WHY WRITE OF RAISINS?

BY DAN MILLER
March 17, 2006

All my life, I've enjoyed raisins.... that is, if they're really fresh.

I'm not fanatical about them, but they're a tasty treat now and then.

My first real recollection of raisins is having an adolescent crush on the attractive Sun-Maid girl in the bonnet, who's depicted on the raisin boxes.

To my surprise, I learned last week that the illustrated Sun-Maid girl is now 90 years old.
That's right.... her image first appeared on Sun-Maid raisin boxes in 1916.
Actually, she would be older than 90 because the illustration used in 1916 depicted an already grown maiden.

All of this caught my eye last week in an Associated Press story about plans by the Sun-Maid company to bring the Sun-Maid girl to life in animated TV commercials for their raisins.

That's going to be fun to see.
I wonder if she'll be depicted the way she's shown on the raisin boxes, or will they show her as a much older woman walking through the vineyards?

By the way, my wife Karen has a birthday this weekend.
She's not anywhere close to 90.

I first met Karen in 1979 and -- while I was well past adolescence -- I immediately developed sort of an adolescent-type crush on her that's lasted for 27 years now.
Actually, it's more of a aging man-type crush nowadays.
That's Karen in the second photo.

So, now you know the real purpose of today's essay.... to wish Karen a Happy Birthday!
But, she enjoys raisins too.

I'll even go a step further in making this a worthwhile read for everyone, by offering a little raisin recipe.
I've never prepared it.... but it sounds pretty good:

Apple Salad

Ingredients
2 apples, diced and unpared
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 cup raisins
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon reduced-calorie mayonnaise
lettuce leaves (optional)

Instructions
Combine all ingredients except lettuce; mix well. Refrigerate until served. Serve on lettuce leaves, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings
Each serving: 1/4 cup

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