NEW OLD SCHOOL

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- AUGUST 8, 2020

“Got milk?” Remember those ads from the dairy industry? That tag line was retired six years ago. But wait! It's back. Milk is enjoying new popularity, partly thanks to a resurgence of some old school traditions. 

As you probably know, milk sales were on a downward trajectory. “But then came the coronavirus pandemic, and milk sales saw a sharp rise. Kids who were no longer having meals at school were drinking milk at home. Adults — no longer commuting — had time for a leisurely bowl of cereal. Many people were buying milk to bake and cook at home. From January through July 18, U.S. milk retail sales were up 8.3 percent to $6.4 billion. During the same period last year, milk sales were down 2.3 percent.” (https://apnews.com/bddc9dd6facdf671bac9972e70ba7bf8)

This new enthusiasm for milk has led to some new “got milk” advertising, but unlike past ads featuring celebrities with milk mustaches these ads show people doing funny things with milk. “One shows a guy opening a gallon with his toes, another has people jumping into a kiddie pool filled with milk and cereal, and yet another spot has  Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky swimming the length of a pool with a glass of chocolate milk balanced on her head.” You can see these ads at: https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2020/07/31/got-milk-new-ads-zw-orig.cnn-business.

When I saw the new milk commercials it triggered feelings of nostalgia. I love cereal and I remember one of my childhood favorites that is no longer made – Kellogg's Pep. It was wheat flakes described as “the sunshine cereal” and the sponsor of the Superman radio show. 

I wondered what other cereals were no longer produced and found a list of discontinued cereals on that Internet thingy. The list includes: Banana Frosted Flakes, Cap'n Crunch's Choco Donuts, Nerds and Pop Tarts Crunch. Two of the stranger ones were Crazy Cow (which flavored your milk either chocolate or strawberry depending on the box you bought) and Sir Grapefellow (grape flavored oats that turned milk purple).

There are more at: https://www.distractify.com/food/2019/01/22/fsrl11Ksk/discontinued-cereals-childhood.

Some products are no longer available, but some old school treats are still around (though difficult to find). “What candies from your childhood still exist today? The answer may just surprise you.” The list includes: Bit-O-Honey, Boston Baked Beans, Charleston Chew, Oh Henry, Sugar Babies, Turkish Taffy and  Zagnut.

See more at:  https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/retro-candies-you-forgot-existed-gallery.

Then there are snacks that have been with us so long they were invented one hundred years ago (or more). The oldest snack foods include: Fig Newtons (1891), Tootsie Rolls (1896), Jell-O(1897), Triscuits (1903), Oreos (1912), Life Savers (1912) and Hostess CupCakes (1919). More at: https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/oldest-snack-foods. 

These bring back great memories for sure. You know, many of these foods were pretty inexpensive too. Of course, a dollar went a long way when you were a kid, right? To show this there's a gallery that shows what one dollar bought in the year you were born. “Don’t forget about a little thing called inflation. In 1950, for example, a dollar was worth $10.63 in today’s money, and in 1980, it was worth $3.10. That said, it’s fascinating to see just how far $1 was once able to take you.” 

Some examples of what a buck would get you: 1939 four pounds of butter, 1941 three pounds of top sirloin, 1946 twelve cans of Campbell's Tomato Soup, 1956 two pounds of Keebler cookies, 1961 two pounds of bacon, 1971 five boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese, and 2000 one jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce.”

See the the gallery from 1937 to 2000 at: https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/what-dollar-bought-year-you-were-born-gallery.

By the way, another gallery might interest those curious about pricing for adult beverages. Want to know the price of beer from 1940 onward? If so, go to: https://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/price-beer-through-history-gallery. Spoiler alert! In 1940 beer was $3.55 a keg.  

Finally, all of these snacks are dandy, but sometimes you need to cook an entire comfort food meal. The good folks at All Recipes have come up with “14 Old-Fashioned Dinner Recipes Worth Making Again.” They say: “One bite and you're instantly transported to another time, another place, even another decade. Whether it's because your  used to cook it, or it just reminds you of a time from the past, these old-fashioned dinner recipes will give you that comforting feeling in each serving, spoonful, and bite. Take a trip down memory lane with these 14 timeless old-fashioned recipes.”

On the menu: Chicken and Noodles, Vegetable Soup, Mac and Cheese, Chicken and dumplings, Beef Stew, Bakes Beans, and Meatloaf. The list and detailed recipes are at: https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/old-fashioned-dinner-recipes/. 

And, as if those recipes were not tantalizing enough, go to: https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/best-church-potluck-recipes/?. There you'll find “15 Potluck Recipes So Good They'll Make You Famous At Church.” 

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews. 

The New "Got Milk" Ads