Peeps® Benedict

Posted on March 3, 2015 by flamingpeepsmama
Peeps casting long shadows in the early morning light.

Peeps casting long shadows in the early morning light.

The Peeps® and I were sitting around talking about the blog and they pointed out that breakfast is sorely underrepresented here. Other than Croissants du Peep, there really isn’t a good, hearty breakfast choice. So we came up with Peeps Benedict, a peepier version of the usual artery-blocking favorite. The peeps love hollandaise sauce just like everyone else on the planet. (How can you go wrong with butter, milk, and lemon — other than curdling which of course is going way wrong.) It was all I could do to keep them out of the sauce. Actually this is a problem with any recipe; the peeps love hitting the sauce. They gobble it down, bathe in it, throw it around the kitchen — one time they completely doused themselves with the stuff, after taking a few long pulls on the bottle of course, and jumped on the dog and rode him like a bronco all around the kitchen. Goodness gracious what a mess that was. It totally freaked out the poor canine of course and he’s never been able to look at the peeps without fear in his eyes since. In fact, I now keep him in another part of the house when I’m cooking with peeps. It’s just too traumatic for the poor animal.

But I digress. Peeps Benedict is an easy-peepsy recipe that I’m sure you’ll enjoy. And if you don’t, do as the peeps do and drink more sauce.

Ingredients

  • 4 pieces of Canadian bacon
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons white or rice vinegar
  • 2 English muffins
  • Butter
  • More butter
  • Peeps

Hollandaise Sauce

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Dash of cayenne pepper

Directions

Cook the bacon.

While the bacon is cooking, bring a large saucepan two-thirds-filled with water to a boil. Add the vinegar. Bring it to a boil again, then lower the heat to a simmer.

Get out the blender and throw in the egg yolks, lemon juice, and salt. Blend on medium until the eggs lighten in color. Turn the blender to lowest setting. Drizzle in the melted butter while continuing to blend. Transfer the sauce to a container you can use for pouring and set it in a warm place.

Poach the eggs. Working with one egg at a time, crack it into a small bowl and slip it into the simmering water. Once it begins to solidify, you can slip in another egg, until you have all four cooking. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let sit for 4 minutes. Gently lift out the eggs with a slotted spoon.

Toast the English muffins while the eggs are poaching.

Butter the English muffins. Top with 1 slice of Canadian bacon. Put an egg on top of the bacon. Place your peep, then pour on the hollandaise.

Not just the English Muffins are toasted in this dish.

Not just the English Muffins are toasted in this dish.

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Peeps®adore Dali Cookies

Posted on January 29, 2015 by flamingpeepsmama

’round the clock surreal Peeps®

Nothing says intellectual persuit like Peeps®. We’re a big brained bunch that’s for sure. Our latest round of discussion was on the surrealist movement’s emergence from dadaism and how it has extrapolated into modern movements such a Punk, etc. This topic resonated with the peeps because of their anarchic sensibilities. It was a lively couple of minutes in the kitchen during our regular “what’s for dinner” pow wow. We have some pretty brainy Peeps, lemme tell ya. One chick got her masters in Art History from Harvard where her focus was on color theory and her thesis was on its application to subway maps. Talk about heady stuff! She got lost in our discussion while another peep, who has grown an outrageous mustache for Movember, kept looking at the clock. Almost simultaneously my friend, Melinda, posted a holiday baking party and exchange on Facebook. The universe aligned and Peepsadore Dali Cookies were born. Kinda surreal.

Be sure to watch the cookies cool because the peeps continue to melt. It’s very fun to watch. That said, I really need to get out more.

   

Before

After
   

Before

After

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla extract
  • 2 cups oatmeal (not cooked)
  • Accoutrements such as chocolate chips, nuts, mini marshmallows (or cut up some peeps – shhh)
  • Peeps

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Line baking sheets with foil or parchment paper depending on how fancy you want to be
  • Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
  • In another bowl beat the butter with both the white and brown sugar until fluffy
  • Beat in the eggs
  • Add vanilla
  • Add flour mixture and beat until combined
  • Add in the oats and accoutrements
  • Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto the cookie sheet
  • Nestle in your peeps — one per dough glob
  • Bake 10 – 12 minutes
  • Let cookies cool (This is the best part — besides eating them that is.)

Salvadore would be proud. What time is it? Peepsadore Dali Cookie time!

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Chana Masala साथ Peeps®

Posted on January 1, 2015 by flamingpeepsmama

2 of my favorite things, bonzos and peeps. A happy meal for happy marshmallow fowl. Now maybe they’ll leave me alone for a day or two. I tell you they were totally obnoxious about doing this dish. Sometimes they have no manners at all. I mean I give them a place to live; I make them dinner (into dinner); and I don’t ask for anything in return. Ungrateful peeps.

Well, those Peeps® were kind of a pain in the butt this week bugging me and bugging me to do another Indian dish. So I’ve relented with this cunning Chana Masala recipe. (See photo — an no comments about how I need to shine my silver.) The peeps were jumping up and down with joy (okay, not literally, they don’t have legs or feet) when I told them we’d do this dish. This is a verra yummy curry with chic peas (aka garbonzo beans — at my house we call them bonzos. I just love ’em. My friend, Hannah, came up with an exceptional bonzo salad recipe with tuna and parsley that I’ll have to steal from her and share with you and the peeps). Now, you can go to the trouble of making the masala sauce yourself (see recipe below, not that hard but the kicker is finding masala. I, living in a major metropolitan area can find it at a delicious-smelling Middle Eastern market, but you may have to go online.) OR just go to Trader Joe’s® and buy a jar of masala sauce there. It’s pretty tasty. In fact, I use it all the time in mostly non-peep recipes. I like it mixed up with chicken, veggies, raisins, and nuts over rice. I’m tellin’ you, it’s quick, easy, and no peeps nagging you to jump in the sauce before it’s ready. They could melt you know. They really don’t have a very good sense of self-preservation. Peeps, go figure.

This dish is excellent for you vegetarians out there. It’s very popular in Northern India served with rice or Naan and traditionally topped with yogurt or pomegranate syrup. The latter being another toughie to find. It’s sometimes called pomegranate molasses. You can also make it yourself if you have a pomegranate tree in the back yard and tons of time. Personally, I’d rather just eat a peep.

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 4 tsps finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 serrano chiles, finely chopped. Stay away from the seeds; wash your hands well before rubbing your eyes
  • 1 – 28 oz can of whole tomatoes, or 2 – 14 oz cans, or 4 – 7 oz cans, or just a bunch from your yard cooked down
  • 2 tsps garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • Salt for seasoning to taste
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 cans bonzos, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups boiled, chopped potatoes
  • Water to get to the desired consistency
  • Peeps!
DIRECTIONS
  1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and add the cumin seeds, stirring occasionally until fragrant. If you have a cold and your sniffer isn’t working all that well, cook the seeds for about a minute. Add the ginger and chiles and season with salt. Add the garam masala, coriander, and turmeric.
  2. While the peeps are getting ready to jump in (they really do get themselves into a state), strain the tomatoes and chop into decent-sized pieces. Keep the juice.
  3. Add the chopped tomatoes and juice, bonzos, taters, and water. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan and let simmer until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency (stir occasionally) — about 10 minutes.
  4. Let the peeps have at it.
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Peeps® — not just for Easter anymore

Posted on May 21, 2014 by flamingpeepsmama

That’s right. It’s time that Peeps® came out of the candy closet and took their rightful place in the culinary world of adult beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and entrees.

Not only are they tasty, they’re funny. Nothing like funny food to perk up a meal!

Check back often for new ideas and recipes. Also, put in your order for the Peeps Cookbook, which will be published when I get around to it.

Happy Peeping!

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The Peep Show

Posted on March 31, 2013 by flamingpeepsmama

Peeps photos, note cards, and guestbook

Last night was the spectacular gallery opening of The Peep Show where photos, commentary, and recipes from the blog were shown. Peeps hors d’oeuvres (Sooz’s Weeenie Peeps® and Peeps®  B & J) were in abundance and got such accolades as, “not bad.” The artwork depicting Cheetos® Flaming Hot Chicken Peeps® sold right away and will live in the kitchen of my esthetician and her boyfriend who apparently, “almost peed” when they read the blog post the first time. Why they want to have something that makes them pee hanging in the kitchen, I don’t understand — but it takes all kinds. Plenty of people peeped in to see the display and partook of PBR and boxed wine while roaming from peep photo display to peep food item to peep guestbook, which added to the general peepishness of the evening. The show will be up for about a month and if I sell any more peep photos, I’ll let you know. The peeps themselves were beside, well, themselves, with glee (and on the plate). It was a peeptacular evening.

and I quote, "not bad."

and I quote, “not bad.”

IMG_0586

Enthusiastic crowd

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Peepsie Carne Adobo y Pollo Tacos

Posted on January 19, 2013 by flamingpeepsmama
The peeps enjoyed hanging on the platter with the salsas and limes. If it weren't for the cat calling every time a chica walked by, I would have enjoyed the meal more.

The peeps enjoyed hanging out on the platter with the salsas and limes. If it weren’t for the catcalling every time a chica walked by, I would have enjoyed the meal more.

During the short time that the Peeps® were allowed out of the suitcase in Mexico, we had a lovely al fresco lunch in a plaza in Zacatecas right across from a church. We watched the passersby as they played chase-the-children, and children played throw-the-ball-at-the-adult. A few priests joined in the fun for a few minutes before running back into the cathedral to celebrate another mass.

The Peeps had a special place in the hearts of the locals and on the condiment dish. They happily hopped into the warm tortillas to cozy up with beef adobo that my companion enjoyed while I chowed down on the chicken tacos. Sure, the Peeps were familiar with hanging out in such a fashion from their experience with Tacos del Peeps con Sombreros but this was an authentic Mexican dish — not just something some white girl in Seattle cooked up with taco shells from Safeway. The peeps got to experience true south-of-the-border cuisine and hospitality — until they got so obnoxious that they were banished to the suitcase for the rest of the trip. I warned them. Oh, yes I did. But you know peeps, they just don’t listen. They think they can run around like a bunch of banditos, shooting off their pistolas and their mouths during mass. We were there for Christmas you know and that’s a big deal in a Catholic country like Mexico. To my great embarrassment, they just couldn’t keep their peeps in their pants. I had no choice but to step in and sequester them. They tried to gain sanctuary in one of the many churches in town, but even the priests had had enough of them. As Father Inglesias said, “look, I have 7 masses a day. I don’t have time for this shit.”

My companion was cutting down on marshmallow so he only indulged in one peep with his carne adobo.

My companion was cutting down on marshmallow so he only indulged in one peep with his carne adobo.

My pollo tacos were even sweeter tasting for the peeps. They'd roll in various salsas and then jump into the tortilla with a big splash.

My pollo tacos were even sweeter tasting for the peeps. They’d roll in various salsas and then jump into the tortilla with a big splash.

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Peeps®-i-can Christmas

Posted on January 5, 2013 by flamingpeepsmama
Peeps participating in the Mexican Christmas tradition.

Peeps in the traditional Christmas creche. (I swear there was one of these on every block.) This particular peep was hoping to be promoted to the empty spot in the crib.

The peeps® had been displaying signs of stress lately so for Christmas vacation we went to Mexico in hopes of chilling in the sunshine. We didn’t do the all-inclusive, drinking-on-the-beach Mexico, but instead we headed for the highlands. In Zacatecas (north of Mexico City) we were the only tourists. This was a great opportunity for the peeps to participate in the local culture and try local recipes. Sure, they were familiar with tacos (see the post, “Tacos del Peeps con Sombreros“) but that was the American version of Mexican food invented by me (with peep input of course). I’m Irish so there is no way that my peeps tacos were nearly as authentic as the Mexican peeps tacos that will be recipe-ized in the next post.

Whilst we were south of the border, the peeps got down and festive with the local color and traditions. Christmas is a big deal in Mexico and the peeps embraced the goings on with enthusiasm — so much so that I kept them in the luggage for the rest of the trip because they were so obnoxious. I couldn’t take a picture without them jumping in front of the lens. IMG_0473Now don’t get me wrong, I applaud their enthusiasm joining the other animals in the nativity scenes; sitting with Santa when we spotted him having coffee in a local restaurant;

We were walking down the street and who should be having a coffee at a Greek restaurant but Santa! The peeps were thrilled and took turn sitting with him discussing Nietzsche.

We were walking down the street and who should be having a coffee at a Greek restaurant but Santa! The peeps were thrilled and took turns sitting with him discussing Nietzsche.

going on the tour bus to see the sites

Peep-a-boo! Tour bus ride through Zacatecas.

Peep-a-boo! Tour bus ride through Zacatecas.

— but I was on vacation too you know. I didn’t want to have to spend my entire trip apologizing for their behavior. “Lo siento, mi peeps son locos” gets old quickly.

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Peeps® on the Edge

Posted on March 17, 2012 by flamingpeepsmama

Jousting in the microwave -- the ancient Peep right for honor maintenance

Peep jousting is an ancient Peep right of passage.

I’m sad to say that we’ve had a battle between Peeps® here at Peepscookbook.com. The yellow Peeps claim their supremacy over all other colors for they believe that because they were the first, they are the best and only true Peep. The pink Peeps are sure that because they are much cuter and compliment people’s skin color that they have more credibility than the yellow because of their good deeds toward mankind. Yellow and Pink Peeps decided that the only logical and Peeply way to settle this was to joust in the microwave. It was Peeply honor at stake. Peep-o a Peep-o.

It was a sad and grisly sight as you shall see if you watch the video (Peep jousting link above). The loser couldn’t maintain any sort of composure and got too big for his britches and in the end went insane and lost his identity. The winner got a fat head over the outcome. Overall, it was a tragic and pointless loss of Peep…and the whole thing made the kitchen smell like Peep death. Cleaning the microwave of burnt Peep wasn’t any fun either lemme tell ya. Who knew Peeps were so prideful and stupid! I have to say that I no longer have any liberal Peep guilt about baking them into food. They obviously don’t have any concern for Peep life. Lousy Peeps.

A tragic loss of Peep life and a nasty mess to clean up.

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French Peeps® Pix from Portland

Posted on March 7, 2012 by flamingpeepsmama

My cousin posted this most excellent photo to my Facebook wall as the French version of my Medieval Peeps® on a Pike recipe. Although I think these Peeps would be for more of a savory dish than a sweet, I’m most impressed that she not only has Peeps lying around but also her command of Peeps history. I appreciate the staging and the Madam Lafarge contingent in the foreground. All that’s missing are some knitting needles. When we were reading “A Tale of Two Cities” in high school my English teacher said that the women knitting at the guillotine while watching the carnage were a symbol of the weaving of one’s fate. But I didn’t buy it. Maybe Madam Lafarge wasn’t some wizened old skank, but a hot babe that needed some personal hygiene tips. Maybe she was knitting baby booties or a nice scarf for the cold winter months. She was obviously an awesome multitasker. I routinely check my email when I’m watching TV but that doesn’t make me a symbol of the decline of western civilization does it? Okay, bad example. But when it comes to literary criticism sometimes people go too far. Let’s say there is a duck in a story. Most of the time a duck is a symbol for fascistic imperialism, but sometimes it’s just a duck…or more appropriately, a Peep.

Anyway – good job Cuz!

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