The best thing to come out of America...

Close to two years ago, I started working in Melbourne’s CBD. Not long after that, I visited the Sugar Shack at Southern Cross Station. The Sugar Shack is exactly what it sounds like – a little shop full to bursting of everything a dentist fears and more. Pick and mix, chocolate bars, choc coated coffee beans, cans of exotic sounding drinks and imported sweets, toffee and other filling extracting niceties. But the most exciting discovery I made on my visit so long ago, was Peanut Butter M and Ms.

I am a big fan of M and Ms. Australian varieties – plain, peanut, crispy and mixed up (although I notice you can now get mint and jaffa!) – are great and were definately in my top 5 candies, until I met Peanut Butter M and Ms. Now, I don’t even like Peanut Butter, so I have no idea what inspired me to buy these little bite sized pieces of heaven to start with, but once you have them, you will forever wonder why something so good isn’t available freely in Australia.

At $2.60 for a 50g bag, the imported candy is on the expensive side, but definitely worth the investment. Shortly after my first time (and in the early stages of addiction), I contacted Masterfoods, (the lords of M and Ms) to enquire as to why this variety was not for sale in Australia. Apparently one ingredient isn’t available here, and they have no plans to manufacture the Peanut Butter variety in Australia.

Words could not express my disappointment. My addiction was up to several bags a week, and although the walk to the Sugar Shack could compensate a little, I’m quite sure that calories consumed was outweighing energy expended. So I quit cold turkey. I cut off my daily expedition to the city and avoided the Sugar Shack… until months later I attended a BBQ with an international visitor, who had bought the biggest bag of Peanut Butter M and Ms from the States to the party I have ever seen.

And here we are, two years after my first time and it doesn’t get easier.
This week I bought a big bag off eBay from a store in Brisbane. An intervention might be needed to save my arteries and my wallet. But in the meantime, try this recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies. The cookie dough somewhat resembles Peanut Butter M and Ms – and if you find you still need your fix, email Masterfoods. Surely if they receive enough emails we can get Peanut Butter M and Ms in Oz!

Peanut Butter and Choc Chip Cookies
1 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Dark Choc Chips
1 tsp bi-carb soda1 egg, lightly beaten

Mix the Peaunut Butter, Brown Sugar and bicarb soda. Add the egg, and finally the choc chips. The mix will be very sticky! Use a teaspoon to create balls, put these on a greased baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in a 180 degree over for 8-10 mins until slightly browned.

If you find you still need the real thing, try

LollyworldShop 3/6 Ebert Parade
Lawton, Brisbane
http://www.lollywood.com.au/
07 3285 6559

Or the Sugar Shack at Southern Cross Station, Melbourne City!