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August 01, 2006

200 Years and Counting

And the few I've had tasted every bit of 200 years old. But that's apparently part of the debate surrounding...

...the Circus Peanut.

..."People can't wrap their brains around why it's sweet and get really confused by the flavor," said Beth Kimmerle, author of "Candy: The Sweet History."

Though they're orange and look like peanuts, they taste like banana. And they are chewier than a traditional marshmallow. Even those who like circus peanuts can't agree whether they're better soft and fresh or stale and hard.

"Break out a bag anywhere, and you'll get a debate going," Kimmerle said.



God, they're nasty.
UPDATE: Let's make this AN OFFICIAL SCIENTIFIC POLL to silence the molecular nitrogen set.

Posted by tree hugging sister at August 1, 2006 09:51 AM

Comments

I love 'em. (And I prefer them soft and fresh.)

Posted by: Lisa at August 1, 2006 09:56 AM

Ladies and gentlemen, we have the first vote in our poll, thanks to the lovely Lisa. Let us be a house divided on this subject, shall we?

My vote? Fresh, stale? Immaterial to the subject at hand and my opinion of that is gackgackgackgackgackgackgackgackgackgackgackgackgackgack...

Posted by: tree hugging sister at August 1, 2006 10:03 AM

She prefers them factory fresh and once served slices at a party; guests added them to crackers and prosciutto.

Oh ickickick.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at August 1, 2006 10:10 AM

I love 'em also. But I like them stale. But that prosciutto thing is digusting regardless.

Posted by: Cullen at August 1, 2006 10:18 AM

Put me on the "those things are nasty" side. Ditto for peeps by the way. Two sides of the same coin in my book.

Posted by: Dave E. at August 1, 2006 10:31 AM

HEY!! Back off the Peeps, big guy...

Posted by: tree hugging sister at August 1, 2006 10:39 AM

I voted the closest thing I could find to "Indifference".

Posted by: Crusader at August 1, 2006 10:46 AM

Barf.

I prefer molecular nitrogen. Actually, I prefer atomic nitrogen but it's very hard to come by.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at August 1, 2006 10:57 AM

Shiver.

As a child raised on bulgur wheat experiments, dried kelp, kale, Brussels sprouts, and vitreous grains grown in petri dishes (alongside sausage links painted with real butter, as my mother was running marathons and needed some GD energy) - I was once confronted with a bag of these curious orange marshmallow circus peanuts in the waiting room of the osteopath's office. We were probably being treated for rickets or something... Anyhow, I was staring. Just STARING. He was sucking on them, packing one into each cheek at a time, upper, lower, upper, lower, front, bottom, and SQUUUUUUISH. He was in HEAVEN. Orange stuff trickled out of the side of his fishy lips, his eyes were moist, it was really weird.

This gentleman offered me one. My mother glared at him, narrowed her eyes, and HE got up, really fast, and shuffled across the waiting room. Mother bear.

In spite of this malnutrition I somehow grew to 5'10" - a little scrawny, but still able to wrangle two stocky Pugs, wield a 12 gauge with authority and handle a .45 if necessary. But I've always wondered.

Posted by: Susanna at August 1, 2006 11:11 AM

I blamed the Joos.

Maybe Mel will try the "Circus Peanut" defense?

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at August 1, 2006 11:25 AM

I've got no problems with peeps as ornaments, THS. In fact, if you buy the heirloom quality ones they can be passed down from generation to generation, probably forever with proper care. It's the notion that they are edible that offends me.

Posted by: Dave E. at August 1, 2006 11:31 AM

They're right up there with black licorice. keep them away from me.

Posted by: Rob at August 1, 2006 11:32 AM

Dave, they may be related to fruitcakes.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at August 1, 2006 11:34 AM

Ken, you say "fruitcakeS," indicating that there exists more than one?

I thought there was only one?

Posted by: Susanna at August 1, 2006 11:47 AM

Susanna, you're absolutely right. My bad.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at August 1, 2006 12:53 PM

Ohhhh, I thought you meant like Pat Robertson 'fruitcakeS', 'cause there's sh*tloads o' them.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at August 1, 2006 01:22 PM

Huh? Black licorice? You mean, licorice-flavored licorice?

Oh well, more Sambucca for us.

Posted by: Nightfly at August 1, 2006 02:00 PM

Not a fan of the peanuts but the peeps need to be stale. As in poke holes in the package and let them sit for month stale.

Posted by: Kcruella at August 1, 2006 02:23 PM

Precisely as it should be.

(So BACK OFF, Dave...)

Posted by: tree hugging sister at August 1, 2006 02:40 PM

I don't believe I've ever had one, seen 'em around but never had any reasont to try one. My wife says they're ok...

Posted by: DirtCrashr at August 1, 2006 03:00 PM

So, not just peeps, stale peeps. I...I...never mind.

Posted by: Dave E. at August 1, 2006 04:10 PM

If you ever get bored you can try peeps in the microwave. It's entertaining and they can be used for s'mores.

Posted by: Kcruella at August 1, 2006 10:32 PM

Kcruella - entertaining only if you are not the one cleaning the microwave, in the same way a raw egg in the in microwave is entertaining. HAve you seen this site?

Add me to the love the peanuts crowd, stale or fresh. Almost as much as I love moon pies.

Posted by: John at August 2, 2006 07:53 AM

I love Little Debbie's version of Moon Pies ~ those rock. But the mini chocolate Moon Pies, especially with their archaic packaging, do my heart and tummy good.

They're basically a fat free indulgence. (Did you know?) Cardboard often is.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at August 2, 2006 09:27 AM

All hail Mallomars.

Posted by: Nightfly at August 2, 2006 09:58 AM

My vote is for the peanuts --- FRESH!!!!!

Right up there with Fuji apples.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at August 2, 2006 10:11 PM