For many people, spring means the snow melting and flowers blooming. For some, we know what spring really means: PEEPS®.
Sure, this delicious marshmallow treat pops up year-round now, but we
all remember the chicks and bunnies that always appeared on the shelves
in the grocery stores during the spring.
Before we get started, you have to learn the facts! Here’s some PEEPS history.
PEEPS are produced by Just Born, a candy manufacturer in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Original PEEPS were formed by hand, but in 1954, machines were used to
mass-produce them. The original PEEPS were yellow chicks, hence their
name. During the 1960s, other seasonal marshmallow treats were created
including holiday trees, snowmen and Halloween pumpkins and cats.
Today, PEEPS come in a variety of forms for various holidays and even
in different flavors (vanilla, cocoa and gingerbread cookie).
Now some fun facts.
In the early 1950s, it took 27 hours to make one – yes, one – PEEPS chick. Today, only six minutes.
How many PEEPS bunnies does it take to circle the moon - 172 million!
We
were serious when we said that PEEPS are a sign of spring. The number
of PEEPS chicks and bunnies eaten at Easter could more than circle
Earth. (That’s nearly 30,000 miles at the Equator…or a whole lot of
marshmallow!)
While
many of us enjoy eating PEEPS straight out of their packages (or even
letting them get stale first), the treats can also be used in a variety
of recipes. In fact, Brian Beecher and Crystal Carlsberg used PEEPS in
their award-winning dessert grilled cheese sandwich, the “Cake and
Mivens,” which won the 2008 Grilled Cheese Invitational in Los Angeles.
If you’re not ready to add some PEEPS to your grilled cheese, we have a simple recipe for you!
Orange Chantilly Cream-filled Oranges
What You Need
PEEPS Orange Marshmallow Chicks
10 large navel oranges
4 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
2 1/4 teaspoons orange extract
1 mint sprig (optional)
Get Cooking
Cut a thin slice of the rind off the bottom of each orange so it sits flat.
Cut
off the top 1/3 of each orange and with a grapefruit spoon, scoop out
pulp. Then place the oranges “top down” onto paper towels to drain.
Remove the membrane from orange pulp and set the pulp aside for later
use.
In
a mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Next, add
confectioners’ sugar and extract, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat
in orange juice and fold in saved orange pulp.
Spoon
filling into orange shells. Cover and refrigerate until serving. When
it’s time to serve, top each treat with a PEEPS Orange Marshmallow
Chick and a sprig of mint.
You can also use PEEPS as decorations for cakes and cupcakes, and you can even top off your hot chocolate, too.
No matter how you eat it, you know there will always be a special one for you!
More information on PEEPS can be found at www.marshmallowPEEPS.com.
Source: Camelback Toyota-Scion Times