Market Basket
M&M take on colors of the rainbow

By Joan Namkoong
Advertiser Food Editor

M&M candies now come in – count 'em – 21 colors, ranging from intense primaries to delicate pastels. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Richer butter bites

Challenge has introduced a new "European-style" butter now available in Island supermarkets. With more butterfat — 83 per cent versus 80 percent in their regular butter — this butter has a creamier taste and more velvety texture. You'll have to taste it alongside regular butter to perceive the difference but it is there. This European-style butter is similar to Keller's (formerly Plugra) with 82 per cent butter fat, which has been used in restaurant kitchens for years. Chefs claim it makes pastries flakier and sauces smoother and richer. Look for Challenge European Style butter in supermarkets in the butter section; Keller's can be found at R. Field at Foodland Beretania ($5.99/pound), and at Strawberry Connection; another butter available at R. Field is the Beurre D'Isigny from Normandy, France ($6.99 for about a half pound).

Always refrigerate butter and keep it well wrapped to protect its delicate flavor. If you can't use butter right away, freeze it up to four months. I often do this with these pricier butters that I serve with bread rather than use in cooking. Unsalted butters, especially, are more perishable, so freezing is a good idea; thaw in refrigerator before using. To soften butter from the refrigerator, microwave a stick for 20 seconds (count those seconds!).

Cookie changes color

Just what every kid wants: an opportunity to play with their food. At least that's what the manufacturers of Oreo cookies think. Kraft Foods is introducing Milk Changer Oreo, a chocolate sandwich cookie filled with orange creme that changes the color of milk as it is dunked. The more you dunk the cookie, the more pink the milk gets. The red coloring is in the chocolate cookie itself so you have to like soggy cookies for this fun to take place. It's a limited edition batch of cookies so have some fun while you can. Available in supermarkets statewide.

Send shopping queries and new product information to: Market Basket, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Fax: 525-8055. E-mail: jnamkoong@honoluluadvertiser.com. Or call: 525-8069.