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Friday, March 21, 2008

I Have an Easter Question for You

I did not grow up celebrating Easter. For those of you who did, I bet you do not realize what a total bummer it is to be five or six years old and wake up in the morning and NOT find a behemoth Easter basket full of treats behind the sofa. It is probably one of the most disappointing things that can happen to someone under the age of 10.

So now I am kind of obsessed with Peeps. But when I ask other people if they will be eating Peeps as part of their Easter basket extravaganza, they look at me as if I just told them I am going to eat a bowl of mud.

So here's what I want to know: What's wrong with Peeps? (Did you know that a box of five little Peeps is considered to be one serving and only 140 calories?)

Is there a secret something about Peeps that I don't know? Don't get me wrong. I am going to eat real Easter candy, too. Oh, I did just discover the deliciousness that is the Reese's Peanut Butter Egg. OMG, omg.

Look how cute these Peeps are. You can even make a rainbow with them. I don't understand what the anti-Peep attitude is all about.

PS. For those of you who would be interested in an alternative explanation of Easter, be sure to watch this. (Disclaimer: But don't watch the clip if you don't like fabulous transvestite comedians who are truly brilliant and make fun of stuff so then this might be considered offensive.)

UPDATE 3/21, 3:27pm: I have just returned from a late lunch to find a lovely Easter basket on my desk. Not only does it contain Peeps, it also has Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, an Almond Joy Egg, a Cadbury Mini Eggs, two bottles of pretty nail polish, two rolly lipglosses (the 7os kind) a pencil, some body lotion and a pad of heart-shaped paper! Whew! What a haul!

Someone at work is reading my blog.

I think I know who that special someone is. Thank you, Easter Bunny!

Peeps on Parade thanks to PhoenixFeatherPhotos.

21 comments:

msHedgehog March 21, 2008 at 10:13 AM  

We always got chocolate eggs, allegedly laid in fancy hats by the highly implausible egg-laying bunny.

I was vaguely aware that religious people celebrated Easter too, but it never occurred to me that they would think my spring holiday was any of their business, or that I would be interested in theirs. At least I didn't think the Easter Bunny was actually real.

tangobaby March 21, 2008 at 10:44 AM  

Wow. I did not know about the fancy hats. Here, you get a plastic basket filled with plastic green grass.

I have a slight recollection that I might have actually believed in the Easter Bunny for a while, but the disappointment comes from the fact that the Easter Bunny did not believe in *me*, or at least did not know how to get into my house to leave me candy.

Psyche March 21, 2008 at 11:03 AM  

What on earth is a peep? Whatever it is, we don't have them in the UK. We do have these (which are evil) and these (which are yummy), both of which start appearing in the shops just after Christmas.

tangobaby March 21, 2008 at 11:14 AM  

Hi Psyche,

A Peep is a marshmallow shaped like a chick. It is a marshallow coated in neon colored sugar, traditionally yellow but now Peeps are also available in hot pink, bright blue, electric green and crazy purple. They also make Peep bunnies, but I don't know if they can truly be called Peeps.

I have a love/hate relationship with the original Cadbury egg. Because they were released to the world at large during the time in my life when I was Easter-basketless, I have always coveted them. But when you actually eat one, you realize that they are pretty disgusting. I will look for the Cadbury mini eggs, though. They don't seem to be filled with sludge.

Easter candy after Christmas?!! And I thought we jumped the gun over here. Goodness gracious.

;-)

studio wellspring March 21, 2008 at 12:02 PM  

i never got a plastic basket filled with plastic grass. my mom {err, i mean easter bunny} was way into the alternative & useful baskets ~ real wicker with ribbons weaved into the handles, or painted tin buckets, or flower pots, stuffed with rafia-type grass or fluffy fabrics or fake flower petals. somehow the easter bunny snuck our baskets down beside our beds while we were sleeping so that when we woke up they were right there to get us all giddy from the get-go. and we never woke up and caught her doing it. {same with the tooth fairy, now that i think of it.} it was like a miracle surprise.
but we never had peeps in our baskets. i've tried them but am not too fond, because for me it's just too much boring sugar in one mouthful. ditto for cadbury eggs. but those reese's eggs are my new ultimate fave easter candy for sures! thanks for sharing yours with me sweetpea!

Elizabeth Brinton March 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM  

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/living1179/2.html

America's Next Top Peep, from the Seattle Times Peep's contest. You just have to see it...

Elizabeth Brinton March 21, 2008 at 1:00 PM  

Remeber when we used to work during the week?

tangobaby March 21, 2008 at 1:09 PM  

Hi Ms. Wellspring,

I'm glad your mom was such a creative Easter bunny. Obviously you have inherited her talents! I think her baskets sound lovely. No wonder you were excited to get them.

I do have to say that I had an exceptional Tooth Fairy. Our Tooth Fairy made me a tiny velvet envelope to put my tooth in for under my pillow, and she always sprinkled Fairy Dust (aka glitter) on my cheeks so when I woke up in the morning, I knew she was there--aside from the money I got for the tooth.

I think the Reese's Eggs may become as iconic for me as Thin Mints, another seasonal delight.

Hi Elizabeth,

First, that link is hilarious. I am already spreading the joy at work, compliments of you. The little Easter bunnies at their desks are smiling.

And second, as I mentioned, I am spreading the joy here at work, which means that YOU are helping me NOT work. But I won't tell on you.

Happy Peep Day.

paris parfait March 21, 2008 at 1:37 PM  

Well I always thought Peeps were a bit too sugary and sweet - but they do photograph very well! :) Cute video. Happy spring and Happy Easter!

tangobaby March 21, 2008 at 1:44 PM  

Hi Paris Parfait,

Well, I did just eat a stale Peep from yesterday and I don't think they are as bad as some other candy out there.

The more I think about Peeps, the more I think they belong in the "Things I Never Had But Always Wanted" category, which included an Easy-Bake Oven, an Etch-a-Sketch, and the giant Barbie head that came with makeup that you could put on the head and do its hair.

When you "grow up" and try to experience those things later in life, they are not as good as your childhood dreams. For instance, I am very bad at the Etch-a-Sketch now. But, on the other hand, I did end up becoming a professional makeup artist which I attribute directly to not having the giant Barbie head.

I think the sugar from the Peep is really making me write like a crazy person. I'll stop for now.

Joyeuses Pâques!

Red Shoes March 21, 2008 at 2:28 PM  

Tangobaby, you simply must microwave your next Peep. I'm not joking. Pop it in the microwave and set the thing for oh, thirty seconds or a minute. But here's the kicker: you must stay there and watch while it microwaves. Watch carefully.

tangocherie March 21, 2008 at 2:32 PM  

Hey you guys, I can top your Peeps Tales with my childhood experiences of not only having the Easter Bunny hide colored eggs and candy, but several years, leaving me a real live bunny rabbit!

But then I'm older than you peeps.

Happy Autumn for those of you down here below the Equator!

tangobaby March 21, 2008 at 3:39 PM  

Dear Red Shoes,

You know I am totally going home to do that. I got a stockpile of Peeps yesterday for me and The Boy. I'll let him pick out what color to nuke first. Or maybe we'll do one of each!

I feel like this would be something that I might have to take a picture of. Thanks for the tip!

Hola Tangocherie,

You were a very lucky little girl! I'm glad your Easters were so exciting.

b March 21, 2008 at 4:03 PM  

In my many years I have never had a year without Easter nor a basket without Peeps. They are great, I don't know who your friends are, but c'mon!

Uh oh, I wonder who's going to bring me a basket down here in BA...

tangobaby March 21, 2008 at 4:16 PM  

b,

I know, it's sad to see the Peep Discrimination that goes on here. I haven't quizzed everyone in SF, but most of the people here at work will not touch a Peep.

I think there are probably several tangueras who would love to make you a tango Easter basket, but you have to let them know your wish ahead of time so they can prepare one. I don't know if you will get any Peeps, but I can save some of mine for you for when you get home.

Psyche March 21, 2008 at 5:57 PM  

Yes, creme eggs are just evil. But mini eggs are lovely, basically just Cadburys in capsule form.

Neither of them can hold a candle to the new Easter choc of choice - the Lindt bunny. Not only are they delicious, they come with tiny bells round their necks, and in several different sizes, so you can create a bunny family.

As for the earliness of the chocolate - what can I say? We really, really don't care about Easter. It's just a pair of bank holidays for us, with added chocolate. We really don't have any 'easter bunny' type myths any more. So we don't need any kind of excuse to eat mini eggs!

Psyche March 21, 2008 at 5:57 PM  

Oh - and you had the best tooth fairy *ever*! Serious points to your parents for that.

ModernTanguera March 21, 2008 at 7:06 PM  

I never really liked peeps ... I don't hate on them, but they're just too much sugar and not quite the right taste. (If I want lots of sugar, I'd rather just have a regular marshmallow!) When I was a kid we never had big Easter baskets, but my mom was a chocolate fiend who made sure we had the best part: a dark chocolate Easter bunny. yummmm. That plus the colored eggs for hunting were good enough for me. :D

tangobaby March 22, 2008 at 8:01 AM  

Hi Psyche,

I will tell my mom you said that about the Tooth Fairy. That will make her very happy.

Hello Modern Tanguera,

Dark chocolate bunnies have to be WAY more delicious than milk chocolate bunnies. I am with your mom on that. I hope you are a chocolate fiend now, too. I forgot about the Easter Egg hunt! I should try to find one tomorrow. ;-)

Debbi March 22, 2008 at 10:07 AM  

Ahhhh.... memories!
I actually severely dislike peeps. They make my teeth itch they are so sweet. And I have never liked marshmallow... no fluffernutter sandwiches for me!
I do remember that our easter baskets were like our stockings. We put them out each year for the Easter bunny to fill. My mom saw no sense in buying new baskets every year when we had perfectly good ones to use. heh heh heh.
And now in my old age, I can't enjoy the candy of the season as I can't eat chocolate (dairy=unhappy Debbi). But I remember as a kid buying that Cadbury egg every year in CVS when they first came out, hoping against hope that THIS year they would taste as good as I thought they should. They never did.
And I am DYING to know what happens to microwaved peeps!?!?!? Is there some sort of burnt sugar shrinky-dink fun that happens??? Please share!!

And yea you on your secret bunny haul!! Sounds like someone is a secret fan of yours! :-)

AlexTangoFuego March 22, 2008 at 7:11 PM  

My favorites were always Elmer's Gold Brick Eggs. I don't think the make them anymore, but they were really creamy milk chocolate with a few (not too many) nuts in them.

As for peeps, for me they are just too strange for me. I watched a TV special once, I think on 60 Minutes or something, where they took you through the whole manufacturing process. I'll try to find it.

Happy Easter, baby....