ZERO

ZERO… the candy bar, was my favorite when I was a child. That was in the 1960’s. Zero Bars were different. Different as in the strangest candy bar around. It didn’t have the traditional chocolate coating. The Zero is made up of caramel, peanut, and almond nougat and covered with, of all things… white chocolate fudge. Strange! But, that is where my love affair of white chocolate fudge started. I don’t recall anyone in the family eating them. I don’t recall my friends clamoring over them. I really don’t recall anyone else liking them like I did. I didn’t know it at the time, but the Zero candy bar was introduced in the 1920’s. And yet, in the 60’s it was a brand new bar to me, when I first found it on the shelf.

Our family lived in Spring Glen, a small rural community that had only one place to shop. The Blue Cut Service was the town’s only gas station, but it was much more to me. It was a candy store! Chores in the summer time offered a great opportunity to earn some money – I’m talking 25 cents for a morning’s worth of dusting, cleaning the bathroom, washing dishes, hanging clothes on the line, etc. And that’s all that was needed to buy a candy bar. A big one… like the Zero. As soon as the chores were done, us kids, with coins in hand, would walk… or rather run, or ride our bikes down the lane (about a mile), go under the old railroad trestle, and cross the road to the Blue Cut Service. Penny candy galore lined the bottom row of the shelf, but my eyes were always fixed upon the Zero. The other kids often got a small paper bag full of penny candy. I left with my one and only bar in hand. But I loved it like no other and savored every last bite!

In the late 1970’s, the Blue Cut Service closed its doors for good, and I never saw a Zero after that. I married and moved a few times to places that surely would carry the Zero candy bar. And still, I never ran across a Zero candy bar. I finally gave up on the hopes of ever having one again. I thought Hershey’s surely must have retired it.

In 2009, I was visiting my daughter, who lived in a nearby rural community. I went to the only gas station in town to get a refill on a pop. I glanced down the candy isle.. and lo and behold, what to my wondering eyes did appear? The ZERO candy bar! It had been almost 30 years from when I last saw or ate a Zero. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I snatched it up before I could blink my eyes, for fear it would disappear once again. Hooking back up with my long lost candy bar was the best thing that happened to me that day! Oh…. the caramel, peanut and almond nougat and white fudge melted in my mouth like ice cream and hot fudge. It was so delicious! I had been deprived for such a long time. Since I found my ZERO once again, I’m not about to let it go. I make it a point to stop by the lone gas station in Bear River City, whenever I am there, and buy me a Zero candy bar. And, it’s still my favorite!

Writing prompt #2: A favorite candy when you were a child. Is it still a favorite?

Quotography: Sweet Sentiments

It's Superbowl Sunday, and my hubby is far, far away! I'm missing him and all the weird things we do together. So, in remembrance of our last football game, I decided to post this picture of our  version of a "tail gate" party before it started. 

Yeah... it was just he and I and son and daughter-in-law. No crowds, no pressures, side street parking, no fancy stuff. Our kind of weirdness! Together... LOVE!

Writer's Workshop: Mother's Cinnamon Rolls

I was lucky enough to be born in the late 50's! I grew up with the BRADY BUNCH, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, FATHER KNOWS BEST, MY THREE SONS, ANDY GRIFFITH, among others. These shows conjure up fond memories of home. That was the way we lived. Dad was the provider. Mom was the homemaker.

Mom was the center of home. She did all the domestic things a mother was known for. She spent many hours in the kitchen fixing and preparing the most scrumptious meals for her growing family. Our kitchen was in the center of our house and so you can imagine the delightful smells that radiated out from there, to fill every room, in the early morning hours as we got ready for school. Then… the smell of dinner cooking in the oven tantalized my hungry taste buds and I could hardly wait to sit down to another feast.  Mom’s dinners were just that. Well balanced to include all the food groups, and very colorful. And… every meal was not complete without dessert. Imagine that! But that’s the way it was for us. It was also a common occurrence to walk in the front door after school to the smell of freshly baked cookies, bread, and cinnamon rolls. And everything was made from scratch.

Mom’s cinnamon rolls were the best… especially fresh from the oven! I can still see the home made icing melting and running down the sides of the hot rolls, filling up every crevice and fold. The roll could easily be pulled apart and when you put it in your mouth it would melt like butter. Even thinking about it makes my mouth salivate. I don’t know how she did it, but there was the perfect balance of cinnamon, sugar, and raisins. Eating a cinnamon roll was truly a treat. She made them for Family Home Evening nights, Easter dinner, picnics, family reunions, and whenever anyone requested them. Requests often came from extended family. Neighbors and friends would rave over them. You could say my mother was famous for her cinnamon rolls. Everyone loved them!

The smell of fresh baked rolls, breads, and pastries remind me of my mother. She is no longer with us, but the memory of her being in the kitchen, preparing meals, cooking, baking… all for the love of family… brings a smile on my face, warms my heart, and comforts my soul.

The last family reunion mom was alive, my brother requested cinnamon rolls. It was not an easy thing for her to do, with here declining health. But… she did it… all for the love of family!

I think I’ll make a batch of cinnamon rolls this week. They may not equal mom’s, but I’ll have the pleasure of going back in time to a place of comfort, warmth, security, and love.

Mother's Cinnamon Rolls - Family Reunion 2010


Mother's Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

2 eggs,1 c sugar, 4 t salt, 4 c lukewarm water, 1 c butter, melted, 1 pkg (3 T) dry yeast, 1/2 c water, 7 c flour, 1 c powdered milk, melted butter, cinnamon, sugar, raisins (optional), nuts (optional)

Directions:

1)   Beat 2 eggs ‘til foamy; add 1 cup sugar, 4 teaspoon salt, 4 cups lukewarm water, and 1 cup melted butter. Mix well. 

2)   Dissolve 3 tablespoons dry yeast in mixture of ½ cup warm water and 4 tablespoons sugar. Let work.

3)    Add to liquid mix.

4)    Add 7 cups flour and 1 cup dry milk. Beat vigorously or 5 minutes with bread mixer. Add 7 cups flour, or enough that can be handled without sticking.

5)    If bread mixer is used: beat 10 minutes. If by hand, knead well

6)    Let rise ‘til double in bulk. Knead. Let rise again. Then proceed as follows:

7)    Roll dough into rectangle.

8)    Brush liberally with melted butter.

9)    Sprinkle with mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Add nuts and raisins, if desired.
10)  Roll up and slice 1-inch thick.

11)  Let rise.

12)  Bake in 400* oven for 20 minutes.

13)  Frost with icing made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla

writing prompt #1: A smell that makes you think of your mother

writing prompt #2: Share a recipe that everyone in your family loves