I found myself in tears the other day, in the crowded kosher supermarket, over a jar of cherry preserves. Growing up, we bought a jar of Polaner's red cherry preserves (the other brands never tasted the same) every Passover. What was left in the bottom of the jar at the end of the week usually remained uneaten, only to crystallize into unpleasant white icicles within a few weeks after the end of Passover.
This jar of sugary sweet mess was a favorite taste I shared with my mother and sister for many years as a Passover breakfast. There is no explaining why that particular brand and flavor, not available, nor even desired, at other times of the year, was so incredibly delicious with cream cheese on matzo.
I bought those cherry preserves. Though the past few years have found us experimenting with new traditions at Passover, this is one tradition that I won't change. Not a creamy food lover, I'll spread my matzo like always, with a translucently thin film of Temp Tee cream cheese, then top it with the preserves. For better or worse, I'll be back at the round white, vinyl tablecloth covered for Passover, kitchen table of my youth. Kodachrome.
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