Bring back the nugget!!

Why is it that the best foods ever sold get tossed away, never to be found again? Every food I get attached to (and yes, I do form some strong bonds with food) seems to disappear from stores or restaurants. One day you’re enjoying them and the next they’re gone. I remember fondly the days of the good ole’ Jeno’s Snack Tray Pizzas. These were small, round pizzas on a snack tray that could be popped in the oven. There were 12 little pizzas, one row of cheese, one row of pepperoni, and one row of sausage. I can’t think of my childhood without thinking of the snack tray pizzas. But alas, they cannot be found. Gone! People say, “Try the Bagel Bites. It’s the same thing.” No, my friends, not the same. These little pizzas were not on bagel bread. They were on good crunchy pizza crust. I don’t want a substitute; I want the real deal.

Victim #2 of the food takeaway: Soft Batch Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. On our local shelves, all you can find are the chocolate chip Soft Batch. Was Oatmeal Raisin not popular enough? Could I have done more to save them? These would melt in your mouth---so fresh, so soft. Every now and then, they’d try to tease us and bring them back. Why oh why didn’t I grab hundreds of bags of them and store them?!? The other day I find some oatmeal cookies by the same company, claiming they were soft (but “Soft Batch” was nowhere to be found on the bag). Yes, they were soft, but the recipe was not the same. They put “made with applesauce” on the package and now all I can taste is applesauce! You can’t fool us, cookie maker! We know the difference. Bring back the Soft Batch.

Victim #3: Jack’s Shortbread Cookies with sprinkles. They were a rarity already because they were only sold during the Christmas season. Oh what a lovely combo---these cookies and a tall glass of milk. Over the last few years, nowhere to be found. I even searched the web for these cookies—no luck. I can’t think about them without crying a little.

Victim #4---Popeye’s chicken nuggets. But wait, you say, they do have nuggets at Popeye’s. Yes, I know, and I’ve tried them. They may be pretty tasty, but never in your life have you tasted nuggets as grand as the ones they had back in the mid 90’s. You could see the spice in the white meat. The batter was the real deal. Oh why did they leave us? My mouth waters thinking of them.

My thesis (yes, I’m “announcing” it. LOL): If you find something you like, don’t take it for granted. Cherish every moment with it. Store it up. Soak it up. No substitute will ever match it, so fight to keep it. Save the nugget!!