PEEPS!

I had to share my Easter decoration.  Of course I got it off of Pinterest.  I just used two square glass vases.  You put a cup or small container in the center to hold your flowers of choice.  You put a layer of jelly beans down and then top that with peeps:

A florist I am not.  I am sure a bouquet of perfectly arranged tulips would look much more appealing but I just decided to use what I had in my yard.  I snipped a bunch of lilacs from out front and put together my table decoration.  The lilacs perfumed my whole house for days.  I used two of these along with my mock milkglass vases on my dining room table.  I didn't get a picture of it all together but it looked very "Eastery." 

I got the vases at Bed, Bath and Beyond in case you were wondering.  Of course I scoured the thrift stores but just couldn't find the shape I needed.  I sucked it up and bought these which I know I will use over and over again. 

Easter is always so great.  We spend the morning having brunch with my Dad and then we always have the rest of our family over for dinner.  This year everyone brought something thus making it a non-stressful event.  My husband missed his calling in being a chef/cook.  Everything he makes is amazing.  He brined a turkey and I swear it was the best turkey I have ever had.  I am not even a turkey girl.  I made a lemon pudding cheesecake that I need to post the recipe for.  It is my go to spring/summer dessert.  It is always a crowd pleaser.  How did you spend your Easter?

Jules

RESURRECTION ROLLS

Easter is tomorrow and I just really don't want my kids to think that Easter is about candy and bunnies and eggs.  I want them to know the real reason that we celebrate Easter.  They already know about how Jesus died and was resurrected but I just wanted to hammer home what this really means.  I have been wanting to do this for the past few Easters but sadly life has just been so busy.  It is so silly to think about.  I think, at least my family, really needs to settle down and quit being in such a hurry all of the time.  The kids are so active with extra-curricular activities that it is really making life a little stressful.  I understand that I have 3 boys and my life will probably never again be at a relaxed pace but I all I wanted was just a 30 minute block of full attention time from my three little beasts sweeties.  I was sort of successful in that mission except for the 2 year old said sweetie   had no idea what I was doing and was talking the whole time (sigh).  At least I tried and I know that my older two got a little lesson out of it.  We made resurrection rolls.  So the ingredients are few.  You need 1 can of refrigerated crescent roll dough, 8 large marshmallows, melted butter and a cinnamon/sugar mixture.  The marshmallow represents Jesus because it is all white and pure and without sin.  You dip the marshmallow in melted butter representing the embalming oils:

Next you put the buttered up marshmallow in the cinnamon/sugar mixture representing the spices used to prepare his body for burial:

Next you wrap the marshmallow in the crescent roll dough to represent Jesus being entombed.  Be sure and really seal the edges well.  I learned this the hard way.  As the marshmallow cooks and it isn't sealed properly it becomes a HUGE mess on your baking pan.  And if you are like me and wait to clean the pan the cooled marshmallow is really hard to scrub off of your pan.

Please disregard that my pans are very well "seasoned."  I promise you they are clean.  After so many years my pans begin to look gross!  Anyway...the next step is to pop them into a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes.  During that 12 minutes I read John 20:1-18 in the Bible.  I was surprised that my children really understood.  We talked about how crazy that must have been for Mary to find Jesus missing in his tomb only to realize that he was alive behind her! 
So then you pull out your rolls and cut into them and the marshmallow is gone representing Jesus.  He has risen!!!

Not only was it a good memorable lesson but these rolls tasted really good too!  They tasted just like cinnamon rolls.  Everyone loved them!
I just love Easter because it is a time to share with family members without all of the hoopla of Christmas.  All the stress of presents and such.  My kids do get a little somethin somethin on Easter but not like Christmas!  Have a happy Easter!!!!

Jules

CAKE POPS

My new favorite recipe!  This is very kid friendly and adult friendly.  I like them because it is just a little tiny dessert. If I eat one I know it is just a dainty portion so I don't feel to guilty.  My kids of course love it when I put sprinkles on them but I just prefer them plain.

Cake Pops:
1 box cake mix (I used Duncan Hines devils food cake)
1 can of frosting (I used plain ol chocolate
1 package chocolate bark
2 TBSP vegetable shortening (crisco)
pop sticks (you can get them at any craft store), you could also just use toothpicks

Make cake according to box.  While the cake is still hot crumble it up into a bowl and make it turn into crumbs:

I just take two forks and break it up until it is really fine.  Next take about 1/2 of your container of frosting and just mix it in until the cake looks like this:

Looks kinda gross doesn't it?  I assure you it isn't!  Then I just took about 2 TBSP of this mixture and rolled them into balls and stuck my sticks in:

One cake mix box makes about 2 dozen cake balls.  I may or may not have eaten alot some of the cakey/frosting mixture leaving only about 1 1/2 dozen.  Anyway, next step is to put the balls into the fridge for an hour or two to sort of cool and set up.  After they are pretty firm you melt your chocolate with the shortening.  I just used the microwave.  I have tried this without the shortening and the chocolate was not thin enough to coat the balls nicely.  If you add the shortening it just makes the chocolate really smooth and much easier to handle.  So just dip the chilled balls into the chocolate and place on some wax paper:

You can keep them plain or dip them in sprinkles:

Put them back in the fridge to set and you are done!  Go do it and your kids and friends and neighbors will be impressed.  Not only are they cool looking but they are seriously yummy!

Jules