My snack palate

The other day my wife was TAGGED and had to do some post that included such things as past jobs, and places she would live. But there was one question that peaked my interest, favorite snack. I started thinking about the Favorite Snacks of my life and how they have changed over the years.

My first thoughts of snacks are when I was a child hopping on my Huffy bike and cruising down to the Artic Circle to get a free kiddie Ice cream cone and then off to Kaysville Drug. Upon entering this mecca of a drug store we would first check out the toy and gag isle. Many times a trip to the Kaysville Drug was an "itching powder run" or somebody's wrist rocket broke and we needed to replace it as soon as possible. After that it was on to the snacks and if it was you buying the wrist rocket the remainder of your funds were usually just some penny candies. But the rest of the crew usually got sugar-laden, tooth rotting delights. My favorite growing up was Fun-Dip. Not only was it messy and pure sugar (albeit colored pure sugar), you could EAT THE STICK. Enough said, eat the stick!

As I grew a bit older I discovered chocolate! Sugar was great and everything, but to have chewy chocolatey goodness was a treat. I would pretty much do, say, plead, dance, whine, beg for a Chunky bar when I realized how good they actually were. To this day, if I see a Cadbury's Fruit and Nut bar I will buy it just on the principle that you don't see them in every store and you should get it when you see it.

This was pretty much my snack routine until I went on a mission and ventured out a little bit. I served in the Barcelona, Venezuela Mission where none of my previous snack fixtures were available, so that probably had an influence on my venturing. I was overtaken by a few different snacks that since I have returned from Vene-land have become cravings that are not easily satisfied. First, and deservedly so, Cocosette. A wafer filled with coconut cream and as close to a dream as candy has come. No chocolate, which may surprise many, but by far my favorite candy of all time. There were also two beverages that when added to a cocosette made it taste even better, Tody and Malta Polar. Tody was a chocolate drink mix that blows Hershey's out of the water and a tall cold Tody shake with a Cocosette to dip in it was heaven. It was also the breakfast drink of choice for most missionaries and could easily take the place of powdered milk in a bowl of frosted flake cereal. My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

Now, you don't even want to get me started on Malta. I will simply say that it is delicious and when it was 110 degrees outside there was nothing else in the world I wanted than an ice cold Malta Polar.

After I returned home I regressed to my old ways and went back to chocolate bars and Doritos. But, then I moved to Midland, Texas and have been introduced to some of the greatest snack foods in existence. First, is Blue Bell Ice Cream. This ice cream is different from every other ice cream I have ever tasted. If there is a creamier and more flavorful creamed ice I have not seen it or heard of it. Their flavors range from the basic homemade Vanilla to kid (and my wife) favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to Butter Pecan. If you are lucky enough to live in the limited area that Blue Bell Ice Cream is available, please do yourself a favor and purchase and eat an entire quart today. It is the only ice cream that I eat now, and soon you'll be saying the same

And finally, Cape Cod Chips. Don't get me wrong, it isn't as infatuating as Blue Bell, but these chips are divine. They are kettle cooked and that gives them a crunch that is unlike any other chip. The first bag I ever tasted were the Jalapeno and Aged Cheddar variety and instantly I was hooked. I have since tasted other varieties, all of which were an absolute must. Again, these chips are not as wide spread as they should be, but are more common than Blue Bell.

So whether it was my first lick a of a Fun Dip stick, or my more recent experience with Jalapeno potato chips, I love to snack. It has been interesting to look at and chronicle my tastes as I have grown, and it will be interesting to see where my snack palate takes me next.