TUTORIAL: Peep Jousting

Welcome to the post-Easter tradition of Peep Jousting.  Here's what you'll need:

• Two Noble Knights: Leftover Peeps work perfectly
• Jousting Lances: Toothpicks
• Jousting Arena: Microwave, preferable with a rotating plate so you can better view the competition
• Plate (I accept suggestions for a witty title)

Arm your Peep knights with toothpick lances.  Stick a toothpick in each Peep, then place the competitors on a plate facing each other.

Place your Peep knights in the microwave arena...

 ...and let the competition begin!  Brighton set the microwave at High for 30 seconds, which is more than ample time.  15 - 20 seconds will do the job.  But my boys like to watch the Peeps melt after they've proven themselves in competition.

Watch the Peep knights swell and try to impale each other.  The first Peep to be punctured loses.

Cheer for your favorite Peep.  Or cheer for the one that gets the fattest first.  Though be warned, the victor is not always the Peep who impales the other first.  Often one Peep swells up so big it impales itself on its opponent's lance.

If you look at Brighton's reflection, this match is a real nail biter.

It's hard to see in the photo, but we have a winner!  The Peep on the right had terrible aim.  Its lance is up in the air.  The Peep on the left scored a direct hit to the chest.

Don't you love the expression on Brighton's face?

Now we've moved from competition to spectator entertainment.  My boys like to see how big the Peeps will puff up before 1) collapsing back down, 2) exploding, or 3) the timer running out.  30 seconds is about right for our microwave.  The Peeps don't explode (ew - who wants to clean up that mess!?), yet they still puff up huge...

 ...then collapse back down.

Ha, ha!  Look at the melted Peeps!

Two noble Peep knights sacrificed to the cause of entertainment.

The winner is clear.  The Peep on the left impaled the Peep on the right.  The Peep on the right held his lance too high and completely missed its opponent.

Hope you had a happy Easter.  Happy Peep jousting!