Country Lore Readers’ Tips to Live By

Passing the Smell Test

Over 30 years ago, my late father gave me a beautiful handmade wooden cutting board. It was cut from the wood of a tree that grew near my childhood home, and it holds huge sentimental value for me.

After many years, I noticed that smells from frequent use had penetrated deep into the wood, and had caused my cutting board to reek of onions and garlic. I despaired at the thought of having to throw it away, but anything I cut on it would quickly absorb the onion flavor. I tried baking soda, lemon juice, salt, and even mustard powder, but nothing could kick the lingering smell.

One Thanksgiving, I was scrambling around getting dinner ready when my daughter offered to help. She began to peel and cut potatoes on my wooden cutting board while I rushed to the store. When I returned, the potatoes were left sitting on the cutting board with the juice everywhere. I gave the potatoes a sniff to make sure they didn’t smell like onions.

They didn’t. Surprised, I sniffed the cutting board again; every trace of its