Give Peeps a Chance

“Give Peeps a Chance”

I can’t take credit for that cute pun; www.makinglifewhimsical.com posted free Easter printables like the quote above under the blog post, “Show Me the Peeps.”  As Easter approaches, there is the pain accompanied with only having our daughter home for a few weeks a year.  She loves Peeps and loves helping in the kitchen.  It would have been fun to create dozens of Peep treats and throw a Peep party.  The bright side is that I consume far less sugar by living vicariously through the blog posts I scroll through on Pinterest and that by writing about those colorful, sugary treats I can interact with the candy in a totally calorie-free manner. 

Just in case you haven’t seen the pastel-colored candy displayed prominently in stores the last few weeks, Peeps Brand Marshmallow candies are made in the USA by the Just Born Inc candy company.  “The wonderful combination of sweet colored sugar and fluffy marshmallow creates an unforgettable taste experience,” ( www.marshmallowpeeps.com).    This year I was first inspired by Peeps when I saw a pic of a sunflower cake using yellow chick peeps as the petals of a sunflower.  Last year, it was Easter Peeps S’mores dessert mix in mason jars.  Because Peeps are marshmallow at the core, you can use Peeps as a marshmallow replacement.  Remake S’mores treats.  Create colorful popcorn balls using Peeps instead of marshmallows.  Rice krispie cereal treats take on a springtime hue when using Peeps instead of mini marshmallows.  Or hide Peeps in chocolate brownies.

Peeps-fruit kabobs can be made with strawberries, pineapple, grapes, melon and Peeps by layering the fruit and candy on bamboo skewers.  Craft a colorful candy bouquet using one bunny-shaped peep per bamboo skewer and arranging the “bunny flowers” in a flower pot.  Search the internet for a make your own Peep recipe if you want to challenge yourself this Spring. 

From Peep-inspired cocktails (Patron tequila, sparkling grapefruit juice and Monin Rose syrup or Peep martini:  fluffed marshmallow vodka, vanilla syrup, simple syrup and sugar) to wreaths, cupcakes, coloring pages, and humorous dioramas, homemade popsicles, sewing patterns, toys and science experiments, peep straws, the possibilities are endless.  Have fun this Easter and play around with this brightly colored candy. 

Share your successes at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.  Thanks for reading!

Twin Bits

Create unique artwork this spring with Kelly Downing at the Twin Bridges School.  Kelly is teaching a second round of Mixed Media Art as adult ed course.  Call TBS at 684-5656 to reserve a spot in this space limited class.  The first class will be 8 am to noon, Monday April 1st at the school with the rest of the classes scheduled after the first gathering.   

The next TBCA meeting will be Friday April 12 at 8:30 am at The Old Hotel.  Election of Board of Directors will be held that day.  Vote in person or by proxy.  Nominations:  Jack Leber for Chair, Heather Puckett for Treasurer, Pat Bradley for Secretary.  At this time the Vice Chair position is still vacant; the TBCA can operate without a Vice Chair but it is helpful to the organization to have the support of a Vice Chair.  There is room for Write-In nominations.  Paula Kinoshita, out-going Chair, is taking comments and suggestions until the April 12^th meeting at oldhotel@3rivers.net.  The civic organization is also looking to change the meeting time—on the floor is the suggestion of moving meetings to Wednesdays at Noon.  Pass on your ideas and volunteer by contacting Jack Leber at jack.leber@prumt.com.

The Buy Local Business Expo will be held at the fairgrounds on 4 May 9 am to 2 pm.  There are still a few vendor spaces available for Ruby Valley businesses.  Call BoB Reimard at 842-7900 to reserve a space. 

 Jackson’s Garden will host an afternoon of discussion about gardening with a panel of local gardening experts at their annual Spring Fling, Sunday April 7th at 2:00 pm at Bethany Hall in Sheridan. 

Mike Morgan will talk about composting; Sarris Marsh, owner of Marsh’s Mountain Greenhouse in Sheridan will talk about seed germination and container planting; Linda Day will describe how to start a lasagna garden; Debbie Rogers will explain how to extend your growing season with walls of water and how to protect your garden from herbicide contaminated manure. Paulette Hardy will discuss various ways of mulching vegetable and flower beds and will answer general gardening questions.  Plans for this year’s growing season at the Garden will be discussed as well as adult education, such as canning work shops, the Kids Club and opportunities for volunteers at the Garden.  Afternoon tea will be served and everyone is invited to this free event. For more information, contact Carla at 842-7956 or Linda at 842- 5678. For more information about Jackson’s Garden visit our website at jacksonsgarden.org

From TBS Calendar:

March 28- April 1:  No School, Easter Vacation

April 1- 4:  Bow Hunter Education @ MT Room, 6 pm, contact Doug Stonebraker

Wed April 3:  Booster Club mtg @ MT Room, 6 pm

Sat April 6:  State FFA Convention @ Billings; Track Meet

Thurs April 11:  Senior Citizens Spring Dinner, 11 am; Pre-Festival Concert 7 pm; VFW mtg @ MT Room, 7:30 pm

Mon April 15:  Trailblazers 4-H mtg @ Lunchroom, 7 pm

Tues April 16: Reg. School Board mtg @ MT Room, 7 pm

Wed April 17:  Big Hole Watershed mtg @ MT Room, 7 pm

April 19-20:  District Music Festival @ Deer Lodge

Mon April 22:  No School, Spring Break

April 21- 28:  Close-Up Trip to Washington D.C.

Tues April 30:  Nat’l Honor Society Induction/ Banquet, 6 pm

I am here to promote activities and events in the Ruby Valley.  Please contact me at sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call me at 684-5222 or snail mail: P.O. Box 491, 59754