Chocolate

Fact #1: 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.

Fact #2: The brown bag of regular M & Ms was developed in 1948 and didn't change much over the years until 2003.

Fact #3: Peanut M & Ms (all in the color brown) weren't developed until 1954.

Fact #4: M & Ms slogan "the milk chocolate melts in your mouth and not in your hand" is one of the most recognizable in advertising history.

Fact #5: Red, green, and yellow colors were added to peanut M & Ms in 1960, but orange wasn't added until 1976.

Fact #6: Red M & Ms were discontinued in the mid-70's because of concerns that red food coloring was connected to cancer.

Fact #7: In 1981, astronauts chose the round candy coated chocolates to go with them into space as part of their food rations.

Fact #8: 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.

Fact #9: Red M & Ms were brought back into the fold in 1987 when consumers demanded his return.

Fact #10: In the 90's, two new flavors were developed - Peanut Butter Chocolate and Almond.

Fact #11: 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.

Fact #12: M & Ms Baking Bits were developed in the mid-90's so that bakers could use their favorite candies in their best dessert recipes. M & M Minis were also brought on board, packaged in colorful plastic tubes.

Fact #13: 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.

Fact #14: Ms Green - - the first female M & M character - - was born in 1997.

Fact #15: In 1998 the M & Ms characters became self-professed spokes candies of the new Millennium since the Roman numerals MM means 2000.

40 or so Saltine Crackers

1 cup butter (do not substitute)

1 cup brown sugar

1 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips Approx. 1/4 cup shelled walnuts or pecans, chopped ultra fine

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Line a jellyroll pan (aluminum pan with shallow sides) with aluminum foil.

Arrange saltine crackers on foil. Make sure crackers are flat, and pan is full.

Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan and boil for 3 minutes. Pour over crackers, spread with spoon to coat evenly.

Bake at 325 degrees F. for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven, pour chocolate chips over and let stand 5 minutes to melt.

Spread around with a knife or spoon, then cover with bits of chopped nuts or some kind of brickle if you so desire.

Place in refrigerator or freezer until hard. Break into bite-size or cracker-size pieces.