I remember the cold winter days of my childhood in Indiana, snuggled up on the sofa in the family room of our brick ranch house. School was closed and my brother and I were tickled from the inside out. Even though I liked school as a kid, the unexpected day off was quite the cause for celebration. This was the ’60′s for me and I can recall our sofa with a colonial print and brick patterned linoleum on the floor. I can see the black and white RCA television with cartoons blasting and mom in the kitchen fixing our favorite snack. I can still smell the combination of tuna and melted cheddar cheese on Triscuit crackers.
The Triscuit tuna crackers of my childhood bring back vivid memories. I made them the other day for my two daughters and they couldn’t believe how good they were and wondered why I hadn’t made them before now. I must admit just the exercise of putting them together got me all choked up. Isn’t it amazing how food can do that for us. The smells and assembly brought back a rush of memories. It’s the easiest snack to assemble, nutritious and delicious at the same time. I know I sound like a commercial and no, I’m not paid to endorse Triscuits.
The Recipe
Select your favorite tuna. Some people like tuna packed in water. Some people, including me, prefer the flavor of tonno tuna packed in oil. Completely up to you. Select your tuna and place in a mixing bowl and, with a fork, separate the tuna (flaking). Or if you prefer you can get in there with your hands and rub the tuna until it’s soft, rather than chunky — like the scene from the movie, Frankie and Johnny.
Al Pacino’s Johnny says to Michelle Pfeiffer’s Frankie,
“Tino tells me you like tuna. I’ll make a tuna casserole. – No! Not casserole. Tuna fish sandwich. I am defined by my tuna sandwich. I take the tuna out of the can and I work it between my fingers till it’s real soft.”
Add your preferred binding ingredients — I like a combination of mayo and dijon mustard. Spoon the mixture onto your crackers and add a small slice of cheddar on top of each mound. Put your snacks on a baking sheet under a broiler for a few minutes until melted. Remove from heat source and serve.
If you’re watching Nick at Night, I suggest eating this snack while watching the Dick Van Dyke Show.