by Randee Braham

Every since I was a child I had a fondness for cereal.  I can vividly remember sitting on a stool in my grandmother’s kitchen as she spooned teaspoons of sugar over a freshly poured bowl of Rice Krispies.  I sat there listening to that Snap, Crackle, and Pop and I believe that is where my affinity cereal began. 

As I grew older my cereal choices changed, first to Corn Flakes, then Honey Nut Cheerios, Cocoa Krispies (loved how the milk would then become chocolate milk),  and Cinnamon Toast Crunch (never with milk, always just straight out of the box).  Cereal was my go-to meal, whether after coming home from grade school or as I got older coming home from a late night out.  It is one of those meals that is always satisfying and when pouring too much milk at first, you have an excuse to go back once the bowl is almost finished and add some more. 

New brands of cereal are constantly introduced to the market place where more sugar and brighter colors are used to attract those first-time cereal buyers, but for me I still continue to stick with the basics.  However, I must admit when Honey Bunches of Oats hit the grocery store aisle I found heaven — the corn flakes that I had grown to love mixed with sweet oat clusters, just thinking about it while writing this has me excited to go home and pour myself a  bowl. 

Cereal is the one pantry staple at my house that is always overstocked.  At this time I tend to mix and match with Shredded Wheat squares as the base, Honey Nut Cheerios as the second layer and a sprinkling of Honey Bunches of Oats on top. 

Working in an industry where I have been blessed to try the world’s most decadent foods, I am just as happy sitting next to my boyfriend on the couch at home, watching some variation of CSI on TV, with a bowl of cereal in my lap.

What I’m:

Reading: Cleaving by Julie Powell

Eating: Cereal

Drinking: Water, lots and lots of water

Watching: Damages

Listening to: Rihanna, Rated R