This is a repost of something I wrote for my very first A-Z Challenge in 2013! It was on smells or odors and for P, I chose the warm and yeasty smell of prune doughnuts made by my grandmother.
My grandmother, whom we called Memmere, came from Poland with her mother, arriving at Ellis Island in the 1890s, when she was about 5. She was the oldest of ten children and was not educated beyond second grade because her mother got tuberculosis and she became responsible for raising her siblings. Memmere married a French Canuck, as she liked to tell to me – my grandfather Peno, whose ancestors were French and came from Canada. Peno was a carpenter.
There was a period of several years, when I was probably between the ages of 2 and 5, when my mother and I lived with Memmere and Peno. My father’s job selling insurance didn’t pay him enough to support us. Which brings me, at last, to the prune doughnuts.
    Memmere loved to cook, and one of the things she cooked often for us were pączki (pronounced pohnch’ kee), fried rounds of yeast dough filled with a variety of things – strawberry, apricot, raspberry, but most a traditional prune puree.
She didn’t leave my mother her recipe but here is a good source:
https://www.thespruce.com/polish-paczki-doughnuts-recipe-1136411
I remember sitting in the kitchen while Memmere dropped the doughnuts in hot oil, my grandfather at the kitchen table, singing to her in French. He was very romantic and frequently sang her love songs. They were married for well over 50 years. Maybe this is why I relate prune doughnuts and love songs.
As a child I would never have believed I would say this, but I love prunes. This is such a warm, delightful post. Hugs!
I also love prunes – not in large quantities, but I do love them. Good on you!
Lovely memories.
Thanks, Sue. I loved Memmere and Peno and was devastated when Mom and I moved out.
I can understand that.
How interesting, Noelle. Love stories of relatives from old countries. And Poland feels close, considering my old country is the same region. Prune doughnuts sure look great. Now, I’ll be thinking about this for a while. 🙂
Thanks, Sylvia. My grandmother’s cooking was wonderful – I do have some of her recipes, just not this one.
Such a precious love story of your grandparents, Noelle! xo
Thanks, Bette. When I think of them, it’s like a warm hug!
Me too… <3
we need a sniff-a-blog to enjoy this
What a great idea, Geoff! We should get on it straight away!
What a lovely memory, Noelle! Your grandparents sound like they were wonderful people!
They were! Just the sort of grandparents you dream about!
What a lovely memory you shared. I love filled doughnuts especially those with that delicious confectioner’s custard in, ooo now I’m feeling hungry.
You and my Hubs have a lot in common, dear, He loves custard filled doughnuts. I do, too, but they go right to my hips!
Same, why the hips though! 🙄 ?
When you get to be my age, everything goes right to the hips…or maybe the belly?
I love the fact we all have cherished memories connected with food and family, and your recipe also reminded me of my visit last year to Agen, France which is world famous for its prunes. Your doughnuts recipe made me think of warm muffins filled with prunes and a wonderful cup of coffee. Agen actually has a 3-day prune festival and I wrote a travelogue called Agen Gold if you are interested?
Best Wishes
Kevin
Definitely interested! How do you find the travelogue. My Memmere would have been in seventh heaven with all the prunes!
Those are such great memories. Thanks for Sharing.
They are! I was lucky to live with my grandparents for a while. They were devoted to their grandchildren.