Silver Dollar Pancakes And A Montana Road Trip Memory

A recent road trip across Montana with my wife found us with that all too familiar pain in our stomachs. We needed food. Thankfully, there was an excellent stop in Lincoln to be had, and in we pulled.

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The place was familiar; we had frequented it many times on trips, and it was a favorite of my grandmothers when we traveled to Glacier National Park during the summer. But it was something on the menu that triggered the 8-year-old in me and took me reeling to sitting in the backseat of her car, road tripping across the state.

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Montana Foods That Will Trigger Childhood Memories Instantly

Pancakes. But more specifically, silver dollar pancakes. They were my go-to breakfast food on travels as a child. And seeing them on the menu instantly brought those memories back into my mind and out of my mouth to my wife and the dining table.

READ MORE: The Eight Food Items You Really Don't Need to Refrigerate and Still Be Safe to Eat

There is an actual scientific name for that effect on you. It's called "sensory memory retrieval" and it also happens to be one of the strongest emotional triggers to occur to humans. Our brains encode tastes and smells, which can unlock memories that were lying dormant for years. Or even yesterday.

Foods That Can Instantly Take You Back to Your Childhood - What Triggers You?

It isn't just me that it happens to in our house. As I stepped through the door of the kitchen a few days ago, sitting right on the counter next to the stove was a box of mac n' cheese. My wife's childhood favorite. She was having a craving.

What other foods can create that memory trigger for you? Is it a favorite breakfast cereal you sat in front of the television on Saturday mornings with, or maybe a cool summer treat? Hey Kool-Aid!

Food That Can Trigger Your "Sensory Memory Retrieval" Simply by Taking a Bite

If you have ever taken a bite of food and were suddenly transported back to your childhood, there is a scientific term to classify it. It's called sensory memory retrieval, and it is one the biggest emotional triggers humans have. Check these 15 foods that can take you back to a Saturday morning or a lazy summer afternoon running in a sprinkler with just a small bite.

8 Items That Can Be Left on Your Counter - At Least for Awhile

After a debate about soy sauce, it led me to find other things that might be alright to leave out of the refrigerator without fear of it going bad. But expiration dates are a whole different story for me. Be sure to always check the manufacturer label for specific directions on proper storage of food items.

Gallery Credit: JD Knight

5 Home Improvements That Benefit You but Make Neighbors Cringe

Home improvements are a must, but what happens when you install the latest gadget at your neighbors aren't nearly as impressed? Check these 5 things that may be annoying the neighborhood.

Gallery Credit: JD Knight

Filed Under: breakfast, fair food, food, Food in Montana, Great Falls, growing up, healthy food, Montana, montana food, montana summer, summer, weird food

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