Betcha! - October 30, 2020
It’s hard for me to accept this, but my husband is a food snob. OK, he’s junk food snob. More specifically, he is a potato chip snob. This penny-pinching Scot would rather pay $3 for a bag of Lay’s chips than 99c for the store brand. If I’d known this when I proposed marriage to him… 😊
Back in Sudbury, I never bought potato chips, except for Friday movie night. Laur could not resist them, and back in the day, my hubs always had 20 pounds he wanted to lose. But Laur developed a back-up plan. He let my Mom know how much he loved Lays, so when Dad and Mom came to Sudbury every month, she’d buy a goodly supply of Laur’s favorite snack food. I could hardly say “no” to my Mom.
And when she knew we were coming down for a visit to Belleville, she stocked up on Lay’s potato chips. And also introduced my husband to two new vices – Pringles potato chips and Hawkins Cheezies – and kept a cupboard full of them. Mom would say it was “Just for you (meaning Laur)!” and insist that we take it back home with us. Such good times.
Fun Facts about Lays Potato Chips
↓
1. Lay's chips were first sold by Herman W. Lay from the back of his car, back in the early 1930s when he was still working as a traveling salesman. He first sold his chips in Nashville, Tennessee. (I don’t know why the N,T reference matters.)
2. Lay's has created region-specific flavors for different parts of the US. During a campaign called "Tastes of America," Lay's released new eight flavors including New England Lobster Roll in the Northeast and Cajun spice in the South. And in Canada! Walmart Canada stocks Lay's Bacon Poutine Potato Chips.
3. Lay's flavors also vary from country to country. In India, you can find flavors like Magic Masala. In Thailand, chips come in flavors like Basil Chicken and Crab Curry. In Egypt, snackers can buy Chili and Lemon Lays. In South Korea – and we have seen this with our own eyes - you can buy Lay’s Korean Barbecue potato chips. The package promises you “a taste of a blend of grilled marinated beef and spices in one delicious chip.”
4. There are over 200 varieties of Lay's chips. The chips range from common flavors, like Salt and Vinegar and Barbecue, to more unusual ones, like Cappuccino, Vegetable Soup, and Beer 'n Brats. I’m waiting for the Tofu one to come out.
And here is a good “winning the lottery” strategy for potential home-buyer in Southern Ontario. ↓
5. Sometimes Lay's offers a million bucks for great new flavor ideas. Some of the flavors to come out of the contest include Wasabi Ginger, Cheesy Garlic Bread, and Southern Biscuits and Gravy.
There is actually a pinterest site dedicated to coming up with the most disgusting flavours people can think of. Check out https://www.pinterest.ca/Cake1583/weird-lays-potato-chip-flavors/
And my favorite fact…
6. Lay's chips were one of the first snack foods with televised commercials. The year was 1944. And the spokesperson? Bert Lahr – the actor who played The Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Lahr also appeared in a number of Lay's advertisements and commercials during the 1960s including the popular "Betcha can't eat just one" campaign.
7. Four to five potatoes go into each bag of Lay's chips. That’s it! But they pack a wallop! A mere 10 chips – depending on the flavor – can have 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 180 grams of sodium! (Chip lovers will say that is a small price to pay for bliss in a bag.)
8. Lay's controls over a fourth of the potato chip market. Yep! In 2017, their top products generated approximately $1.7 billion dollars in sales.
9. Chef Jody Denton, head chef of the Frito-Lay Flavor Kitchen, once owned both a Mediterranean bistro and a Japanese izakaya and sushi bar before joining Lay's in 2007. (Don’t know why that is interesting.)
10. Regular Lay’s potato chips are VEGAN! That is worth celebrating. Laur celebrates that there is still Lay’s Classic. Potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt. What’s not to love?
*****
Our dear Mom has sadly passed in August of this year. We miss her a lot and every day. And Laur misses her never-ending stash of Lays potato chips. When I do the grocery shopping on my own, I get the store brand. Hmm. I am wondering if this is why Laur has started to accompany me.
My hubs considers Lays potato chips “food of the gods” – so much so that in his most recent sermon he stated, “Maybe for Laur Steven to love his neighbour means giving his neighbour a large size bag of Lay’s
potato chips, because Laur loves those!” (Are you aghast?! It gets better. Just think! Laur chairs the preaching team.)
If we were at All Peoples United Church in Sudbury, the United Church women would have delivered a bag within a week. Grace Mennonite Church did not disappoint. The Sunday afternoon following his sermon, we were visiting church friends and the woman presented Laur a large bag of Lays with a red bow on it.
I too give reflections at Grace. In fact I give one this Sunday. Perhaps I should include a plug for my most coveted item – at least this morning. (A dull rainy Friday.) I want a fourth ratlet – a mature female – to go with Daisy Donut (named because of her size), Violet and Lily (named by grandchild Emma.) We are “down” to three since Dandy Candy went to her new home with Splinter. And, somehow, the ratlet apartment feels empty.
I doubt the women of Grace are going to be bringing me a ratlet anytime soon. So please accept this pic of Daisy Donut and me. I’ll keep you posted. Jelly Bean’s Home for Unwanted Ratlets (not their real name) has approached me about taking two, but I’m going to stay the course of having a maximum of four ratlets and avoiding the call “Betcha can't adopt just one."
Back in Sudbury, I never bought potato chips, except for Friday movie night. Laur could not resist them, and back in the day, my hubs always had 20 pounds he wanted to lose. But Laur developed a back-up plan. He let my Mom know how much he loved Lays, so when Dad and Mom came to Sudbury every month, she’d buy a goodly supply of Laur’s favorite snack food. I could hardly say “no” to my Mom.
And when she knew we were coming down for a visit to Belleville, she stocked up on Lay’s potato chips. And also introduced my husband to two new vices – Pringles potato chips and Hawkins Cheezies – and kept a cupboard full of them. Mom would say it was “Just for you (meaning Laur)!” and insist that we take it back home with us. Such good times.
Fun Facts about Lays Potato Chips
↓
1. Lay's chips were first sold by Herman W. Lay from the back of his car, back in the early 1930s when he was still working as a traveling salesman. He first sold his chips in Nashville, Tennessee. (I don’t know why the N,T reference matters.)
2. Lay's has created region-specific flavors for different parts of the US. During a campaign called "Tastes of America," Lay's released new eight flavors including New England Lobster Roll in the Northeast and Cajun spice in the South. And in Canada! Walmart Canada stocks Lay's Bacon Poutine Potato Chips.
3. Lay's flavors also vary from country to country. In India, you can find flavors like Magic Masala. In Thailand, chips come in flavors like Basil Chicken and Crab Curry. In Egypt, snackers can buy Chili and Lemon Lays. In South Korea – and we have seen this with our own eyes - you can buy Lay’s Korean Barbecue potato chips. The package promises you “a taste of a blend of grilled marinated beef and spices in one delicious chip.”
4. There are over 200 varieties of Lay's chips. The chips range from common flavors, like Salt and Vinegar and Barbecue, to more unusual ones, like Cappuccino, Vegetable Soup, and Beer 'n Brats. I’m waiting for the Tofu one to come out.
And here is a good “winning the lottery” strategy for potential home-buyer in Southern Ontario. ↓
5. Sometimes Lay's offers a million bucks for great new flavor ideas. Some of the flavors to come out of the contest include Wasabi Ginger, Cheesy Garlic Bread, and Southern Biscuits and Gravy.
There is actually a pinterest site dedicated to coming up with the most disgusting flavours people can think of. Check out https://www.pinterest.ca/Cake1583/weird-lays-potato-chip-flavors/
And my favorite fact…
6. Lay's chips were one of the first snack foods with televised commercials. The year was 1944. And the spokesperson? Bert Lahr – the actor who played The Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Lahr also appeared in a number of Lay's advertisements and commercials during the 1960s including the popular "Betcha can't eat just one" campaign.
7. Four to five potatoes go into each bag of Lay's chips. That’s it! But they pack a wallop! A mere 10 chips – depending on the flavor – can have 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 180 grams of sodium! (Chip lovers will say that is a small price to pay for bliss in a bag.)
8. Lay's controls over a fourth of the potato chip market. Yep! In 2017, their top products generated approximately $1.7 billion dollars in sales.
9. Chef Jody Denton, head chef of the Frito-Lay Flavor Kitchen, once owned both a Mediterranean bistro and a Japanese izakaya and sushi bar before joining Lay's in 2007. (Don’t know why that is interesting.)
10. Regular Lay’s potato chips are VEGAN! That is worth celebrating. Laur celebrates that there is still Lay’s Classic. Potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt. What’s not to love?
*****
Our dear Mom has sadly passed in August of this year. We miss her a lot and every day. And Laur misses her never-ending stash of Lays potato chips. When I do the grocery shopping on my own, I get the store brand. Hmm. I am wondering if this is why Laur has started to accompany me.
My hubs considers Lays potato chips “food of the gods” – so much so that in his most recent sermon he stated, “Maybe for Laur Steven to love his neighbour means giving his neighbour a large size bag of Lay’s
potato chips, because Laur loves those!” (Are you aghast?! It gets better. Just think! Laur chairs the preaching team.)
If we were at All Peoples United Church in Sudbury, the United Church women would have delivered a bag within a week. Grace Mennonite Church did not disappoint. The Sunday afternoon following his sermon, we were visiting church friends and the woman presented Laur a large bag of Lays with a red bow on it.
I too give reflections at Grace. In fact I give one this Sunday. Perhaps I should include a plug for my most coveted item – at least this morning. (A dull rainy Friday.) I want a fourth ratlet – a mature female – to go with Daisy Donut (named because of her size), Violet and Lily (named by grandchild Emma.) We are “down” to three since Dandy Candy went to her new home with Splinter. And, somehow, the ratlet apartment feels empty.
I doubt the women of Grace are going to be bringing me a ratlet anytime soon. So please accept this pic of Daisy Donut and me. I’ll keep you posted. Jelly Bean’s Home for Unwanted Ratlets (not their real name) has approached me about taking two, but I’m going to stay the course of having a maximum of four ratlets and avoiding the call “Betcha can't adopt just one."