How did cheese doodles originate?

Cheese Doodles, those cheesy, crunchy, irresistible snacks, were born in 1954 thanks to the ingenuity of Ted Casey at the Borden Company.

Here's the story:

* Inspiration: Casey, a chemist at Borden, was tasked with developing a new snack food that could be marketed alongside their popular "Cheez Whiz" product.

* The Process: He experimented with various dough and cheese combinations, eventually landing on a blend of cornmeal, wheat flour, cheddar cheese, and other seasonings.

* The Result: The resulting snack was shaped into thin, twisted curls and fried, creating the iconic "doodle" shape and the satisfyingly crunchy texture.

* The Name: "Cheese Doodles" was chosen as a playful and memorable name that captured the cheesy essence of the snack.

Cheese Doodles quickly gained popularity, becoming a staple in lunchboxes and snack aisles across America. They were even briefly renamed "Funyuns" in the 1980s, though this name didn't catch on and the original name was eventually reinstated.

Today, Cheese Doodles continue to be enjoyed by people of all ages, proving that a simple, cheesy snack can stand the test of time.