The Easter cheese plate from Chattanooga's Bleu Fox Cheese Shop has the customary ingredients of a professionally prepared charcuterie board.
"It includes three artisan cheeses — and one would be feta or goat cheese since this is goat cheese season," says Brittany Watlington, co-owner of the East Main Street shop.
(READ MORE: Bleu Fox Cheese Shop prepares charcuterie boards for parties of two or two hundred)
"It also includes a scoop of our in-house-made pimiento cheese, two cured meats and all kinds of traditional accoutrements: olives, fresh fruit, apricots, cornichons (pickled cucumbers)," she adds.
It's what comes next, the finishing touch, that sets it apart as an Easter assemblage.
"Then we garnish it with Peeps," Watlington says.
Yes, pink chicks and yellow bunnies fill in the remaining spaces to give the plate a touch of whimsy.
"We try to make it fun for the holiday," Watlington says of the colorful marshmallow confections. "There's a little something for everybody. Peeps for the kids, while (adults) enjoy the rest."
Chances are you'll have your own stash of Peeps set aside anyway. Peeps are the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy and have been for more than 20 years, with more than 1.5 billion eaten each spring, according to Farmers' Almanac.
Contributed Photo / The Easter-themed Brie en croute at Bleu Fox Cheese Shop gets its seasonal flavor from homemade carrot jam and crushed bourbon pecans (optional).(READ MORE: Chattanooga chocolatier gets TikTok famous)
Want to know more?
Here are five fast facts about these sweet treats.
— Peeps are made by Just Born Inc., a family-owned candy manufacturer in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The company's other products include Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike, Teenee Beanee jelly beans and Zours.
— The first color manufactured was yellow and it remains the favorite, followed by white, pink, lavender, blue, green and orange.
— Peeps also come in different flavors. New this year are Sour Strawberry (available only at Kroger stores), Icee Blue Raspberry (available at Target), Rice Krispies Treats Peeps (available at Walmart) and Peeps Delights S'mores Graham Cracker Flavored Marshmallow Chicks Dipped in Milk Chocolate (available nationwide).
— Peeps can last past Easter. Research by eatbydate.com shows that unopened Peeps will last for six to eight months, while a package of opened Peeps will last two to four months. They can also be frozen with no loss of flavor for about three months.
— Peeps have about 34 calories per bunny, 28 per chick.
Recipes and crafts using Peeps can be found on the company's website, justborn.com.
(READ MORE: Local food artisans elevate everyday ingredients)
Purchase information for the Bleu Fox Cheese Shop Easter cheese plate can be found at bleufoxcheeseshop.com/online-ordering. It costs $75.
Watlington also recommends the take-and-bake Easter carrot cake Brie en croute. Priced at $18, it's a wheel of Brie cheese wrapped in puff pastry. Its seasonal flavor comes from a topping of homemade carrot jam and the option of crushed bourbon pecans from Noke's, a local maker of artisanal products.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.