Explanations for my "foreign" readers

In the comments section of my last post, I found this:

Maddy said...
You worry me. For the benefit of your foreign readers would you be kind enough to consider translating 'grits' which sounds highly unpleasant especially if you're planning to eat it, as well as 'peeps' which sounds like 'people' and I wouldn't like any of your readers to leave with the impression that you are a cannibal.....are you?

Cheers


Maddy is one of my favorite stops in blogland. She often leaves me laughing to the point of tears. She describes herself as, "Ex-pat from the UK. Middle aged, bifocaled and technically challenged. My Significant Other and I currently enjoy fragile custody of 3 minors and a major, two girls, two boys, two with blue eyes, two with brown eyes, two with autism, two without."


So at her request, and for all you other foreigners out there avidly reading my blog I shall translate grits and peeps.


Grits

According to Wikipedia, Grits is a type of corn porridge and a food common in the Southern United States consisting of coarsely ground corn. This is similar to many other thick maize-based porridges from around the world such as polenta It also has a lesser resemblance to farina, a thinner porridge.


When you grind corn, the coarse grind is grits and the fine grind is corn meal like that used for corn bread.

They are commonly eaten at breakfast - especially in the South. My mother was from North Carolina and we ate all things Southern growing up. To this day I never tire of grits and corn bread with tons of butter.


Peeps

Wikipedia says:


PEEPS® Brand Candies are small marshmallow candies, sold in the United States, which are shaped into baby chickens, rabbits, and other animals. There are also different shapes used for various holidays. PEEPS® are primarily used to fill Easter baskets, although the Just Born company is trying to change that by introducing new shapes and advertising "PEEPS® - Always in Season". They are made from marshmallow, sugar, gelatin, and carnauba wax.




You can purchase Peeps everywhere - drugstores, supermarkets, Target, etc. When you first buy them they're all squooshy - like eating a marshmallow. They're okay that way, but I prefer to open the package and let them harden for a month or several. We're just finishing the last package from Easter right now and they are perfectly cured.


So Maddy, I hope that gives you enough explanation to ease your mind a bit. I am not now nor have I ever been a cannibal.

Any other American oddities you're wondering about?