"MOM, MAKE SOME PIGS IN THE BLANKET, PLE-EE-ZE!"

A good part of the U.S. population in the early and mid-twentieth century called Vienna Sausage "Vye-eenies." We may think that term a little silly, "country," or gauche, but we can't change history. Cronkite always said it: "That's the way it was."

As some of us older folks look back on that period of time, and even later, and remember all the times we ate and loved "Vye-eenies," we wonder why they aren't listed along with "mother, home, apple pie, Chevrolet, and..."Vye-eenies."

Small country stores all over West Texas, when the U.S. was more rural, may have run out of one item or another, but I seriously doubt that they were ever out of Viennas (or pork 'n beans).

A good meal on a quail hunt could be bought at one of those friendly-looking stores with the old fashioned gas pumps out front-the tall ones with the lever on the side.  You'd get some cans of Vienna sausage, a small box of old-fashioned saltines, a chunk of cheese, an onion, a can of pork and beans and a grape or orange soda pop. (In those days people strongly favored the flavored sodas.) And any quail hunter worth his salt always had his pork'n bean spoon in his shirt pocket!

In fact, you hikers, fishermen, bird-watchers, in a hurry to get off on your trek, just think about it: what other possible lunch comes in such a compact, neat, and easily-carried can?! Here's a plan from Mil-- put on your roomy Burberry coat, put a can of Viennas in your right pocket with foil-wrapped cheese and crackers; in your left pocket put a small can of V-8, a couple of left-over catsups from Burger King, and a Snickers bar! I guarantee you, you will not be able to stifle yourself, and wait for lunch! Good old "Vye-eenies!"

This same fare goes good for lunch on the farm on a hot, hard day of plowing. There, substitute a cold big-orange drink for the V-8; you'll need it.

We come to perhaps the most important and famous use of Viennas: kids love ‘em! In the 1940's the little sausages were probably about 15 cents a can. Mothers should have bought them by the case because 3 or 4 cans lasted no time. Eg.- "Mom, make some pigs in the blanket, ple-ee-ze!" How she did them, with what dough, who knows? Just give us a plate of the finished products that we could dip in mustard!!! (The pigs required mustard; the bare sausages required catsup. Who knows who made that rule?)

We live in mod, advanced times. Did you know that you can get...Chicken Viennas now?!  (Mil will pass, thank you.) In fact, chickens are going to be extinct if you ladies don't lighten up a little. And... you'd better be alert or you will arrive home with Chicken Viennas. You can also get "hot and spicy" ones, barbecued, smoked, jalapeno and one that I strongly favor: Beenie Weenies. Talk about a creative product! And what's coming next? Catfish Viennas, Venison Viennas, Turtle Viennas, or maybe Aardvark Viennas, who knows? The good news is: now you can buy a man-sized can of the old-fashioned regular ones!

Mil has to wrap this up. And he has gone and got hungry again from his own writing! Hmmm…maybe there is a can of "Vye-eenies" in the pantry. Mil will go find himself a big dill pickle in the fridge...open some V's, and get a little taste of...history!

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Writer's note: This blog is proudly dedicated to loyal reader C.W.  After reading an advance copy, C.W. wrote:   "I loved your remarks about soda crackers and the old-fashioned gas stations; they held the best kinds of food, didn't they? My grandfather loved his Vye-eenies!" 

Vienna Sausage Choir:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=54yBV6i0IqA

                                                

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By Mil, 3-05-12

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