pieces and ponderings

My love affair with Oreos began when I was very young; I think I was under the age of four.  I loved eating them with milk and strawberries.  I remember one time when my dad brought home a flat of fresh strawberries, which I called “Oh boys” because every time my father brought them home, my mom said, “Oh boy!”  So that’s why I thought the delicious little red berries were known as “oh boys.”  Anyway, I remember that day because I ate those strawberries in a bowl with milk covering them and Oreos crumbled on top…heavenly.  That wonderful dish doesn’t look the most appealing to adults because the milk turns all chocolaty and the Oreos get mushy, but I’m telling you…it’s good!

When “Oh boys,” I mean strawberries weren’t available, Oreos were just fine by themselves, even better with milk.

I also remember well the day I shared Oreos with my first-born.  He was about 15 months old when I put him in his high chair and gave him one of the cream-stuffed chocolate delights with his sippy cup of milk.  I taught him how you can twist the sandwich cookie apart and eat the creamy filling first, though it is perfectly fine to just eat it as it comes, crunching through the dark black cookie crust, which is my favorite part, and then finding the sweet white cream.  It is the perfect balance of cookie and cream.

Oreos are still a part of my family’s life all these years later.  For the last few years, when summer arrives, we buy the big 10-package mega box at Sam’s…perfect for snacking during breaks from swimming.  My kids know that summer is officially here when the huge Oreo box appears in the pantry.  Today I was the one who fetched the Oreo snack as three of my boys were calling out Marco Polo in the pool.  Ahhh…summer!  Ahhh…Oreos!