I'll gladly pay you Tamale for a Hamburger Today...

...I'm sitting here consuming one of my favorite low-fat snacks...Hot Tamales. No, I'm not talking about that Mexican dish, but that wonderful movietime treat...chewy, cinnamon and full of kick! And, affordable at a $1.00 a box at Walgreens. (More on that fabulous store on a future post)

These delicacies have been around since the 1950's, although I don't remember when I was first introduced. (For the smart-alecks in the crowd, that was LONG before I was born. :) But, no matter when it was, I've become quite attached to these little bites of heaven on earth.

They aren't for the faint of heart, as they leave that spicy aftertaste that represents their colorful name. The newest versions of these treats even come in "extra hot" for those connoisseurs who desire a more "habenero" experience with their candy.

Along with Mike & Ikes, Hot Tamales have become a favorite among moviegoers. You can't deny the chocolate fix you get with a Goober or Raisinette, but after the latest low-fat diet craze, Hot Tamales have won the hearts of those looking for a somewhat less damaging way to cheat while plopped in front of a movie. Being a marketer myself, I applaud their efforts.

Which leads me to my closing story on Hot Tamales.....a group of friends and I went to see Titanic at the theater. The beauty of the emerging movie theater experience is you aren't limited to those restrictive boxes of candy, but can now buy it in bulk! So, as I perused my choices and calculated the 3 hours plus I'd be spending in the theater, I opted to purchase a pound of those red chewy delights. Much to my dismay, no one else in my group even liked Hot Tamales. After I chastised them for such heresy, I munched on my Tamales alone. I'm single, I'm used to that. :) What resulted was many weeks of Hot Tamales on my desk at work....where, thankfully, my co-workers joined in my affection with the cinnamon confection.