I have always been fascinated by the principle that your sense of smell (and taste) is most closely linked to memory. Marcel Proust reflected that “the smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, ready to remind us… the immense edifice of memory.”

Many scientists have studied this link, and one of the most memorable stories that I can recall from my days of working in assisted living had to do with this very connection: “Mrs. B” told me that when her husband was dying and could not see or communicate, she doused herself in his favorite perfume and visited his bedside. “I’m here, Bill, I’m here,” she said, and though he could barely hear, she leaned in close so he could smell the perfume he had always loved on her. He breathed in deeply and smiled, knowing exactly who she was; moments later, he died.

How many times can we recall a certain smell taking us way back, sometimes to early childhood days of playing outside in the backyard or visiting grandparents on a farm in the countryside? There are probably times when tasting a certain food or drink has the same effect. I’m sure there is a smorgasbord of stories on this subject to fill many books and blogs.

Amy Goyer, senior vice President for outreach at Grandparents.com, writes about the cookbook her sister created in 1980 to keep certain treasured family recipes on record for future generations. Entitled “Family Magic,” Amy’s sister collected four generations of recipes from aunts, uncles, in-laws, grandparents, siblings and more. Within this compilation, which has become an important piece of family history, the accompanying tradition complements the record of the recipe, giving the complete scope of the family’s cultural heritage.

Goyer stresses the importance of recording these generational recipes, not just for culinary purposes alone, but for the memories of special people and places that are brought to mind every time she breathes in deeply of a freshly baked family delicacy. She shares one of these unique recipes, along with a list of pointers for getting started on the creation of your own family’s heritage cookbook. It will be most certainly labor-intensive, but undoubtedly a worthwhile labor of love.

I am inspired by Goyer’s piece to spend some time in my grandmother’s kitchen, asking her for recipes from many delicious dishes that I’ve enjoyed over years of Christmas Eves and afternoons by Grandpa and Grandma’s pool. I also plan to ask my mother for some of her recipes from numerous holiday breakfasts to tasty dinner meals in my growing up years. I know that just reading the ingredients will likely usher in a host of memories and I welcome the trip.

There’s a Polaroid snapshot that is still on Grandma’s refrigerator, showing the smiling faces of her five oldest grandchildren at work in her kitchen years ago. She always allowed us to experiment, even if it meant that what we produced was not fit for eating. Looking at that photo will always remind me of Moon Cake – what we dubbed the not-so-successful culinary trial due to its crater-like appearance — most likely a result of microwaving the mishmash of ingredients rather than baking it. I am likely to never encounter the smell of Moon Cake, but the photo alone encapsulates the importance of family traditions and pleasant childhood memories –- that often come straight out of Grandma’s kitchen.

- Michelle Seitzer