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Improvements in technology and in manufacturing processes meant that the seventies and eighties were a time when lots of so-called “labour saving” devices were introduced to our homes. The kitchen was one room in the house that saw quite a few new gadgets come along, and one of those was the toasted sandwich maker.
The toasted sandwich maker, also commonly known as a “Breville” in the UK (because that was the name of the biggest manufacturer of the devices, just like Hoover has become another way of saying vacuum cleaner) or simply a “Toastie Maker”, was basically an electric hot plate cooker, but instead of a flat cooking surface it was moulded with triangular indentations that could accommodate slices of bread.
To use the device you basically made a sandwich, except instead of arranging the bread so the buttered side was next to the filling, the buttered side faced outwards towards the sandwich maker surfaces. You dumped your sandwich into the toastie maker and closed the lid. The two sides of the sandwich maker compressed the bread around the crusts, creating a seal but normally leaving the crusts poking out the side. Once cooked you carefully extracted the sandwich from the machine, and waited for it to cool down before having a good munch.
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With crisp behemoth Walkers slowly buying up every other major crisp manufacturer they can lay their hands on, it was inevitable there would be some casualties. To be fair to Walkers, now they own Smith’s Crisps they have at least kept the Smith’s name running as a brand (Walker’s Salt ‘n’ Shake would be sacrilege).
I picked up a box of Bird’s Eye Potato Waffles when doing the shopping the other day, partly because I hadn’t had any in ages, but mainly because they were on a special offer. A day or so later said box of Waffles was taken from the freezer to be cooked for dinner, and whilst waiting I was idly reading the packaging.
There are a number of classic chocolate bars aimed mainly at younger children (those of around primary school age) which have stood the test of time.
If there is one thing guaranteed to give you brain freeze faster than a freshly opened ice lolly it’s gulping down a mouthful of Slush Puppie, that wonderful iced drink concoction. It tastes great, but not when you have to clutch your forehead in agony for a few minutes before you can have some more!
So, have you had one of the relaunched Wispa Gold bars yet? I must admit to having had a couple already and dare I say it, they seem to be better now than I remember them being when they were originally launched!
If you are one of those who rejoiced when Cadbury’s brought back their bubbly Wispa chocolate bar then you may well be pleased to hear that the caramel filled version known as Wispa Gold is also set to make a comeback, albeit temporarily, on September 14th.
Not sure if these sweeties quite made it to the 1980’s but they were certainly around in the late 1970’s. I was reminded of Double Agents when my parents dug out some old stacking blocks for my daughter to play with, and I discovered one of the old promotional stickers stuck on one of them.
