One of my favorite things about Spring...
PEEPS !!!
"an illustrated guide on how to enjoy them for fun or profit"
(or, Lisa had too much time on her hands today)
I eagerly await the arrival of Spring Equinox each year so that I can rush down to my local market and find those glorious, sweet, oh so reminiscent of my childhood treats... PEEPS!!!
Peeps are a trip down memory lane. They are a tradition; otherwise, no one would buy the silly things. Fresh out of the package they are nothing to write home about. Soft, gooey and flavorless. They don't quite melt in your mouth, but there is no real texture to them either... YAWN!!!
But, let Peeps get stale for a few days or weeks (providing you can keep pets, ants, siblings and parents away) and you have an interesting, tasty treat, Crunchy on the outside, and gooey on the inside.
Fast forward from my childhood in the late 60s, to the new Millennium. Not only do we no longer have parents telling us not to eat so much sugar (the snugness of my jeans and diminished athletic performance do that for me) but we now have MICROWAVE OVENS (yes... I am THAT old, I remember a time when there were no microwave ovens. I believe we got our first one when I was in high school.)
In this hectic fast paced world of balancing: job, social life, volunteer work, music and athletics I have found the way to "instant bliss" (well, make that "instant staleness")
Put a Peep in the microwave for 20 seconds or so and not only do you have a treat that's crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside and fun to eat, but also good, wholesome family entertainment (and a chance to win money from your freinds)!!!
Yes, that's right folks. I am so easily amused that Peeps can be the highlight of my tedious day. (heck, they figured prominently at a party just last night)
So... Without further Ado...
FUN AND PROFIT MICROWAVING MARSHMALLOW PEEPS !!!
Here is our first "subject" eagerly awaiting his (or her) chance at fame on the internet. "Subject A" is shown resting on a non-metallic, microwave safe, disposable surface made of pulverized wood products. This is to ensure that there is no fire or explosion.
After a mere 20 seconds in the microwave, "Subject A" has undergone metamorphosis into the above mentioned tasty treat.
It is important to let the Peep cool for a few moments before digging into it with your grubby paws (or heaven forbid, licking it) I have yet to find anything in this world as hot and tenaciously sticky as one of these puppies after half a minute in a microwave (not even cheese on a fresh from the oven pizza against the roof of your mouth)
If you have a group of kids (say, pre-adolescent girls from the fast pitch team you coach) you can purchase Peeps in a variety of festive colors including: Pink, Yellow, Purple and Blue so that each kid can have their own and watch it blow up to the size of a softball before it implodes. Then, while they are scrambling to eat their Peep before it hardens into a cement like substance, they can yell... "HEY!!! You just ate a piece of my Peep's butt; Yours is BLUE"
Once the newness of "Peep Nuking" has worn off, one can arrange "jousting matches" and bet on the outcomes. It's a good idea to use Peeps of different colors; as once they spin around a few times and start to bloat, they are difficult to tell apart. (I would have done that for this demonstration, but I already ate all of my purple ones)
Once again, it is important to use toothpicks, plastic straws, bamboo skewers, plant stakes or non-metallic implements of destruction
The first peep to get stabbed and blow up looses...
Ooooh. It doesn't look like it went well for either of these contestants
You be the judge... Who goes home the victor and who's just a snack?
for those who are totally fascinated (or are really bored) here is more information and serious "Peep research"
http://www.peepresearch.org/index.html
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/03/18/funny-pictures-peep-show/
http://newsnet.byu.edu/print/story.cfm/43791
http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/
and the classic "Peep Henge"
http://www.lordofthepeeps.com/peephenge/peephenge.html
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