Easter at Nannie’s: Bittersweet Traditions and Banana Croquettes

We spent Easter lunch with my mom at Nannie’s house this year. It was… hard. There’s just something about walking into a home so full of memories, knowing one of the biggest hearts in the room is no longer there. Still, somehow, it ended up being a sweet day—one that made me cry, laugh, and feel all the things at once.

Nannie made sure that mom brought out our family favorite: Banana Croquettes. If you’ve never had them, you’re probably thinking, What on earth is that? But trust me—they’re a Southern delicacy in our family. She’d take bananas, slice them in half or thirds depending on their size, then roll them in this creamy-sweet mixture of Miracle Whip, sugar, and heavy whipping cream. The finishing touch? A generous roll through ground peanuts. The result was a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy. My Pappy’s mom used to make them too, but she coated hers in crushed corn flakes instead. Nannie had already made me a peanut girl, though—so that’s the version that stuck with me.

I held it together most of the day. I really did. But when we went to visit Uncle Tom and Aunt Debby, emotions got the better of me. Uncle Tom gave me a plaque from The Kentucky Standard with Nannie’s obituary on it, along with a memory book. That’s when the tears came. And then his did too. Grief has a funny way of sneaking up on you like that—in the quiet moments, in the sharing of keepsakes, in the way someone else’s pain mirrors your own.

This Easter was different. But it was ours. Full of memories, food made with love, and a little bit of healing in the midst of the heartache. I’m so thankful we were together.

Here’s to the ones we miss, and the traditions that keep them close. 💛