What is a Pennsylvania steel town to do when its major industry and source of revenue begins to wane? Invent a creative marshmallow confection and market it for any time of year of course!
I was first introduced to Peeps (link to company website here), a wonderful treat still made in Bethlehem, PA, by my mother as a child. Every Easter several boxes of the cute little marshmallow chicks extruded from a machine and dusted in yellow sugar would rest in my sister and my Easter baskets. They were delicious as is or plopped in a cup of hot chocolate.
Today, Peeps come in all shapes and are marketed to excited connoiseurs for any time of year.
While doing some holiday shopping I found a new wonderful treat: Gingerbread Peeps. Excited to try a box, I took them home to sample.
On a plate and microwaved for 5-7 seconds, they are absolutely wonderful. A distinct flavor reminiscent of pumpkin spice combines with the molten marshmallow for a heavenly combination. Have a wonderful start to the holiday season and don't forget to pick up a few holiday Peeps to enjoy!
-The Food Pope
As we rapidly approach the holidays, I enjoy sampling the range of wonderful flavors associated with the season. One unique delicacy that I didn't like for the majority of my childhood is fruitcake. While perusing the holiday aisle at Wally World last week, I found a small section that contained Claxton Fruitcake (link to company website here). I had never tried one before, and was curious if the $2.69 would be money well spent. It certainly was!
Rich pieces of candied fruit adorn a lovely mixture containing pecans, walnuts, and what appears to be fairly traditional bread dough. If you're looking for a unique treat to enjoy this holiday season, I'd recommend seeking out a tasty fruitcake that combines the flavors of yesteryear. You might just find that your tastebuds take a trip back to a simpler time when fruitcake was a rich and flavorful delicacy containing all manner of wonderful hard-to-find ingredients that are commonplace in modern times. Even if they don't, a slice of fruitcake is absolutely divine with a strong cup of coffee or tea.
