Tidbit Tuesday

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 Yesterday, Maddy commented that she thought grasshoppers were a true ingredient in Grasshopper Pie. And I’m all, Oh, hahaha, so funny!

But then I got to thinking, how did Grasshopper Pie get its name?

After a bit of sleuthing, I found the first mention of grasshopper pie was printed in the New York Times, March 27, 1904 (Grasshoppers for the Table):

Big grasshoppers, such as grow fat and buzz loudly in the Orient, are looked upon as table delicacies in the Philippines. There are several methods used by the natives for catching grasshoppers [. . . ] The hopper is first so thoroughly dried out in the head of the sun or in the bake oven that there is nothing left that is really objectionable, and a nice crispy article of food results. This states sweet of itself, and something like ginger biscuits. The natives usually sweetened the grasshopper more by using a sprinkling of brown sugar. Then the confectioners make up grasshoppers with sugar, chocolate trimmings, and colored candies in such a way a very nice tasting piece of confectionery is obtained. The housewife of the Philippines takes considerable delight in placing before you a nice grasshopper pie [. . . ] The grasshopper pie is the most wonderful dish, as the big hoppers are prepared in such a way that they do not lose their form.

Who’s laughing now?

So the next time you crunch down on a piece of ‘Hopper pie, just remember: it could be part of the crust or a chunky bit of minty goodness — or it could be a member of the Orthoptera Caelifera, dipped in chocolate, and rolled in sugar.

A leap of faith, my friends, a leap of faith. Just one of the many things a grasshopper may symbolize . . .