Happiness Is A Crispy Cracker!!!

There’s nothing like a Saltine or a Ritz cracker. These are the perfect comfort food , reminding us of a good bowl of soup or a really outstanding cheese. They’re also fun to eat all with their salty crunch and crackle. Who hasn’t tried whistling after eating a few too.

Crackers are an American invention , being first made in Massachusetts in 1792 by John Pearson of Newburyport. They were quickly embraced by merchant sailor s because they were easy to store and didn’t rot. Originally called sea biscuits (ye s like that famous horse) they didn’t get the name cracker until 1802 when Josiah Bent, also of Massachusetts over baked a batch .They crackled when eaten and thus the birth of an all American snack. Later the bent family sold the recipe to the National Biscuit Company or Nabisco and this was born the Saltine. Ritz crackers came about during the Great Depression when people were looking for little affordable luxuries to eat.

OK, so here is my challenge to you. (well the three of you reading this) what’s your favorite way to eat a cracker? Is it with cheese? Loaded with peanut butter and ham? Crumbled over chili or dunked in tomato soup? Has anyone ever made Ritz's mock apple pie or the Saltine chili bake? Let me know.

Anyway , enjoy these American classics anyway. They’re good with just a hot cup of tea or a glass of icy soda.