My mom’s Krum Crackers are the best thing in the world. Baking with my mom has always been an important part of my life. It has given me many opportunities for laughing, bonding, and smiling.

Krum Crackers have been in our family for decades. It’s crazy to think that the Krum Cracker machine my mom still uses is over 50 years old, from when my Great Grandmother started to use it.  My mom or “Mama” has always baked on rainy days with me; it’s a staple in our house. Her famous Krum Crackers have always been a staple that I eat or bake on rainy days. The warmth of the cracker and the crunch that It gives, makes a sense of family and warmth to me.

I remember the first time my mom ever introduced Krum Crackers  to me, and I felt as though I was in heaven. I was about three years old, so I didn’t quite understand what flavors were, and how they were created.  At the age of five was when I started baking the Krum Crackers with her; it was hard. All of the batter on my hands, and in my curly hair; it was a mess. Over the years of burning myself, spilling the batter, and damaging the tools, I finally mastered how to make the Krum Cracker with her. Once my mom realized that I was capable of making these pastries, she started testing my abilities, to show her I could do it on my own. Pass down, generation by generation, the love that she put in the pastry to.

One morning, instead of mama waking up early and making the Krum Crackers, I did. The first time completely making them on my own was hard. It was frustrating because when making this pastry you have to time it perfectly; there’s no in-between.  So, burn after burn, my mom finally woke up from the coruscating smell. My instant thought was that she was going to be mad at me, but surprisingly she sat there and just smiled. The connection that I had with my mom was so strong that it was like I knew what she wanted me to do. And it was to not give up, even when it gets hard, and to keep going.

After I finally completed my first batch of Krum Crackers by myself, I felt satisfied. Even though it may not have been the best, I still completed my baking. It taught me lots of things, but most importantly taught me how to be patient. Overall, I love Krum Cracker’s is because its given me connection and self-being but its always just been what mama made.