As my love for Milwaukee grows, I've found myself falling further and further from my Ohio roots. However, there are a few things I cannot surrender: The Ohio State University football team, the Cincinnati Bengals (however easy it may be some years) and... buckeyes.

Buckeyes? Buckeyes? What are BUCKEYES? This is a question I have consistently been baffled by since I've lived here in the great city of Milwaukee. Growing up, buckeyes were a staple in almost every family holiday gathering. We looked forward to buckeyes, we grabbed them by the handful and surrendered to their sweet sinfulness each time they were near.

Ok, so... getting to the point. What the hell is a buckeye? Technically, a buckeye is the nut that grows from the buckeye tree, the state tree of Ohio, whose nut, coincidentally, is also the state nut of Ohio. The nut, itself, is incased in a thorny shell, which cracks open once it falls from the tree, thus, releasing the dark brown nut with a sandy-brown "button" on top. The nut, itself, is poisonous, however I have read they are sometimes eaten by badgers (too bad for the folks up here the same can't be said for their respective football team).

True, the buckeye is a tree, and the nut from a tree, but to MANY Ohioans, it is a sweet treat held in a confectionary category all its own. The buckeye candy, frankly, is that perfect amalgam of peanut butter and chocolate,, brought together for the sole intention to make its consumers happy and fat. Before I gush any longer, it's essentially a peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate, but only partially, so the very top, about the size of a nickel, exposes the peanut butter underneath. This is almost exactly what the actual buckeye nut looks like. Though part of me questions whether it is a good idea for Ohio parents to show their children that a candy - that can be easily mistook for a poisonous nut - is A-OK to ingest.

Being the naive Ohio-born-and-raised lady that I am, I always assumed everyone - at least in the Mid West - knew what the buckeye candy was. However, in meeting the many fabulous Milwaukeeans that I have, I've learned that it hasn't spread as widely from Ohio's borders as I'd thought.

I made a batch of Buckeyes tonight, for a large gathering of friends for a "Friendsgiving" meal tomorrow - but mostly in honor of the Ohio State/Michigan game, kicking off at 11 a.m. here tomorrow morning. Once one of my favorite build-up weekends of the year, living in Milwaukee I've found myself somewhat distanced from the excitement surrounding the annual clash between the long-standing rivals. My main reason in making these buckeyes, tonight, is to bring a little more Buckeye "home" to my East Side quarters this year. And just maybe, hopefully, open a few more Wisconsin eyes to the delicious delicacy I've toothed since toddling.

Curious about the buckeye recipe? Talk back and I'd be happy to share my sworn-perfect recipe.