Remembering Doo-Dads Snack Mix: A Nostalgic Treat with a Copycat Recipe

If you're a fan of classic snack mixes, you might remember Doo-Dads, a beloved treat from the 70s and 80s. This nostalgic snack, originally produced by Nabisco, was a delightful blend of crispy corn cereal, mini pretzels, mixed nuts, and cheese-flavored crackers, all coated in a savory mix of butter, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Though it's no longer available on the market, its memory lives on in the hearts of snack enthusiasts who yearn for its unique flavor combination. I remember the first time I had doo-dads, I was visiting my Aunt Joan and she offered me some doo-dads in a Dixie Cup. I was obsessed with them. My mom bought them for years, until she switched to Chex-Mix, which were slightly similar but NOT at all the same thing.

For those who want to relive the magic of Doo-Dads, here's a copycat recipe that I found in a long out of print book at the library that captures the essence of this classic snack mix:

**Copycat Doo-Dads Recipe:**

- 2 cups crispy corn cereal

- 2 cups mini pretzels

- 1 cup mixed nuts

- 1 cup cheese-flavored crackers

- 1/2 cup melted butter

- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

- 1 teaspoon garlic powder

- 1 teaspoon onion powder

- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt

**Instructions:**

1. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C).

2. In a large bowl, combine the corn cereal, pretzels, nuts, and crackers.

3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoned salt, stirring until well combined.

4. Pour the butter mixture over the snack mix, tossing to coat evenly

5. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is evenly coated and crispy

6. Allow to cool completely before serving.

This homemade version of Doo-Dads is perfect for parties, movie nights, or just satisfying those snack cravings. Enjoy!

Nat Sherman Fantasia: A Taste of Luxury

Unofficially I am not a smoker. I do love me some sissy cigs though, Misty, Capri and Virginia Slims. I quit years ago but there was a brand that I always loved and unfortunately they seemed to have been discontinued. If you're looking for a premium smoking experience, Nat Sherman Fantasia cigarettes are a thing of the past. These luxury cigarettes, known for their high-quality tobacco and colorful packaging, offered a unique twist on the traditional smoking experience.

Produced in the USA, Nat Sherman Fantasia cigarettes came in various flavors and strengths, including Naturals Blue, Naturals Menthol, and the classic Original. Each pack features vibrant, colored paper that adds a touch of glamour to your smoke break.

When it came to price, Nat Sherman Fantasia cigarettes were on the higher end of the spectrum. A carton of 10 packs (200 cigarettes) typically costs around $60 to $70, depending on where you bought them. While they might be a bit pricier than your average brand, the quality and taste made them a worthwhile splurge for those who appreciate a bit of luxury in their daily routine.

Overall, Nat Sherman Fantasia cigarettes delivered a satisfying smoking experience with their rich flavor and elegant presentation. Whether you're a long-time smoker or just looking to treat yourself, these cigarettes offer a taste of the finer things in life. And with many products I fall in love with they were unexpectedly discontinued,

If you've ever had them, what was your replacement? Or was nothing created to compare to the fun colored paper and smooth taste?

Remembering Record Stores

Remember the concept of record stores? It seems most people have forgotten what it's like to flip through vinyl records or stare at walls of cassette tapes and browsing the CD long boxes during the time they were placed near the registers due to their higher value. I love a good record shop...before digital downloads, FYE, amazon and B&N overthrew the market we had Record Bar, Turtles, Peaches, Coconuts and the Mecca...TOWER RECORDS. 

During my younger years, my sister and I were only exposed to the latest hits via WABB 97.5 or a vinyl 45 from TG&Y or K-Mart. Our full length albums were usually whatever was on clearance or those wonderful K-Tel collections jam packed with the shorter than edited radio versions. Once in a while, my mom would drive my sister and I to the mall but our mall visit came with strings attached...LIMITED TIME. My sister would cover the metal and rap (or what they called rap back in the 80s), pop/rock and new releases quicker than anyone I'd ever met. Even before she had an actual job, my sister also always managed to have a little cash to buy a tape. I went for the 12" singles and the M (for Madonna) section of pop/rock and hope my mom would buy something for me before she dragged us down to JC Penny's if we were at University Mall or Montgomery Wards if we were fortunate enough to be at Cordova Mall. Vinyl became obsolete toward the end of my elementary school years but I preferred snap crackle pop over the cheap tape decks and players we had eating or mangling my favorite tunes.

Record stores have definitely changed over the years for sure. There was a time went you walked in and the staff consisted of 5 highly knowledgeable sales people and 2 managers that were just as knowledgeable at any given time, now you are lucky to find 2 sales people anytime and most of the knowledge is of current top 40 or whatever they are performing on American Idol. I walked into FYE a few weeks ago and a generic rap track was blasting from the speakers, I asked the sales guy if they had "Love Never Dies" on CD and he asked "Who it by?" assuming it was just a song. When I worked in music stores I knew what all the new releases were several weeks before their release dates and would've known that it was not a group but a cast recording. Fortunately, there are a few old timers that know they have a corner in the market for vinyl freaks like me. Here in Atlanta, we have Fantasyland Records, the only store that I make sure I'm wearing comfortable shoes to shop. The selection rivals 4 record superstores in the space equal to a mall store. My days are Fantasyland are usually all day affairs. Breakfast at Einstein Brothers, flipping through vinyl, lunch at McDonalds, flipping through more vinyl...Then off to meet Terry and we're on our way home. There really is something special about the feel and sound of vinyl that totally rocks my world and no matter how many CDs I collect, I usually end up with the vinyl version spinning on my turntable if by any chance I can get my hands on it.