Wonder if the Cream of Wheat man will ever be made CEO, like Uncle Ben was? What's the greatest invention to come out of North Dakota? The "Roughrider State" takes credit for the first parking meter, but in my humble estimation, Cream of Wheat is a far more notable contribution to world happiness. The hot cereal made its debut exactly 116 years ago, when a wheat miller in Grand Forks, ND, sold the first box. I've always liked my Cream of Wheat with milk and honey, but today's online foodies are showing me up with their creations. They're serving up the cereal with coconut milk, rhubarb, and even pumpkin and spices. We're also seeing a proliferation of recipes that use Cream of Wheat for non-cereal, non-breakfast purposes. While I can't vouch for the quality of these recipes, apparently Cream of Wheat can be a key ingredient for such diverse foods as filet of fish, chocolate bread, and dumplings. And for the category of "stuff I learned on the Internet that I never would have asked:" most dogs can safely eat Cream of Wheat. It's not the recommended use, folks, but there’s an eHow article devoted entirely to the question, "Can dogs eat Cream of Wheat?" The answer is yes, but you should remember that dogs, like humans, can have food allergies. Suggested Sites... About.com: Nutrition - find out why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. RecipeZaar - more recipes using Cream of Wheat. The History of Cream of Wheat - 116 years of hot farina cereal. Was the Cream of Wheat Chef a Real Person? - he was, and his name was Frank White.

Directory categories: Food and Drink, Eating Practices, Breakfast Recipes, Nutrition, Recipes

Archived under: 19th Century, Anniversaries, Brands, Cooking, Eating, Food and Drink, In Character, Nutrition, Recipes

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Enjoying a tall, frosty glass of Kool-Aid (Photo by christyxcore) Here's a good one: What's bright green and makes kids hyperactive? Why, Kool-Aid, of course! For the uninitiated, Kool-Aid was (and is) the brainchild of Midwestern entrepreneur Edwin Perkins; a powdered drink mix available in an array of highly-suspect colors and flavors, loved by millions across the U.S. So loved, in fact, that this week marks the beginning of the 12th annual state-recognized "Kool-Aid Days" festival in Hastings, Nebraska; the beverage mix's birthplace. The legend of Kool-Aid is in many ways a classic American tale of industry, creativity, hard work, and entrepreneurship; one that the official "Kool-Aid Days" website refers to as "the story of a man who was able to parlay a few simple chemicals into a multi-million dollar business -- rising from sodhouse to mansion in one lifetime." And what could be more wholesome and plucky than a getting rich off slipping kids a few simple chemicals? (Answers, please, on a postcard.) When push comes to shove, though, you just can't argue with the numbers. Despite the domination of the hugely-competitive soft-drink marketplace by more glamorous multi-national players, Kool-Aid maintains its niche by provoking pleasant twinges of childhood nostalgia and bouts of hyperactivity in equal measure. One also must respect Kool-Aid's consistency and sense of the traditional. While marketing executives strive to establish their global brands, endlessly redesigning and relaunching their products, locking in top celebrities as endorsers, Kool-Aid has stuck loyally to the soon-to-be 35-year-old Kool-Aid Man; an anthropomorphic pitcher of ice-cold cherry Kool-Aid (one of the original six flavors). Glamorous he may not be, but honest and unpretentious he is. Sadly for those of us who appreciate the no-nonsense "if-it-ain't-broke-don’t-fix-it" approach of Kool-Aid, change may very well be on the horizon. Since other such Midwestern culinary mainstays as Jell-O, Velveeta, and the mixed-up mayo-rebel Miracle Whip have rarely been subjected to aggressive rebranding and retargeting campaigns, content to be what they are, imagine my confusion and disappointment when I saw the new teen-targeted/pop-culture-oriented Miracle Whip commercial on TV. It was purposefully loud and brash, screaming out its new slogan, "We Will Not Tone it Down." Is this a worrying mantra for America’s other iconic brands? Now, I'm no marketing genius, and I don't profess to fully understand the logic and aims of these exercises, but I do know this: the day I see Roger Federer slurping down a glass of day-glo lemon-lime Kool-Aid and declaring "Kool Aid. Chemical; schemickle!" will be a sadder day all round. Suggested Sites... Kool-Aid - official site of the aforementioned beverage mix. Kool-Aid Days - the only Nebraska festival dedicated to a soft drink. Wikipedia: Edwin Perkins - the man behind Kool-Aid Hastings, Nebraska - the home of all things Kool-Aid

Directory categories: Kool-Aid, Food and Drink Events, Food History, Nebraska, Museums

Archived under: American History, Brands, Celebrations, Desserts, Eating, Events, Food and Drink, In Character, Inventors, Jell-O, Marketing, Snacks

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Is there a more tempting sign? (Photo by House of Sims) That perfectly round circle of dough: sometimes glazed; sometimes filled with sweet, sweet jelly; always fluffy -- and best when "Hot Now." Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Krispy Kreme donut. Like the millions of others who have succumbed to the sweet indulgence of this little ring of flour, yeast, and sugar since July 13, 1937, my own first encounter with a Krispy Kreme was an instant revelation: I had to have a second one right away! The company's success story began in Winston-Salem, NC, when Rudolph Vernon, who had previously worked in donut shops with his uncle in Kentucky and Tennessee, decided to open his own shop. The legend says that he chose Winston-Salem after looking at a pack of Camel cigarettes and seeing they were manufactured there. Using a recipe his uncle had bought from a Frenchman in Louisiana, Rudolph began by selling donuts to stores around town, but soon customers, attracted by the irresistibly delicious smells emanating from the Krispy Kreme kitchens, wanted to cut out the middleman and buy directly from Vernon. When mechanization came along the 1950's, the days of hand-cut donuts were over, to be replaced by Krispy Kremes that were cut, cooked, and glazed automatically. The donut-making theatre became a local attraction that expanded to New York City in 1996 and Los Angeles three years later. The world had to wait until 2001 to eat Krispy Kremes, though, when the company expanded to Canada, Australia, Mexico, and England, adding to the happy throngs who can enjoy the sweet treat. Once you've sunk your teeth into the 200+ calories, it's time to exercise! And what better way than the "Tour de Donut," which has been held annually in Staunton, IL since 1989? Participants of this 32-mile race get minutes deducted from their total time for each donut they eat during the two pit stops. You can also take the "Krispy Kreme Challenge" in Raleigh, NC: run two miles, eat a dozen donuts, and run two more miles -- all in less than one hour. If you're more into savory pleasures, the "Luther Burger" will definitely end your hunger. Popularized by the Gateway Grizzlies minor league baseball club. it consists of a cheeseburger, two strips of bacon, and a sliced Krispy Kreme instead of a regular bun. For the investment of only 1000 calories and 45 grams of fat, you get a full combo menu ... and maybe a heart attack! Suggested Sites... Krispy Kreme: The Success Story - detailed chronology of the maker of the "original glazed." Krispy Kreme Fun Facts - in one week, Krispy Kreme produces enough doughnuts to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City. Around the World in 80 Donuts - from the French beignet to Iceland's kleinuhringur, all the international variations of the donut. National Museum of American History: Krispy Kreme - corporate records and history from 1937 to 1997. Mmm Donuts - words of wisdom from Homer Simpson.

Directory categories: Donut Shops, Donut Recipes, Desserts and Sweets, Restaurants

Archived under: 1930s, American History, Anniversaries, Baking, Brands, Desserts, Donuts, Eating, Fast Food, Food and Drink, Fried Food, Hamburgers, History, In Character, Inventors, Junk Food, Races, Restaurants, United States

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"His Master's Voice" (What you don't see is that Nipper is sitting on the coffin of his dead owner) In company logos and advertisements, animals are a fairly common sight. So common, in fact, that you probably haven't given these mascots a great deal of thought. But those whose job involves selecting an animal representative for an organization or company face no small task. With their choice, they will be aligning themselves with whatever qualities people tend to associate with that animal. Once they’ve found their totem, they may forever be associated with it. A prime example of logo longevity is "His Master’s Voice," a design trademarked by the Victor Record Company on this day in 1900, sealing forever in our minds the image of Nipper the dog listening attentively to a Victrola, and connecting it further with the Gramophone Company (later known as HMV). In the ensuing century, plenty of other corporate critters have made their marks on our cultural consciousness. How many times have you heard Leo, the MGM lion roar? Financial institutions have adopted symbols of strength, including an elk and a lion, though Merrill Lynch was wise to select a bull rather than a bear. Animals in advertising have also provided memorable and humorous moments. Cuteness gives many animal representatives their appeal. The Geico gecko is pretty adorable, as is Snuggle, the Fabric Softener Bear. Some creatures are simply effective because they are cartoons, and appeal to kids, such as the Trix Rabbit and Sugar Bear. Turns out there’s a science behind the success of animals (or "visual identifiers," as the marketing analysts call them). While some wine critics may claim they avoid "labels bearing cute animals," the rest of us are drawn to these images almost against our will, according to researchers. Did you pick up that bottle of Syrah because it had a kangaroo, chameleon, or a cute dog or kitty on it? It’s not your fault -– you're a victim of your own "perceptual fluency." In light of the incredible sway these animals have over us, some mascots may not have been the best selections. Joe Camel, for example, the longtime rep for Camel cigarettes, was no longer depicted in cartoon form due to objections that he appealed to children too effectively, and Budweiser’s Spuds MacKenzie faded into obscurity before anyone noticed that a dog in a Hawaiian shirt was probably not the most appropriate spokes-animal for beer. After all, wouldn’t you rather share a tall one with a creepy penguin? Suggested Sites... TV Acres - Advertising Mascots - take a four-legged walk down memory lane. "Of Frog Wines and Frowning Watches" - academic study on why we select animal-endorsed brands and respond to other visual cues. Live-Animal Mascots Get an "F" - PETA argues that actual animals should not be used as mascots. "Dinner With the Mascots" video on YouTube - amusing reunion of several iconic mascots.

Directory categories: Advertising, Commercials, Pop Culture, Graphic Design, Phonographs

Archived under: 19th Century, Advertising, Animals, Anniversaries, Bears, Birds, Brands, Cartoons, Design, Dogs, History, Images, Mascots, Music, Music History, Nostalgia, Records, Society and Culture, TV, Wine

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(Photo by Mike Licht) We cruised into the office parking lot in our mint-condition Edsel, blasting Chris Gaines on the stereo, and sipping an ice cold New Coke (from the stockpile we've been hoarding since the '80s), when we suddenly realized something disturbing: We're marketing outsiders. You see, in our youth, the popular kids scoffed at our "Howard the Duck" lunchbox, our disc film camera, and our Betamax copy of "Hudson Hawk." And maturity didn't improve things. As adults, we've tried to get friends to enjoy our favorite movies ("Gigli," "Showgirls," "Wild Wild West," "Basic Instinct 2") and we tell them about the revolutionary innovations (Segway, Microsoft Bob, boo.com) that are going to change the world. Those looks of skepticism tell us what we already knew -- that we are in a sad minority of consumers who enjoy flops. The fickle public may not appreciate the genius of Crystal Pepsi, "Cop Rock," and "Battlefield Earth," but there are still some of us who don't think that comparisons to "Ishtar" are insults. Suggested Sites... Cokelore: New Coke - on the 24th anniversary weekend of the introduction of our favorite beverage, we raise a big, frosty mug of New Coke in a salute to marketing flops. Failure Magazine: Auto Biography - the sad history of the Edsel. Product and Brand Failures: A Marketing Perspective - learning from marketing mistakes. 9 Famous TV Flops - oh, come on! "Supertrain" rocked! NPR: A Salute to Famous Movie Flops - all kidding aside, "Cleopatra" is a pretty entertaining film.

Directory categories: Edsel, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Worst Films, Worst of the Web

Archived under: Advertising, Anniversaries, Autos, Brands, Business, Coca Cola, Disasters, Edsel, Flops, Food and Drink, Marketing, Movies, Pepsi, TV

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