mama could make her way.

 

Rice from Mama’s kitchen was fluffy,

Small morsels of light flavor,

Alongside the daily staple of beans,

Refried, De la Olla, Con Chorizo,

Mama kept her family fed,

With meals that were made by her caring hands,

Hands that revealed the years of hard work,

Hands that were skilled from years of cooking.

 

Mama’s Kitchen brought us food that was famous,

Throughout our families as the best in the world,

Taste and recipes that will forever be lost,

No matter how much we try,

The replicas are just not the same,

We  will always remember Mama,

For the love she created within,

The food she created to sustain our lives.