What’s the Story Behind Ritz, Saltines, Graham Crackers and Oreo Cookies?

I started thinking about these all-time favorites and did a bit of research to learn more about them. Here are a few things to know about these tasty treats.

Debbie’s Daily Dose of Food for Thought

Erma Bombeck once said, “In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn’t danced in television.” Although marketing does play a big role, and we don’t want to be eating processed foods all the time, an occasional indulgence is okay. After all, we each have memories associated with certain snack foods that are near and dear to our hearts. If you are feeling low, sometimes one bite of a loved favorite will bring you to another time and place, put a smile on your face and it is just enough to set you back on track.

Ritz Crackers

Nabisco introduced Ritz crackers to the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets November 21, 1934.  They were well received from the start with their unique light and buttery flavor and a reasonably low selling price of 19 cents a box. The name was also important because it conjured up images of wealth by alluding to the posh Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York, which elicted the promise of better times to come. This had great appeal to Americans during the Great Depression years. By 1935, Nabisco was selling the cracked nationally and within three years it became the best selling cracker in the world. We still love Ritz crackers in its many shapes, sizes, and flavors today and you can find many recipes using Ritz crackers. Enjoy!

Saltines

The Josiah Bent Bakery in Newburyport, Massachusetts developed saltines in 1801 so crews on ships could have a consistently flavorful cracker that would keep fresh as they sailed from port to port. Premium saltines, the first name-brand saltine cracker, were introduced in 1876 and their slogan, “Polly want a cracker?” has become part of our everyday lexicon. Nabisco eventually took over the brand and saltines remain a staple of the American diet. Saltines can be paired with cheese, meat or peanut butter and jelly, crumbled in soups, used as an ingredient in meatloaf, or nibbled on to settle a queasy stomach. Here are a few more suggestions.

Graham Crackers

These crackers were invented in 1829 by Sylvester Graham, a Presbyterian minister from West Suffield, Connecticut. Graham was an early health food advocate and vegetarian who touted using coarse, un-sifted ground wheat flour, the main ingredient in Graham crackers, because of its good fiber content. Graham crackers were very popular by 1882 and continue to be a favorite with kids and adults alike. Who doesn’t remember how good graham crackers are when dunked in milk? They are also delicious with peanut butter and fresh blueberries on top! Yum!

Oreo Cookies

Oreo cookies were developed by Nabisco and first appeared on the market in 1912. It is unclear how and why the cookie was named Oreo, but it has become America’s favorite and best selling cookie. In the 1970’s Nabisco introduced the double stuffed Oreo and has added other popular variations since that time. Who doesn’t love Oreos? Do you eat them as the sandwich cookie they are or do you slide the crunchy cookie tops apart and eat the creamy middle first? Either way, they are tast