Alright, I know I have readers because I am hearing from you. This is a place for comments, people, comments!!
So, we're going to have some fun with this one. I am soliciting your fondest memories of Government Cheese. I dont have to say more about it, you either remember it or you dont.
Beginning in 1982, the USDA made use of a subsidized dairy surplus by meeting the nutritional needs of millions of Americans being pounded by a recession many of us still remember vividly, by backing up trucks to supermarket parking lots and giving away blocks of processed cheese.
The stuff kinda looked like Velveeta, but tasted different, because it was lots of kinds of cheese all molded together.
Now, I like grilled cheese, so slicing it up and substituting it for traditional cheddar made very little difference. I can make a solid argument the Government Cheese had a richer flavor. Whenever I have grilled cheese and tomato soup on a cold, wet day, I am taken back to the days of Government Cheese.
The Kansas City-based alternative rock band The Rainmakers even had a song that played off disingenuous Reaganomics with the line "they're feedin' our people that government cheese."
It also was really good as a sliced snack.
But when it came to the "cheese sandwich" that was all butter and cheese on white bread, I had to draw the line. That was a bit too . . . dairy for me.
I am sure moms all over the country found creative and interesting uses for this stuff. What happened in your household? Come on people!!
1 comment:
Mom was too embarrassed to go herself, so she sent me uptown to pick it up at the local community center. I stood in line for an hour. Now, if you're looking to re-connect with that gov't cheese goodness, try Land O' Lakes brand. Sold at Fareway, but for the non-gov't price of $19 for one "brick."
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