Saturday, April 08, 2006
Marshmallow Peeps...
Well, you may think that this doesn't have anything to do with child care, but bear with me... Since Easter is quickly approaching I thought I's take the time today to talk about an Easter holiday tradition... The marshmallow peep... You know, those little colored marshmallow chicks (and other shapes). Those things that you used to eat on Easter morning when you were a kid. Admit it... I know you did.
What is it about Peeps that inspires such passion? Is it their expressions, as winsome as a kitten offering you its paw? Maybe. But hollow chocolate rabbits are cute, too, and nobody writes loving odes to them. Is it their long-standing association with Easter? Perhaps; the Just Born company has been putting Peeps in Easter baskets since 1953. But Cadbury eggs have the holiday-icon thing going on too, and nobody builds little dioramas for them to live in.
Maybe it's the pure sugar rush that ensues five seconds after you pop a Peep in your mouth. Some folks find it blissful; others shudder in disgust at the mere thought. Arguably, though, those marshmallow Circus Peanuts provide the same result. And, safe to say, nobody devotes parody sites to them. (Well, almost nobody.)
No, Peeps are special. They have even become a symbol of protest here in Minnesota. I find the whole Peeps phenomenon slightly crazy, but hilarious... (remember "crazy" is one of those personal traits that is beneficial to a child care professional.) So to tie it all together, here are some crafts, activities, recipes, and more to do a Peep theme in your child care. The kids will love it!
Well, you may think that this doesn't have anything to do with child care, but bear with me... Since Easter is quickly approaching I thought I's take the time today to talk about an Easter holiday tradition... The marshmallow peep... You know, those little colored marshmallow chicks (and other shapes). Those things that you used to eat on Easter morning when you were a kid. Admit it... I know you did.Here are some interesting facts about Peeps...
- It takes six minutes to make a Peep.
- In 1953, it took 27 hours to make a Peep; the recipe required new Peeps to sit overnight. Then, Peeps were squeezed out of a pastry tube one at a time and the eyes were painted by hand. Now modern technology can make 3,500 Peep eyes per minute.
- One urban myth about Peeps is that their black-dot eyes are made of tar. Not true. They are made of wax.
- As many as 2-million Peeps a day roll off the conveyor belts at Just Born Inc.
- About 30 percent of Peep eaters like them stale, though Just Born wraps Peeps within six minutes to keep them fresh.
- Some people freeze Peeps. Some microwave them. Or roast them. There are those who use Peeps as pizza topping.
- Each Peep has 32 calories and is fat-free. A five-chick serving is 160 calories and a jolting 36 grams of sugar.
- Employee Candy Madea is Peeps' eye inspector. Peeps with missing or mislocated eyes are melted down. Rest in Peeps.
What is it about Peeps that inspires such passion? Is it their expressions, as winsome as a kitten offering you its paw? Maybe. But hollow chocolate rabbits are cute, too, and nobody writes loving odes to them. Is it their long-standing association with Easter? Perhaps; the Just Born company has been putting Peeps in Easter baskets since 1953. But Cadbury eggs have the holiday-icon thing going on too, and nobody builds little dioramas for them to live in.
Maybe it's the pure sugar rush that ensues five seconds after you pop a Peep in your mouth. Some folks find it blissful; others shudder in disgust at the mere thought. Arguably, though, those marshmallow Circus Peanuts provide the same result. And, safe to say, nobody devotes parody sites to them. (Well, almost nobody.)
No, Peeps are special. They have even become a symbol of protest here in Minnesota. I find the whole Peeps phenomenon slightly crazy, but hilarious... (remember "crazy" is one of those personal traits that is beneficial to a child care professional.) So to tie it all together, here are some crafts, activities, recipes, and more to do a Peep theme in your child care. The kids will love it!
- The official website has recipes, crafts, and even a fan club.
- Peep Easter crafts and printables.
- ChildFun has some great Peep craft ideas.
- Make your own Peeps (well, graphics, anyway)
- Marshmallow Peeps Sing-Along Kids' CD
- Send a Peep Greeting Card
- Easter Crafts for Kids
- Eggs-ellent Easter Crafts
- Peeps Karaoke
- Make a Fuzzy Easter Peep (craft project)
- Easter Island (Cute kids story, some peeps mention.)
- The Peeps
- Peeps and Poems
- The Peeps Page
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 6:43 AM 
