Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Peeps in the Snow

Click on any photo to enlarge.


Peeps resting on tree branches
When Easter comes early and winter stays late there can be an overlap between snow and Peeps®.

Peeps are a marshmallow-based food form, traditionally shaped to look (sort of look) like baby chickens. From the official description "The wonderful combination of sweet colored sugar and fluffy marshmallow creates an unforgettable taste experience. PEEPS® Brand Marshmallow Candies are made by Just Born, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, a family-owned candy manufacturer."

According to the website [http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com] an average of 5.5 million Peeps are born each day. But the reality is some days more Peeps are made than others, as Peeps are a seasonal treat, available only during the weeks running up to Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

Peeps perched on picket fence
The original, yellow-colored Easter Peeps have been with us for more than 90 years. Innovations include different colors and chocolate-dipped.

Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Gelatin, Contains less than 0.5% of the following ingredients: Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Yellow #5, Carnauba Wax.

Peeps are gluten free, but because of the gelatin content Peeps are not kosher, halal or vegan. The carnauba wax is used to make the eye dots.

Red-colored Peeps use Red #3, blue use Blue #1, and purple uses red and blue together. Peeps will not dissolve in water, but the coloring will seep off if they get wet. Shelf-life is a year or two.  

Nutrient Content: Five Peep chicks deliver 140 calories, of which 136 come from 34 grams of sugar (from sugar and corn syrup). The animal-sourced gelatin, there to hold everything together, contributes one gram of protein. Peeps are smaller than they used to be. Not many years ago a package of five was 160 calories, and 99 cents at that. Price up, amount per package down.

Peeps mob the bird feeder
Sacramento, CA used to be the site of an annual Peeps eating contest. Rules were how many in thirty minutes, then a five minute wait to see if the contestants threw up. Many contestants could get to 20, a few over 40...and yes, many vomited before the contest ended or shortly thereafter. 

Don't try this at home. Or anywhere else. Forty Peeps is a bit under two-thirds of a pound of sugar.

No Peeps were harmed in the process of this photo shoot.

Snow Falling on Cedars (with Peeps)

See www.maynardlifeoutdoors.com for other articles. Most pertain to local (Maynard, MA) history, but some cover health issues or observations on nature. Check out Article Directory by Category at the top of the page. For light reading pleasure, consider: "Must be Willing to Eat Bitterness (Nov 2011) or "Thoreau on Walking" (Dec 2011). Or the all-time most often viewed "Calories in Human Blood" (Sept 2010).


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