Did you know Cream of Wheat turned 125 years old in 2018? It made its official “debut” at the 1893 World’s Fair/Columbian Exposition in Chicago. I am so sad I wasn’t invited  to its birthday party! 🙂

When I read that fact, it set off alarms in my brain… “Something else happened during that event… something involving a serial killer who had a ‘murder hotel’….”

Yup. Serial killer H.H. Holmes was as excited  about the World’s Fair as the folks who would be serving up Cream of Wheat to visitors. Seriously, WHO would serve hot  cereal at a fair  nowadays? Especially if it’s not deep fried and served on a stick and wrapped in bacon? My, have things changed, but I digress!

Holmes set up his “murder hotel” three miles from the World’s Fair site and stalked its visitors as victims. I am fairly certain he didn’t stalk victims while they were waiting in line for cereal!

As much as I’d like to go into more detail about Mr. Holmes and his horrible, horrible  exploits – I want to talk more about Cream of Wheat!

I became “reacquainted” with Cream of Wheat over the past week when I had to eat soft foods following a tooth extraction. Its old slogan/jingle was “Your old friend…Cream of Wheat.”

Frank  L. White was the model for  the  chef, whose  name  was Rastus (per Wikipedia)

Indeed! What a good friend it has been to me  my whole life! I almost always have  a box of its quick cooking (2.5) minute variety in my cupboard. Besides being good “mushy food,” it’s also great for… something  else. You  know  those  times when you’re so violently ill you can’t hold anything down? This is where Cream of Wheat truly shines. You WILL hold this stuff  down no matter how sick you are!

It ranks as “comfort  food” for me, too. My mom fixed this stuff for me since before I was too young  to even remember eating it. I liked it with brown sugar, but mom started putting out chocolate chips when I got a little older, and I’d  put those in and make little choco swirls. It smells SO good when it’s cooking!

Cream of Wheat comes in flavored varieties, including strawberries and cream, chocolate  and the newest  bananas and cream flavor. I  will take mine plain and add my own flavors, thank you!

As an adult, I don’t have  the same sweet  tooth  I used to. I no longer  put sugar in it, but put cinnamon and fruit in it. This past week – I put vanilla  yogurt and applesauce  in it. You can put pretty much anything in it! Crumbled bacon, cheese, maple syrup and butter would probably  all be good additions!

Well? What are you waiting  for? Go fix yourself  a bowl of Cream of Wheat right now! Do yourself a favor  and don’t buy the instant packets (they are gross). Cook up a pot now!