Fritos

In 1932, the word "snacking" wasn't a common expression. Rows and rows of grocery shelves were yet to be filled with colorful bags. But that was all about to change. The invention of FRITOS® Corn Chips marks not only an important piece of Americana, but also an entirely new way of eating. The family responsible for putting three wonderful ingredients into a bag: C.E. "Elmer" and Earl Doolin, and their mother Daisy Dean Doolin.

C.E. Doolin had a problem. Tortillas wouldn't stay fresh long enough in his store. While searching for an alternative, he met a man from San Antonio selling fried corn chips. C.E. offered him $100 for the recipe - a handsome sum during the Depression. Daisy believed in her son, and as the legend goes, she let him pawn her wedding ring to procure the money.

Together, the family went to work. In Daisy's kitchen, C.E. and Earl mixed batches of corn dough and shaped strips using a converted potato ricer. Being the perfectionist he was, C.E. investigated using different types of corn to meet his exacting standards. After planting varieties all over Texas, he discovered a strand that pleased his taste. According to his daughter Kaleta Doolin, her father's own corn is the secret ingredient.

For Daisy, making dinner was a time to experiment. She'd add corn chips to her meals and write down recipes. During one of her forays, she sprinkled FRITOS® over some chili, and voila! The FRITOS CHILI PIE® was born. Ever since, people have been adding FRITOS® to all kinds of dishes and creating their own FRITOS® recipes.