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Fluffernutter Wars Rage in Massachusetts
Thanks to alert food fan Ezra Ball for informing us about the key school lunch reform issue of the day--should kids in Massachusetts be served Fluffernutter sandwiches at school ? And--a prime legislative issue-- should said sandwich be named the state's official one?
State senator Jarrett Barrios has called for legislation limiting the serving of Marshmallow Fluff and peanut butter sandwiches to schoolkids to once a week. This bizarre icky-sweet combo, traditionally served on Wonderbread or an equivalent non-bread, is a Massachusetts kiddie staple. Fluff is made from corn syrup, sugar syrup, vanilla and egg whites, with no preservatives, evidently. And it's still produced in Lynn, Massachusetts by Durkee-Mower Inc. The company's history is longish and detailed and reading some of it sparked a memory in Foodie of her actual young self scooping out Fluff from the jar and eating it on top of a scoop of chocolate ice cream....and licking the spoon, with catlike thoroughness. ( She had Massachusetts relations who plied her with the stuff...It was delish, come to think of it.)
Anyway, now another state rep, Kathi-Anne Reinstein, wants to make the Fluffernutter the state sandwich. Stay tuned.
As for actual marshmallows, those melting gooey divine glops of sugar integral to the S'mores beloved of campers, they once were derived from a plant. The marsh mallow's mucilaginous content was used to hold the sugar and eggwhite together--these days gelatin made from animal bones does the trick, though we don't think gelatin is a factor in M. Fluff.
"non bread" - I love it! The phrase that is, not the actual substance. I have never had the experience of Fluff, for which I am grateful, and I suppose not having tasted it (does it have a taste, or is it merely sweet?), and not even coming from your country, I should not be judgemental, but I think it is a sad day if the legislature endorses something like this, considering the obesity/diabetes problems today.
Posted by: The Old Foodie | June 21, 2006 at 09:45 PM
Fluff ( as recalled from years ago) was a hit for me because of its pure vanilla flavor, its cousinly connection to meringue, and its ultra glossy white paint out-of-the-can gleam.
As for the legislature, I am just glad I live in New Mexico where the superlative biscochito is the state cookie ( not part of any school lunch program) and the state question is "Red or green?"
The latter, O.F., refers to a choice of red chile sauce or green chile sauce at local restaurants, just in case you haven't visited NM as yet.
Posted by: foodie | June 22, 2006 at 05:57 AM
Never tried a fluffernutter sandwich, but it does sound good. I have to agree that it maybe isn't the best idea for school lunches though. Thanks for the post.
Posted by: Chocoholic | June 22, 2006 at 10:02 AM
what the hell is a fluffernutter? I know what a nutter is ( someone who "invents" something called fluffernutter?
Rose
PS. I only read the first line of the blog and got annoyed
Posted by: Rose | June 23, 2006 at 01:33 PM
Hey, Rose! It's a marshmallow creme and peanut butter sandwich on lousy white bread...tra la.
Posted by: foodie | June 23, 2006 at 03:03 PM
Yech and double yech.
Posted by: Rose | June 24, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Very interestingly GROSS!!!!!!!!
Posted by: claire | June 25, 2006 at 02:08 PM
So, all the kerfluffle about fluff has brought it to the forefront of Somerville civic pride in the last few months, and now, a local civic organization is staging a celebration of fluff.
http://unionsquaremain.org/committees/Special%20Events/fluff%20alt.html
Posted by: Ezra | September 20, 2006 at 12:46 PM
Will you be there, Ezra? We want a full report!
Posted by: foodie | September 21, 2006 at 08:06 AM