What I’m sniffing today and why
I don’t eat sugar: I swore it off around my 18th birthday and I’ve pretty much stuck to that principle since. To be clear, refined sugar (in anything) – fruit and I, we’re all good. I know: why, right? Many reasons. That’s all you’re getting from me in terms of an explanation right before dinnertime.
But with all this in mind, in my pantry I still have a teeny packet of vanilla sugar. I have it for one reason only: my grandmother kept a huge jar of it and the smell of vanilla sugar is woven into many of my memories of her. Today I took the little packet out and sniffed it at length, repeatedly: it’s her birthday (she would have been 96). I miss her just that little bit less when I smell vanilla sugar (I said I didn’t eat sugar, I didn’t say I don’t like the smell!).
(Photo and how-to for making vanilla sugar from the amazing-looking Baking Bites).
you astound me with your healthy eating habits! french women really don’t get fat, do they? unfair! (of course, my life depends on sugar… i kind of really really really have to have it.)
sugar or no sugar, this is such a sweet tribute to your grandmother. i’m going to have to try making this now.
Caroline, I can’t believe I am going to say something that could rob me of a certain kind of mystique (ha!!), but I promise you my compatriots and I can and do get fat :)
My mother did however instil in me from very young an epic fear of getting fat, and the feeling that it was almost socially unacceptable. And true as well, I do refer to my ideal (and current, woot!) weight as my ‘Paris’ weight. So my nationality and body image are probably closely intertwined…
All that aside, I do admit to being a health nut. But sugar really isn’t great, especially for the skin!
In true hypocritical fashion though I urge you to make vanilla sugar – the smell alone is worth it :)
xxx
ben ça me donne faim tout ça. J’adore l’odeur du sucre vanille. Et ici, quand on utilise du sucre, c’est de la cassonade (légèrement moins mauvais).
Mais tu as la meilleure raison du monde de sniffer ton paquet de sucre!
bisous
Ça m’aurait étonnée que t’aimes pas l’odeur de quelque chose à la vanille, hein!! On se refait pas!!
Bisous mon chou xxxxx
When I was little I always asked my grandma to burn incense in the exotic brass burner she had. Now I have that burner, which still contains a partially burned cone and a whole cone. When I take off the lid and sniff, I smell childhood and my grandma’s house. I’ll never use this incense burner, or disturb her last two cones of incense. I just like having it and peeking inside and remembering.
What a precious thing to have and be able to look at (and sniff!) from time to time. And what a cute ritual you had with your grandma! :)