Why We Need Show Tunes – Poor Man’s Treat
I’m about to stop watching the news folks. I pretty much have it memorized like a kid on their hundredth airing of Toy Story. Economy, recession, depression, financial, bailouts, wall street, cutbacks, foreclosure, deficit, Washington, Washington Washington. Enough already!
Tonight I realized that all of the gloom and doom is rubbing off of me and I’m here to tell you I’m not having it.
You see, within my mind lies a wealth of show tunes, show tunes which I have a tendency to hum and sing throughout my day and with very little conscious knowledge. I’m just a music-y person. I sing. I can’t help it. There is always a song in my head and my vocal chords like to get in on the jam session.
While walking through Wal Mart, I was humming. Now I’ve been known to hum a lot of things in Wal Mart. Once, while talking to a friend on the cell phone, I began humming the star spangled banner on the coffee aisle. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until she exclaimed in a disgusted voice “You have GOT to be the most patriotic person I have ever met”
“Huh?”
“No one I know randomly hums the star spangled banner”
Oh.
Minutes later I began humming My Country ‘Tis Of Thee
I wake my kids up with various up beat good morning songs and I sing the entire soundtrack from singing in the rain and just about every Judy Garland tune ever recorded (except the sad ones, of course!).
Tonight, while going through wal mart (okay so I spend way too much time in Wal Mart), I was humming, not really paying any attention to the tune until I heard my voice quietly singing the words and it hit me…
I gets weary, and sick of trying. I’m tired of livin’ and scared of dying…
Oh good grief, I’m singing Old Man River!
NUH UH! This stops here.
Now don’t get me wrong. I realize that life is harder now on some folks than it has ever been in their lifetimes. Fact is, many of us have very valid reasons to complain and worry. What I’m saying though is that we also have valid reasons to be grateful, too, and the good things in our life deserve at least the same amount of air time as the difficult.
So I’ve decided to stop the cycle. I’m not buying into the whole “life is horrible, cower and worry” that is being sold to us all right now. I’m not going to spend my entire day in anxiety and I’m not going to exchange my inner peppy soundtrack for a slower beat or a mournful strain.
You know what we all need?
What we need are some upbeat show tunes and maybe even spontaneous choreographed dance.
Bring on the Judy Garland, Crank up Mary Poppins and hit play on the old version of Pollyanna, its time to bring back the good life!
We need to live our lives in such great appreciation of each day and each moment that we all find ourselves walking through Wal Mart humming the star spangled banner. It really wouldn’t hurt if the rest of the store joined in and we all started twirling and tap dancing about, now would it? Those without a partner can just grab a sack of potatoes or some of that abundant rice we all stocked up on during the panic over supposed shortage a few months back.
We need to realize that sometimes life gets so bad that we lose sight of just how very good it is!
There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for. There is always a positive side.
So here is your homework:
Smile at strangers today, count how many smile back.
Learn the words to at least one song from an old Technicolor musical
And lastly, hum the Star Spangled Banner. I don’t care who you root for in the elections, we live in a fine country and I got some “special” batch brownies for anyone who tells you different!
It’s like I tell my kids:
Each day when you wake up you have a choice. You can have a good day or you can have a bad one. So you might as well have a good one.
Same goes for life.
For the pessimists who haven’t left the room yet, things can ALWAYS get worse so you best get to enjoying them now. Don’t make me come over there and slap you around a bit because I will…and I’ll sing SHOW TUNES While I do it!
Oh and a recipe…here ya go. These were sent in to me by Cynthia, a reader who called them “poor man’s treats”. I asked my mother about them and she said her father practically lived on them as a child.
Spread crackers with peanut butter
Top with marshmallows
Place under broiler just until marshmallows are browned.
Eat with a grateful heart. 
Poor Man’s Treat
Saltine Crackers
Peanut Butter
Marshmallows
Spread peanut butter on the crackers. Top with marshmallow. Place under broiler in oven until marshmallow is just browned. Pay close attention because this will not take long at all! Devour.
Quick, easy, good. Make ‘em tonight and eat like the po’ folks do, our food tastes better than the rich people’s anyway. Another thing to be grateful for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted by Christy Jordan
on Mar 12 2009. Filed under Southern Classics.
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I LOVE this recipie! I probably make these too often (if that’s possible)!! The first time I made them I didn’t have saltine crackers so I used cinnamon graham crackers (which I usually have on hand) and they are so good, I can’t give up my grahams to try it with saltines
I remember eating these as a child. Brought back many fond memories. I’m going to introduce this forgotten treat to my husband!
I used to eat these w/o peanut butter. We would pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds!
Have been eating these since I was a kid…Love them with Ritz crackers!
This is one reason I love your site!! I haven’t thought about this “dessert” in ages!! Growing up(many moons ago), we didn’t use any kind of crackers but used either white bread or toasted white bread to make these…spread PB on it & put mini-marshmellows all on top..toast in oven…some of THE BEST dessert I have ever had!! thanks for the memories!!
We made these with a slice of cheese instead of peanut butter!!
This was my Papaw’s favorite snack!!! He always put peanut butter and marshmallow cream on a saltine cracker. Didn’t heat it or anything. Delicious!!!
My brother and I craved these when we were growing up. My Grandmother used to call them “do-dads” though!?? I made them for my children and now when the grandkids come over guess what I make? They like them better than s’mores!
My mother used to make this as a treat for me and my sister. I thought they were the best thing also we would sometimes have Jiffy Pop popcorn. I can’t wait to make these for my grandson when he gets older!!!
I guess my mama was more “uptown”! I learned to eat this on Ritz crackers! =) Didn’t know I was spoiled!
I haven’t thought about these in years! I don’t remember putting peanut butter on them, but when I was a kid, we would stick the marshmallow on a fork and hold it over the stove eye until it was as brown as we wanted it, then put it on a saltine cracker.
Wow, am I ever surprised to see this posted. I grew up with this as a very special treat. In fact my older sister who is 78 yrs old and I were just recently talking about this very recipe just the other day. I guess this was the first version of S’mores Southern Style.
I gotta make these for my Mom, bet she will love them! as for your post, well, I wonder sometimes if we are related, LOL. My Mom and I both sing the show tunes and I really do feel sorry for the folks at Walmart sometimes because we have been known to start singing instead of humming, LOL. My Pop gave me words of wisdom when I was a young’un, his Mother had given the same words to him, “try each day to do something good for someone, but don’t let them know it was you, bring a smile to someone every day and you will be twice blessed!” I have done my best to live this way and ya know, it works, LOL!! Thanks for all you do!
You know, that would be a pretty good after-school snack. It’s got peanut butter for energy and marshmallows for fun!
LOVE IT!! My husband will be tickled to death to see this on your site! He is always wanting to make these – he does use cheese instead of peanut butter though
His Mama used to make them for him and his brother when they were little – good memories!
I have eaten these all my life–except with graham crackers. We never knew what their name was, so we called them “Those Graham Cracker Things”. LOL
My Daddy made these when I was little except we put a slice of sharp cheddar instead of the peanut butter and its realllllllllly good even though sounds weird!!!!!
I’ve never tried these before, so now I’m going to have too! Sounds good!
I also wanted to say THANK YOU for being so positive in this negative world. It is so refreshing to read your blog and see your FB posts! It is so easy to get caught up in the everyday anxiety and worry, THANK YOU for reminding me of what I already knew. Everday is a blessing, filled with new hope – it’s up to us to make it a good day and today will be a fantastic one! Now if I could just get that star spangled banner out of my head
Hi Christy, would be fun to find you singing in my Walmart, I’d have to sing along with you and make up a few dancesteps.
How about , Mary Poppins’ “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”
and Chim Chimney, chim cheree, when You’re with a sweep, you’re in glad company…..
Speaking of dance steps, Just this past Sunday at work, I was talking about old dance steps that my mother taught me when I was a little girl, like the “Mashed Potatoe”, “the pony,” “the swim”….we were laughing and carrying on and having such a good time; I work for a Blood Center and we drive to different locations to collect platelets from wonderful ,dedicated donors called Apheresis.
I love, love Nutella, too, and I would put the Nutella on the Saltine and top it with the Big marshmallow. First time I’ve heard of Poor Man’s Treat.
Grace from Luvsclassics.wordpress.com
Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only one who did this anymore! My sweet grandmother used to make these for me and I still love them today! I made them for my grandsons, 3 and 5, they loved them! Thank you for making me smile and remember good times today. I needed that!
I love Pollyanna!!! I even bought prisms and hung them around the house after I saw that movie so many years ago!!!!!
You make your life livable with whatever you have at that time! Nothing ever is as bad as it seems because good always comes after bad..
Christy I love reading your articles about being happy and smiling everyday!
I took one of your readers ‘quotes” about “Today be as happy as a bird with a french fry” and printed it on business cards and carry them in my purse. I give them to people at stores and you should see their faces light up with smiles after they read it!! At least they smiled and I smile right back!!!
I have eaten these all my life. I normally spread peanut butter on crackers and add mini marshmallows. In fact, my family ate some last night. Thanks.
http://christinespantry.blogspot.com/
Grew up eating these. My mom always used Ritz crackers instead of saltines. Yum!
How bout “Oklahoma!” ? I’ve known all the words to that song for years and sometimes I start singing it. (it helps that I lived there for 8 years, lol!) I also like The Surrey with the Fringe on Top, but don’t know all the words to that one. I love the songs from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Kiss Me Kate too. : )
I was so shocked to see these on your site. My grandmother made them and I have never heard of anyone else eating these. I thought she made them up because she did not have the proper ingredients for smores! I still have a craving for them once in a while and my husband and friends think I am crazy. I make mine with crunchy Jiff peanut butter and they are so delicious! As a kid (when microwaves first became popular), my cousins and I would put them in the microwave for a quick treat and laugh about how big the marshmallows would get. Great memories!
I had these as a child and up into my teens, it was something my mom fixed for us as a treat., she never really has a name for it tho. Love it..thanks for sharing.
Oh, wow! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only person who sings/hums tunes from Mary Poppins, Singing in the Rain and, of course, White Christmas! My girls think I’m a bit “goofy.” HA! I tell them how lucky they are to have a Mom who is so happy she sings……
Can’t wait to try these treats..thanks
These have always been a favorite of mine! My dad would make them as a snack for me as I was growing up. I remember Trying to fit as many mini marshmallows as possible on top
definitely a keeper!!!
What a wonderful memory!!
One word….DELISH! This is my first time making this and my 10 year old son says it tastes better than S’mores. He says he wants to pass it down to generations to come. Guess we’ll be making these more often. So simple 1, 2, 3 and it’s done!
Oh, I am so glad that he liked them!! They are a favorite around here!!
Try them with Nutella…..ahhhhhhhh!
You aren’t alone Christy! I often find myself humming the Star Spangled Banner OR the theme song for Miss America….you know, there she is, Miss America……lol
We use to eat these all the time and still do! My brothers and I are all in our (cough cough!) 30′s but these still make an appearance from time to time when we get together! My son has also become a fan of these! Thanks again for such a wonderful site! Your recipes are the best!!
♫♪ Nothing could be finer than to be in ole Carolina (Bamalina!!) in da Morrrrrnin!! ♫♪
Mornin Christy gal.. sure loved your post to get me revved up!! Thank ya hunny
I’ve never heard of these but my, it sounds so good. I’m going to try it this afternoon! My Papaw used to mix peanut butter and maple syrup and dipped his white bread in it.
My family ate these growing up. We used the saltine version. Yum.
Also, my children grew up on musicals. We sang the songs often and even quoted the quotes. My youngest not only memorized the songs, but the chorography also. She entertained us so well.
Some of our favorites were the following:
The One and Only Original Family Band
Calamity Jane
Meet Me In St. Louis
Love these…better than s’mores salty sweet taste. But our favorite snack (even now) is Nilla wafers & peanut butter:) believe I’ll fix some now<3
Oh I love this recipe! I always have a song in my head . I wake up our kids for school by singing good morning to them everyday.
Try this with Nutella instead of the peanut butter. Not as cheap as PB, but it will make you smile in that silly way that only simple treats can.
Wow, sounds yummy. I’ve never heard of them before. Lisa has always liked peanut butter and marshmallow (fluff) sandwiches…bet she would love these.
thanks again for sharing. Lisa and I would sit for hours watching Pollyanna movies when she was little. We were just talking the other day about how we can’t wait to watch them with Chloe (aka Lil Christy)….LYBunches.
Have never had these, but they look gooooood! As a singer, music is very important to me. Like you, I usually have some hymn, praise song, movie theme or show tune going thru my head. In fact this morning, (while in the little girl’s room) I realized that the song buzzing around in my brain was “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” from My Fair Lady! As I thought about the lyrics it dawned on me that I was probably thinking about a warm place ‘cuz I had just come in from walking the dog and it is 20 degrees here! No wonder I wanted a room “far away from the cold night air”!! LOL
I find that when I hum or sing, I’m not thinking about problems. I’m much happier.
Christy, I think you’ve struck gold with this recipe. It’s so much fun to read your other readers’ nostalgic comments about this snack. My mom made them often for an after-school treat. She used Ritz crackers and mini marshmallows. My kids will get them today! Oh, and I love movie musicals, too! My mom says I was born about 30 years too late, that I would have loved the golden age of Hollywood musicals. My fave is “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” Howard Keel stars (swoon!).
Christy,
I used graham Crackers or Cinnamon Crisp for these for my granddaughters. Only I make them with Nutella and marshmallow fluff and microwave for about 10 seconds. Yum. Thanks for reminding me of them.
Linda
Nutella instead of p-nut butter or better yet chocolate peanut butter.
I must confess, I’m a “hummer” too! That’s what my coworkers tell me!
so needed to hear something like this today… kudos to you for saying it!
My third graders love when I break (as in glass breaking!) into silly songs at school. Today was the one about “You say potato and I say potahto…” when our Reading lesson was on pronunciations. (Back when dirt was new, I was also taught that “Ladies don’t say the “t” in “often” but the kids think that’s so amusing here in the Mid-Atlantic region.) I’m working on tomorrow’s song, but it’s usually better when it’s spontaneous! One more thing, Christy. I thought the one song you were singing was “My Country Is A Tree” when I was little! =^..^= P.S. Love these crackers snacks!
I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU! Life is too short to spend it wallowing in misery, doom and gloom! It is so very true there is ALWAYS something for which to be thankful! My family calls me the queen of thankful, I went through a slump a few years back and to shake it, I got up each morning and first thing for 30 days and wrote about something for which I was thankful. The whole process stuck with me and now I find I just unconsciously spout off thankfulness, much to the giggles of my kids and hubby. =)
Thankful for this post!
PS-I often find myself singing show tunes as well, particularly while out shopping…for some reason the Wizard of Oz and My Fair Lady commonly make the rounds. =)
My grandmother and mother would fix these for me when I was little and I fixed them for my children and they still love them now and they are grown it’s funny how something so simple can make and bring back so many memories.
Simple and delicious. These were always a very looked forward to treat and I bet your children will pass them down as well.