Pan dulces

  While on my way to an art show, the air was filled was delicious scents. There was a clean scent from a recent rain shower, the smell of fresh mown grass and blooming flowers.  There was the smell of freshly turned earth, a personal favorite. But there was something more.   I smelled something delicious, something from my childhood that I couldn't quite place.  I followed my nose and walked up to an old fashioned "tienda".  It's a store that that features Hispanic products that included a panaderia.  What is a panaderia you might ask?  It's a Hispanic bakery.  You walk in and the shop has this wonderful fresh comforting scent of yeast, sugar, vanilla and more.  Combined, it is the sweet smell of ultra comfort food.  I grew up among the Mexican culture; it is as much a part of  me as the color of my eyes.  I thought panaderias were something I left behind when I moved to a new city.  Quite happy to report I was wrong.

  As you enter the store, the pastries are displayed in tall racks waiting for selection.  The croissants are fresh and flaky, rivaling any croissant I've sampled at a more upscale cafe.    Through my rusty Spanish, I located tongs and a stack of old fashioned cafeteria trays.  The idea is to select whatever strikes your fancy.  One of these, one of those, two of those...Just to get an idea of perspective, the cookies and rolls are the size of a saucer.  Your selections are counted and placed carefully into a brown paper sack to take home.  My car never smelled so good!  Forget new car smell, this beats the pants off that scent anyday!  Is there such a thing as a bakery car freshener?

  I've reduced my intake of carbs and white sugar with the hopes of improving my health.  However, this occasional Saturday morning indulgence won't hurt anyone.  Savored slowly on my porch with a cup of steamed milk and coffee, listening to the birds sing and feeling the breeze on my skin.  These are the quiet moments that replenish the spirit, recharge the batteries and make daily tasks more palatable  Hopefully these pan dulces and quiet moments will trigger happy and comforting memories for my family someday.