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Rediscovering Ry Krisp
It was around 1956, I was about eight years old, and my Mom was on a diet. I think she'd just given birth to my sister Darlene (uh-oh, there goes her age out the door!) and she was determined to get her Barbara Stanwyck figure back.
I remember I saw her eating what looked like a cracker and it had cream cheese on it. Apparantly it was some kind of diet food. For days I asked her if I could have one. And for days she refused. I think she knew I really didn't need to lose weight, since at that time I was all short skinny legs and skinny arms.
But I was persistent. She ate this treat everyday, so it must be good. I did notice that my Dad never ate it. He loved bowls of ice creams, bowls of pretzels and bowls of popcorn.
But I was curious about this funny-looking cracker.
Finally my Mom gave in and I tried it. She tried to satisfy me with half a cracker. I loved the taste. Mom told me the cracker was called Ry Krisp. For the duration of my Mom's diet I would occasionally have a Ry Krisp and cream cheese.
Within months Mom had her Barbara Stanwyck figure back, Dad was all smiles, and the Ry Krisp box was relegated to the back of the top cupboard. I forgot about it and settled into Dad's treats of ice cream, pretzels and popcorn.
And that is the end of the story -- until two weeks ago. Being retired, I don't have to hurry through the grocery aisles like most people. I can peruse the shelves and see what I've been missing all these years. And that's when I saw it -- the box of Ry Krisp. I smiled and reached out for the box, to be sure this was my 1956 delight.
The box was filled with healthy phrases, such as "Fat Free," "Good Source of Fiber," "Good Source of Whole Grain," and "Cholesterol Free Food." Words that usually scare me! But feeling my new-found freedom in retirement, I decided to buy a box. Along with a brick of Original Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Ry Krisp is made in Princeton, Kentucky, probably by a factory full of skinny people. This has become my new favorite snack. It's complete with good memories of days of old and good taste, especially when smothered with a double portion of cream cheese.
If you see me and I look extra healthy these days, now you know why. I'm on my second box. No more popcorn and soda at nine o'clock each night. It's Ry Krisp and cream cheese and maybe an apple or a banana. I might end up so fat free that you can't find me.
That's okay. If I do get too skinny, I know where I can beef back up. I know a place that makes great bloody marys and hot pepper steaks!
Comments
I'm advised that neufchatel (spell?) cheese is just like cream cheese only half the fat!
Posted by: Linda Sweet | December 11, 2006 12:46 PM
Foxy, better pick up some more of those rye crackers and share them with Goose after the Giants collapse...might want to also pick up a bottle of something with a little kick to it as well!
please pass along my condolences... and hey maybe a rye cracker "hotball" for the crows this week??
Posted by: the carver | November 27, 2006 7:31 AM
Fox, I read this blog and this morning found myself eating wheat crackers with cream cheese on them. Okay, so they weren't rye crisp but they were good.
When I was asked why I was eating something that I had never before eaten, I replied, "Well, I was reading this blog that my teacher from middle school wrote and....". I was told, "A teacher is still influencing you after 25 years? Must have been one hell of a teacher." I simply smiled and said," You don't know the half of it!"
A true story that I thought I would share.
(Foxy's note: Kathy, thanks ... you always had a way of making smile ... you haven't lost your touch!)
Posted by: Kathy | November 26, 2006 2:01 AM
Ry-crisp? Isn't that what you used to get out of the gumball machines to feed the deer? I always wondered why my dad was eating deer food when we would go to Granby Zoo.
Gosh, I hope that was cream cheese on there!
(Foxy's note: Ha, ha, very funny! But now that you mention it ... )
Posted by: Kern | November 24, 2006 10:45 PM