The Hunt for the Perfect Holiday Ingredient

It was a few days before Christmas, and the air in our house was thick with the aroma of cookies baking and the faint hum of Mannheim Streamroller. My mom stood in the kitchen, recipe in hand, furrowing her brow over a key miss ingredient: Brach’s five-point star chocolates.

Peanut Butter Blossoms were a family tradition, a hallmark of the season. But without those signature chocolates, the cookies just wouldn’t feel the same. IMO Hershey’s Kisses don’t make the cut. What followed was less a grocery trip and more a full-fledged quest. Over the next three days, my mom and I visited five different stores – each one a little farther than the last. Big chains, corner markets, and even Fleet Farm. Each time, we came up empty-handed.

By the fifth store, I was ready to give up. But not my mom. She combed every aisle, double-checked the seasonal section, and even asked an employee stocking shelves. And then, like a miracle, there they were. Three bags on the back of the bottom shelf. She held them up triumphantly, and the look on her face was priceless.

At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate what that moment meant. It wasn’t about the cookies – it was about her persistence, her love for tradition, and the joy of sharing something special with her family.

Now, years later, I’ve found myself navigating grocery store aisles all over the US – and even abroad – always on the lookout for something unique, something that ties me to a place or a memory. Grocery stores are a window into the everyday lives of people, a place where culture meets community.

As the holiday season comes into view, I find myself thinking about that hunt for Brach’s chocolates. It was about more than just finding an ingredient – it was about the journey, the bonding over simple moments, and the magic of persistence.

So this year, as I prepare to bake my own batch of peanut butter blossoms, I’ll be channeling that same joy, love, and determination. Wish me luck – I might need it!