These favorites always have a presence in Our Plain Life. Our t.v. watching would be less sweet if they weren't around. They are best plain, come in 6 different colors, and the colors change for the holidays. Have you guessed it? M&M's of course! Now, however, I do have to say that they aren't my favorite candy of all time (nothing can beat Milk Duds or Hot Tamales), but they are pretty close. If I am looking for a chocolate fix, the M & M (a handful of them) can't be beat. We buy them in bulk, and you can bet I stock up when I have a coupon and they are on sale (just counted 4 bags on hand). Dan and I have perfected a little trail mix, if you will, that we put together while watching our shows. 1 handful peanuts+ 2 handfuls mini marshmallows+ 3 handfuls of M&M's= some good stuff. No, you can't just use Peanut M&M's, plain are best!
Did you know that back in the 50's the company that Dan currently works for perfected the process for coating these little morsels of goodness? Now that's a good company to work for!
Here are some other facts (thanks to Google) about our friend the M&M:
*Forrest Mars came up with the idea for M & Ms during the Spanish Civil War. He discovered that soldiers were looking for a taste of home, in the form of chocolate, but needed something that could withstand hot temperatures. Mars took their request as a challenge and eventually came up with the candy, which he packaged in heavy tubes. Soldiers today still love M & Ms because they can hold up in just about any climate.
*The brown bag of regular M & Ms was developed in 1948 and didn't change much over the years until 2003.
*Peanut M & Ms (all in the color brown) weren't developed until 1954.
*M & Ms slogan "the milk chocolate melts in your mouth and not in your hand" is one of the most recognizable in advertising history. (However you give a M&M to a 19th month old and this saying is definitely NOT true!)
*Red, green, and yellow colors were added to peanut M & Ms in 1960, but orange wasn't added until 1976.
*Red M & Ms were discontinued in the mid-70's because of concerns that red food coloring was connected to cancer.
*In 1981, astronauts chose the round candy coated chocolates to go with them into space as part of their food rations.
*A holiday blend of special colored M & Ms were developed in the early 80's. The first blend was a mixture of red and green candies for Christmas. A mixture of pastel candies quickly followed that for Easter. Eventually, the special holiday line went on to add pink and red for Valentine's Day. You can also get black and orange for Halloween.
*Red M & Ms were brought back into the fold in 1987 when consumers demanded his return.
*In the 90's, two new flavors were developed - Peanut Butter Chocolate and Almond.
*Consumers voted to choose a new color to be added to M & Ms. Although pink and purple were considered, it was blue who took home the prize and took its place in candy history. Blue replaced the tan M&M in 1995.
*The brown bag of regular M & Ms was developed in 1948 and didn't change much over the years until 2003.
*Peanut M & Ms (all in the color brown) weren't developed until 1954.
*M & Ms slogan "the milk chocolate melts in your mouth and not in your hand" is one of the most recognizable in advertising history. (However you give a M&M to a 19th month old and this saying is definitely NOT true!)
*Red, green, and yellow colors were added to peanut M & Ms in 1960, but orange wasn't added until 1976.
*Red M & Ms were discontinued in the mid-70's because of concerns that red food coloring was connected to cancer.
*In 1981, astronauts chose the round candy coated chocolates to go with them into space as part of their food rations.
*A holiday blend of special colored M & Ms were developed in the early 80's. The first blend was a mixture of red and green candies for Christmas. A mixture of pastel candies quickly followed that for Easter. Eventually, the special holiday line went on to add pink and red for Valentine's Day. You can also get black and orange for Halloween.
*Red M & Ms were brought back into the fold in 1987 when consumers demanded his return.
*In the 90's, two new flavors were developed - Peanut Butter Chocolate and Almond.
*Consumers voted to choose a new color to be added to M & Ms. Although pink and purple were considered, it was blue who took home the prize and took its place in candy history. Blue replaced the tan M&M in 1995.
*In 1996, the M & M characters were developed and quickly became a favorite; surpassing some of the most well known icons of all time like Mickey Mouse and Bart Simpson.
*Ms Green - - the first female M & M character - - was born in 1997.
*In 1998 the M & Ms characters became self-professed spokes candies of the new Millennium since the Roman numerals MM means 2000.
*In 2001 M & Ms launched a global call for a new color to add to the M & M mix. Citizens of over 200 countries took part in the survey, which was conducted by ballot, phone, website, mail, and even on site at kiosks. The result wasn't quite unanimous, but purple edged out aqua by four percentage points to become a temporary M & M color.
*In 1998 the M & Ms characters became self-professed spokes candies of the new Millennium since the Roman numerals MM means 2000.
*In 2001 M & Ms launched a global call for a new color to add to the M & M mix. Citizens of over 200 countries took part in the survey, which was conducted by ballot, phone, website, mail, and even on site at kiosks. The result wasn't quite unanimous, but purple edged out aqua by four percentage points to become a temporary M & M color.
So, there's a little tribute to a classic candy...now, if you will excuse me, I will be going to enjoy some right now.
I LOVE that you post every day. Feels like we've chatted daily. Will miss it in March. ;(
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying your favorite things posts and I look forward to the next 12!
ReplyDeleteLucky for you that you are tall and skinny and can eat that yummy mix while watching tv and not gain 50 pounds.
My mix for the kids when they were little was choc chips, marshmellows, and raisins. Ask Dan if he remembers getting a little tupperware container with that in while watching seasame street.
ReplyDeleteI should add, the raisins were always eaten last. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI do remember getting that mix mom! I always thought that time was special...treat + TV + ugly blue chair...well ok not the ugly blue chair, but still...great memories!
ReplyDeleteM&Ms are Mike and my "spokes candy" :) Thought about using them in our wedding somehow.....but didn't.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am enjoying your daily favorites as well. And am very impressed with your stamina!