The Moon Pie Snack Cake

You know, it is usually the little things we do that make the biggest impressions. That is why the Moon Pie is more than just a snack cake to me. It holds some very special childhood memories that I will always treasure.

My Aunt (pictured above in the 1940's I believe), was a very hard working person. She didn't have any children of her own, so she became like a second mother to me. She worked two jobs when I was growing up, and one of those jobs was at the Chattanooga Bakery, the home of the Moon Pie.

One of my favorite memories growing up, were the days when my Aunt would pick me up and then take me to "the Bakery" as we called it. She would usually be going to pick up her paycheck, and then she would take me to the end of the assembly line, where they would let her pull a fresh, hot, gooey, Moon Pie right off the line just before it was packaged.

The marshmallow would be warm and melted, and the graham crackers, still coated with warm chocolate, would still have their crispy texture.
They were so good! They don't have this same texture after packaging and making it to the store, because the graham crackers have become soft by then.

Every time I see the word Moon Pie, I have a warm feeling inside and think of those wonderful afternoons with my Aunt, when we shared a fresh off the line Moon Pie snack. I can even remember that sweet smell of the bakery, the smell that was always on my Aunt's clothes when I would hug her after a long day of work. Her hair even smelled like a warm Moon Pie!

My Aunt has long since retired, and will be celebrating her 92nd birthday in August 2012. I am so glad to have had such wonderful memories of being with my aunt, and these memories will always be very special to me.