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    April 4th, 2009AdminEaster, Holidays


    There are as many drinks to be made as there are Easter foods, but finding a themed beverage for your Easter dinner just got easier.

    We’ve gathered a few of the most popular, with and without alcohol, for your choice of Easter libation to help boost your celebration.

    For Young And Old Alike

    These thirst-quenching beverages are sure to be a hit with everyone at your Easter celebration from toddler to grandma.

     

    For Adults Only

    Made with wine, champagne or harder alcohol these delightful cocktails are sure to please the adults at your Easter or spring time gathering.


    Bellini

    1 fresh peach
    Chilled Brut Champagne

    In a blender, puree the peach. Pour the puree into a champagne glass and top with Chilled Brut Champagne. If peaches are out of season, frozen sliced peaches may be substituted.

    Mimosa

    3 oz Chilled Orange juice
    3 oz Chilled Champagne

    In a large chilled wineglass pour in your Orange Juice and top with the Champagne. Many like more or less juice or champagne, you can adjust the proportions accordingly.

    White Wine Spritzer

    Chilled White Wine
    Club Soda

    Mix the two together in your favorite wine glass for a light wine drink.

    The Easter Bunny

    1 1/2 oz. dark crème de cacao
    1/2 oz. vodka
    1 tsp chocolate syrup
    1 tsp cherry brandy

    Pour the crème de cacao and vodka into a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into an old fashioned glass with ice cubes. Float chocolate syrup and brandy on top.

    The Jelly Bean

    1/2 oz. blackberry brandy or grenadine
    1/2 oz. anisette or sambuca
    1/2 oz. Southern Comfort

    Pour brandy/grenadine into a shot glass. Float anisette or sambuca on first level. Float Southern Comfort on second level.

    The Easter Egg Cocktail

    1 oz blue Curacao
    1 oz. white crème de cacao
    Half and half

    Pour the blue Curacao and crème de cacao into an old fashioned glass with ice. Float half and half on top. Choose your favorite from the list above, search for something new or make a creation all your own. One thing is certain; your guests will be impressed when you serve one or more of these drinks.

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    April 3rd, 2009AdminEaster, Holidays


    There are as many drinks to be made as there are Easter foods but finding an themed beverage for your Easter dinner just got easier. We’ve gathered a few of the most popular, with and without alcohol, for your choice of Easter libation.

    For Young And Old Alike

    These thirst quenching beverages are sure to be a hit with everyone at your Easter celebration from toddler to grandma.

    Golden Easter Punch

    6 cups water

    4 cups sugar

    1 (46 ounce) can pineapple juice

    1 (12 ounce) can orange juice concentrate

    1 (6 ounce) can lemonade concentrate

    1/2 teaspoon vanilla

    1 (2 liter) bottle carbonated lemon-lime beverage

    1 quart pineapple sherbet

    In a large saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour sugar water in a large punchbowl. Add juices and vanilla. Add soda. Stir well. Add sherbet just before serving.

    Easter Egg Hatch

    3 1/2 oz Frozen Vanilla Yogurt
    2 oz Orange Juice
    1 tbsp Sugar Syrup

    In a blender, add your ingredients to about 3 ½ ounces of crushed ice. Blend on low to medium until smooth, about 15 seconds. Pour into a goblet and serve.

    Egg Cream

    1 – 1 1/2 oz chocolate syrup
    Cold Milk
    Seltzer

    In a highball or 8-10 oz juice glass, pour in your syrup. Fill glass with cold milk until 2/3 full. Top with seltzer and stir.

    Malted Chocolate

    2 scoops of chocolate ice cream
    1-cup milk
    1 1/2 – 2 oz of chocolate syrup
    2 tbsp of malt powder

    In a blender, add all your ingredients and blend until smooth. Since no ice is used the process is quick, about 10-15 seconds. Pour into a large glass and serve.

    Orange Sparkler

    3 oz Orange juice
    3 oz Club Soda

    Fill a highball or large juice glass with ice. Add your ingredients and stir gently.

    Rainbow Sherbet Punch

    8 oz Orange juice
    8 oz Pineapple juice
    8 oz Hawaiian Punch
    1 qt Rainbow Sherbet
    1 liter bottle Club Soda
    1 liter bottle Ginger Ale

    Make a block of ice the night before by freezing water in a storage tub or bowl that is ¼ the size of your punch bowl. Remove the ice from your container and place in your punch bowl. Add your juices and Hawaiian Punch. Just prior to serving, add the Soda and Ginger Ale and drop in scoops of the rainbow sherbet.

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    April 2nd, 2009AdminEaster, Holidays

    Easter is a great time of year to celebrate, but there is no need to eat unhealthily. Here are some healthy ideas to keep you and your family on track.

    Seasonal Treats – Easter falls right at the beginning of spring and there are many wonderful items you can included in your Easter baskets that also celebrate spring. This will encourage your child to get out and enjoy the season. Spring treats might include sidewalk chalk, bubbles, children’s gardening kits or kites.

     

    Toiletries & Accessories – Toiletries and accessories make great Easter basket fillers especially for young girls. Depending on the age of your child, they may enjoy bubble bath, lip gloss, bath crayons, or novelty tooth brushes. Older girls will enjoy earrings, necklaces, watches, fancy shoelaces, tattoos and other accessories.

     

    Treats for Babies – Babies are at such a wonderful age and including them in your family traditions is so precious, but of course a healthy basket is even more important then ever with a baby. A healthy alternative for a baby’s Easter basket may include stuffed animals, a rattle, baby cookies, a special bib or a teething ring.

     

    A Healthy Approach to Chocolate – Of course, Easter is a celebration so you may not want to cut out chocolate all together. Instead of one large chocolate Easter bunny, choose mini chocolate eggs and hide them around the house or yard. Children will get exercise while searching for the eggs without realizing it, and they won’t realize that they end up with less chocolate then they would have with a whole bunny.

    Don’t forgo chocolate and candy altogether – add them in moderation to your baskets – but do make an effort to include healthy Easter treats for your loved ones this season as well.

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    April 1st, 2009AdminEaster, Holidays


    One of the most common things associated with Easter treats is chocolate. Every year, children receive baskets full of chocolate treats that are hard on their teeth and bad for their health. This Easter, consider taking a healthier approach with this healthy but fun selection of Easter treats.

     

    Healthy Edibles

    You can create an Easter basket that includes some yummy edibles without going overboard with sugar filled processed chocolates. Instead, look for healthy snack foods that have less sugar and more nutrients but are still fun for your child.

     

    Some popular choices may include chocolate covered raisins or peanuts, small boxes of raisins, dried fruit, Trail Mix, granola bars, juice boxes, fresh fruit, string cheese, homemade cookies, or sugar-free gum. You may also want to check out your local health food store where you will find tasty, healthy candies and bars your kids will love!

     

    Active Treats – Small toys and items that promote activity are a great addition to any Easter basket. These treats help encourage children to get out and have fun while getting exercise at the same time. Here are a few active treat ideas may include ring toss games, skipping ropes, basketballs, soccer balls, or hula hoops.

     

    Educational Treats – Toys that are both educational and fun are another wonderful option for a healthier Easter basket. Make sure you choose items appropriate for the age and ability of your child. Some ideas include hand held games (choose thinking games like Sudoku!), activity books, story books or novels, alphabet & number magnets, flashcards, or children’s card games (go fish, match, etc).

     

    Creative Treats – If you have a creative or crafty child, items that can use to express their creativity will be a welcome addition to their baskets. Choose items that fit best with your child’s current age and interests. Some items to consider include scrapbooking supplies, beading kits, crayons or markers, coloring books, water paints, stickers & sticker books, play dough or modeling clay or gel pens.

     

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    March 28th, 2009AdminEaster, Holidays


    Decorating Ideas

    Decorating your egg can be as simple or elaborate as you would like it to be. You can make beautifully designed Easter eggs with items you probably currently have in your home. Some of these ideas work egg-ceptionally well on the hollowed eggs.

    • Ribbons – take leftover ribbons and glue them to your egg in the desired colors and patterns (blown eggs)
    • Glitter – spread your egg with a thin layer of glue and then roll the egg around in glitter (superfine glitter will give your egg a sugared look) (blown eggs)
    • Lace – using the same principle as the ribbons decorate your egg (blown eggs)
    • Sponge Paint – dig out your sponges and craft paint to create an original design
    • Stickers – let the kids decorate using their favorite stickers
    • Crayons – with a parent’s help color on a warm egg
    • Mosaic – be creative and glue pieces of tissue paper, small pasta pieces or shells to your egg.

    These recipes will come in handy if you have decided to stick with the tried and true dyed Easter egg

    Simple Egg Dye

    Combine 1/2 cup boiling water, 1 tsp. vinegar and the food color together adding drops of food coloring to achieve desired colors. Dip hard cooked eggs in dye for about 5 minutes or until desired color.

    Natural Egg Dye

    Dye your eggs in boiling water, with vinegar and the item used to create the desired color, boiling both eggs and dye items together. Don’t forget to compost your dye items when you are finished dyeing your eggs.

    Color ideas:

    Lavender Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice

    Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice

    Violet Blue Violet Blossoms

    Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins

    Blue Canned Blueberries

    Red Cabbage Leaves

    Purple Grape Juice

    Green Spinach Leaves

    Liquid Chlorophyll

    Greenish Yellow Yellow Delicious Apple Peels

    Yellow Orange or Lemon Peels

    Carrot Tops

    Celery Seed

    Ground Cumin

    Ground Turmeric

    Saffron

    Brown Strong Coffee

    Instant Coffee

    Black Walnut Shells

    Orange Yellow Onion Skins

    Pink Beets

    Cranberries or Juice

    Raspberries

    Red Grape Juice

    Juice from Pickled Beets

    Red Lots of Red Onions Skins

    Hard boiled, hollowed out, color dyed or fancier designs, anything goes when decorating your eggs for this Easter season. The only rule is to have fun.

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    March 26th, 2009AdminEaster


    The perfectly decorated Easter egg begins with the egg. Two of the most popular ways to decorate eggs begins with either a boiled egg or a blown (or hollowed egg).

    Boiled Eggs

    To avoid rubbery eggs do not cook eggs in boiling water. Instead, boil the water and remove the pan from the stove. Submerge the eggs in the hot, boiled water for 15-17 minutes.

    Blown or Hollowed Easter Eggs

    To hollow out an egg simply wash and dry your eggs. Then taking a thin needle, carefully poke a hole in each end of your egg. Cover the holes and shake the egg. Place your egg over a bowl or other container and gently blow into one of the holes in your egg. The egg white and yolk should make its way out of the other hole. Once the insides have been blown out wash and dry your egg again. Some eggs are easier to hollow than others. It will take patience and although more fragile, a hollowed out egg can be decorated and kept for many years to come depending upon how it is stored.