The food that built America & the history

Dear Folks,

This month I’m informing you about the History Channel’s Sunday programming.

This is a sure way to turn off all the bad news and find out some amazing food, drink, and alcohol facts that will also amuse and amaze you.

This info puts a whole new meaning to “food fights.”

This all-day Sunday programing educates the viewer on how the famous food brands got started.

These early entrepreneurs all experienced untold adversities and still became the billion dollar companies of today.

The Kellogg brothers are an interesting historic duo. The oldest brother was a successful physician who owned his own clinic.

He always bested and belittled his younger brother, telling him he would always be a failure. Well, you guessed it. He wasn’t a failure and built the billiondollar cereal company as we know it today.

The eldest brother eventually closed his clinic and faded into history.

The story doesn’t end there. A new cereal company called ”Post” became a huge competitor. Post Toasties soon became a breakfast favorite.

Because of this cereal “feud” we now enjoy a huge selection of breakfast cereal.

Another interesting fact: After Marjorie Merriweather Post’s father, C.W. Post, committed suicide, she inherited his company along with most of his vast fortune.

This was in the day when women rarely had control of any business.

She, however, demanded respect and eventually purchased, what we know of as today, General Mills. Can you believe it?

This episode did not explain how she or who purchased the land now known as Post, Texas.

Also interesting is how the drive-through fast-food restaurants came to be. Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy’s, and KFC, just to name a few, were all-time rivals.

Another unbelievable story is about the Wrigley fortune. Not much information was given.

However, young Wrigley left at age 11 from his home in Philadelphia and ended up in New York City polishing shoes for his existence.

He often slept on the streets of New York City. It did not explain if he was a run-a-way, or his mother told him to leave.

As we know today, the Wrigley name is all over Chicago. Unbelievable.

Another all-time favorite – Holiday Candies – Candy Corn, Candy Canes, Valentine’ candy, Easter Peeps, Jelly Beans, Chocolate Bunnies and Eggs were all new in the early decades of the 20th century.

Now these goodies are seen everywhere depending on the holiday. I really love those “Peeps” at Easter. They are delicious.

How about “them wings”?! A dear friend of mine who has lived in Buffalo, New York, all her life, gave me the true scoop years ago how these came to be.

Many years ago a small restaurant in Buffalo was near closing time when some hungry customers came in for service.

At that time all that was available were some chicken wings and the owner’s (chef’s) idea of a delicious sauce.

What she didn’t tell me, but I found out during a Sunday episode, was that the owner was a struggling black entrepreneur. Well folks, we all know the ending of that happy story.

Just the progression of how the supermarkets, as we all now enjoy, came into existence is a history lesson all on its own.

There are hundreds of facts you will enjoy on the History Channel Sunday program.

Now, this channel is advertising a new “Mega Brands That Built America.”

Stay tuned!

Until next month, Watch out for those school zones! Cathy

The most powerful way to heal someone is to listen. Don’t think or judge. Just listen. People start to heal the moment they feel heard. You can’t be a healer if you refuse to step outside of your own emotions and view things entirely from the perspective of the other person.