I was walking across campus on my way from work to choir. I was passing Painter Hall — home of biology and computer science laboratories. I was strolling along with my bag over my shoulder when I inhaled the unmistakable odor of Malt-O-Meal.
I have no idea where it came from, or if it was, indeed, the Malt-O-Meal I perceived it to be. But that short moment of olfactory sensation triggered a chain of thoughts as I proceeded to the Music building.
I didn’t even eat very much Malt-O-Meal as a kid, yet it is a smell and food product I associate with my childhood. My mother was much more likely to prepare plain old oatmeal. I know I consumed that particular grain in large quantities, especially when it was made into granola — but that is the subject of a rhetoric session for another day.
I did, however, get my fair share of Malt-O-Meal. To this day I wonder exactly what it is. I remember watching Annie and thinking, when the evil woman who ran orphanage said, “You’re not having hot mush today,” that surely she was referring to Malt-O-Meal. I imagined that when Oliver Twist held out his bowl and humbly pleaded for “more,” he was asking for more Malt-O-Meal. Any unidentifiable mixture, not quite solid and not quite soup, was, in my mind, Malt-O-Meal.
I never ate Malt-O-Meal plain. Cinnamon and sugar — lots and lots of sugar — was my most frequent flavor. Fresh peaches were exceptionally rare; fresh strawberries even more so.
Today, given a choice, I would probably never buy Malt-O-Meal for myself. Give me oatmeal. Give me bran flakes or corn flakes or puffed wheat. But please don’t give me Malt-O-Meal.
And really, please, don’t give me Grape-Nuts, either. Please.
That is so funny. I have an entirely different childhood memory. I think of Mal-O-Meal as the ultimate breakfast treat. Soooo goood! I liked mine almost to the jello stage with melted butter and lots of honey - LOTS OF HONEY! (in case you didn’t hear me the first time.)
dude, I don’t know anything about malt-o-meal, but I think you’re referring to the sporatic campus smell of “syrup packets.” I happen to walk through them at random places on campus, some near 24th and speedway, but they really span the entire 40 acres. It will literally smell like waffles for 1 minute, then disappear inexplicably. its a good smell though.
I just saw on facebook that you’re engaged? cool!
I have two boxes of Malt-O-Meal in my pantry right now. I love it with butter. No sweetener necessary. Yummy. Ellen sometimes likes to eat Malt-O-Meal with me, and she really liked the Malt-O-Meal muffins from the recipe on the side of the box.
However, I am beginning to suspect that the cereal doesn’t have much more nutritional value than, say, grits. But I can’t bring myself to go to eating cracked wheat for breakfast. So mostly I stay with Shredded Wheat. Double Yum.
Something is wrong with today’s version of Malt-O-Meal. In the past few years a formulation change has introduced a very unsavory fragrance and aftertaste to the cooked product. I don’t know if the Malt-O-Meal company changed the barley roasting or changed the barley supplier, but the taste now incorporates a definite, burned aspect, almost as if a plastic or melamine has been added to the mix. This is a very disappointing development, because it had been one of my childrens’ favorite meals.