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Spring Favorites

Easter Lovelies for the Kitchen: Dishes, Cake Stand, and Towels to DYE For (Sorry Not Sorry)

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I was browsing around Amazon earlier (always a dangerous sport for me) – looking for Easter dishes and new Easter cloth napkins. I’ve had a deep purple for years now and, while they’re lovely, I want to add some extra colors to the table.

I got so sidetracked by lovelies galore that I almost forgot my napkins! The first thing I saw, the too-cute-for-their-own-good, Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit Dish Towels are pictured on the right.

See how guilty they look? That’s because they made me forget everything but my own name.

There’s no easy way to show them all to you – so I’m just going to roll them out, one at a time. Each link is, of course, an Amazon link. I mean, is there really any better place to shop??

First up, the Sweet Bunny 16 Piece Dinnerware Set (pictured to the left).

For years, I have used the same beautiful white dinnerware set for Easter and Thanksgiving but this year I’d really like to give each wonderfully special holiday its own chance to bask in the spotlight.

These precious “sweet bunny” dishes are really tempting me to buy a few sets. I haven’t found any I like nearly as well and our grand babies will love these for years and years to come.

As far as that goes, I’m pretty sure our daughters and sons-in-law will love them just as much!

The gorgeous 16 Piece Set includes: 4 Each 11″Dinner Plates, 8. 5″ Salad/Dessert Plates, 20 oz. Mugs, 6″ Ice Cream/Dessert 26 oz. Bowls.

If you have Amazon Prime, delivery is free with these dishes.

Second of all, I found these ADORABLE (sorry to yell, but they’re worthy of all caps)

They would be absolutely adorable with the plates shown above or with white dishes for that matter. They’re available in many different colors – there is an orange and black that would be ideal for Halloween and a gray and white that is so great-looking I want them for everyday. If you click through, be sure to check out the image they have using the gray and white napkins.

It looks so stylish and gorgeous!

Features:

  • 100% Cotton
  • Imported
  • PACK OF SIX – Napkins measures 20×20″
  • EASY CARE – 100% cotton machine washable gentle cycle tumble dry low. Low iron if needed.

Third of all, there’s the gorgeous Ceramic Pastel 3-Tier Cake Stand (or cookies, deviled eggs, sugar cubes, candies… whatever you want to put on it).

It comes in silver or gold and both are absolutely gorgeous. The stand comes with free little tongs (for picking up sugar cubes or small treats).

When you look at the stand from above, you can see the embossed flowers as well as lovely little butterflies. When you click through, you can take a much closer look.

  • Diameter of Platters: 6”, 8”, 10”. 14.5″ tall
  • Material: High quality fine china, 100% LEAD FREE
  • Use as a cupcake stand, dessert stand or serve for fruit and other sweet treat. It can be used at all types of events and parties such as tea party, baby showers, graduations, weddings, Christmas, thanksgiving or for home decor.
  • Embossed porcelain design

I love that this stand can take you all through spring and summer (much like the checkered napkins above).

I have quite a few more Easter-themed gift ideas and kitchen gadgets as well as recipes in the works, so stay tuned!

I hope your weather is as beautiful as it is here in Kentucky. Hang in there, everyone, spring is almost here!

 

 

Adorable Easter Popcorn Tin: Add Crunch, Fun, and Deliciousness to Easter

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Happy Easter Popcorn Tin from King of Pop

Easter Popcorn Tin

I’ve written fairly often about King of Pop Popcorn and Gourmet Gift Baskets on Get Cooking for a very good reason… I’m obsessed with them! I’m one of those people who celebrates every season, every holiday, and every event in a BIG way. King of Pop and Gourmet Gift Baskets are cut from a similar cloth and they actually make all of the celebrations funner and tastier.

For example, they sent me the adorable Happy Easter popcorn tin in exchange for telling you about their seasonal goodies for spring and Easter.  Each time we see the beautiful tin or eat the addictive popcorn, it makes the season somehow even better.

The popcorn is especially good – it’s come in SO handy with March Madness basketball games and Spring Training baseball. You’d be amazed at how much popcorn is in these tins and at how long it lasts.

Happy Easter Popcorn Tin from King of Pop

Butter, Caramel, and Cheddar Popcorn… Delicious!

Something else I love is the fact that their tins can be cleaned and reused. I use the holiday-themed tins to store Easter (or Christmas,Autumn or Fourth of July) decorations. Then, the following year, the tin can be filled with popcorn, chips, or cookies, and enjoyed all over again.

I actually used a Fourth of July one to store dry cat food in years ago. It looked a lot cuter sitting in the pantry than a bag of Meow Mix that kept spilling out!

Happy Easter Popcorn Tin

Festive and Delicious – Win/Win

Click through any of the links below or either of the ones at the top to see a LOT more Easter gift ideas. Trust me, everything they sell is first class and delicious to boot.

Easter Bunny Gift Tower

Easter Gift Baskets

Easter Celebration Oreo Cookies

Happy Easter Popcorn Tin

Easter Popcorn Tin

Gourmet Gift Baskets: Beautiful Choices for Easter Gift-Giving!

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Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket
I’ve written about King of Pop popcorn and Gourmet Gift Baskets before on Get Cooking and I’m delighted to have the chance to do so again. I was recently sent an adorable Easter Basket in exchange for telling you about the Easter Baskets and sets on Gourmet Gift Baskets (which often include deliciousness from King of Pop). There are beautiful gifts for everyone of any age… a lot more creative than the ones you find in stores.

As you can see from the pictures, this particular gift basket, the Classic Easter Bunny Gift Basket includes an adorable stuffed rabbit (very good quality, too), chocolate candies, delicious popcorn, Peeps (a HUGE weakness of mine… I mean to tell you, I am a serious Peeps fanatic), and Laffy Taffy.

Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket
If you have children in your life (or, if we’re being honest here… if you have a pet lover with a sweet tooth in your life), this gift basket makes a beautiful gift idea. I mention pet lovers because one of our cats has fallen head over fluffy tail in love with the rabbit and can often be found taking a nap with her head in its lap. As a matter of fact, she also LOVES the thick box the gift basket came in, the green ribbon that was on the basket and the basket, itself!

Between my sweet tooth and her love of FUN, we have enjoyed this gift basket more than any 8 year old would have!

From Gourmet Gift Baskets: There are certain things that are essential to Easter morning, like beautiful toys and irresistible chocolate. So, in this wonderful basket, we brought together all of those classic elements to create the perfect holiday gift! Complete with bright sweet candies and chocolates, crisp handcrafted popcorn, and a gorgeous stuffed bunny, this lovely arrangement will make Easter morning absolutely unforgettable!

Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket
Gourmet Gift Baskets always come in excellent condition and they are extremely reliable and FAST. FAST is always good when sending gifts! Their gifts are always creative and go the extra step… you know the one… the extra step that takes you from feeling “good” about a gift you’ve given to feeling “great” about a gift you’ve given.

Click the following link to see more Easter Gift Baskets from Gourmet Gift Baskets – they have gift baskets in a wide variety of styles with plenty of different contents. The price range is also great, so you can find pretty much just what you’re looking for.

Their “gifts” can even be used to put your Easter meal together! It’d be a beautifully simple and simply beautiful way to provide extra desserts and/or snacks…. with very little effort on your part.

Some of the Easter and Spring Gifts Available:

See Gourmet Gift Baskets for more gift baskets for Easter, Birthdays, Christmas, and every other special occasion you can think of.

Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket

Adorable Easter Table Runner with Rabbits and Eggs (Love!)

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Easter Table Runner

I remember my grandmother always saying things like, “Time Flies…” and “It seems like only yesterday…” Like half the things adults said, I just assumed it was part of a crazy script they had to read from.

As I get further removed from childhood nonsense, I realize it wasn’t a script. Time truly DOES fly and it DOES seem like only yesterday for many, many things. Seriously, didn’t I just put away the Thanksgiving Decorations and break out the Christmas decorations?

And what about January? Where did she go??!

At any rate, Easter will be here before you know it – you can count on that – and I have been getting my Easter menu ready as well as my decorations.

Purple Cloth Napkins

I ordered two gorgeous sets of napkins off of Amazon recently: Satin Napkins in “Robin’s Egg” and Purple Cloth Dinner Napkins (pictured above – in front of my new Sugared Lemon Zest candle from Bath & Bodyworks – Holy cats, it’s amazing). I’m trying to decide which one I’ll use for Easter Sunday.  Since the Robin’s Egg (a soft turquoise) and Purple would both look gorgeous, I’m pretty sure I’ll work them both in somehow.

Ironically, I have only recently developed a cloth napkin obsession, fixation, fascination… whatever you want to call it, I’m all in. I have a hutch drawer filled with color-categorized neat little stacks of napkins. In fact, I’m going to have to clear another drawer because the collection is about to run out of space.

I’ve always collected dishes and have met very few I didn’t want – so coordinating the dishes and napkins is an extra source of bliss and joy in my day. You just can’t have too many of those, you know? I also leave colorful napkins out on the table (lying beautifully on placemats) at all times.  Currently, Pioneer Woman Bandanna Napkins are lying on bamboo placemats and I’m totally in love with the way they look.  They make me smile every time I walk by the dining room table.

I just noticed (on Amazon) that there are Pioneer Woman napkins in other styles as well.

There is also a gorgeous Easter Table Runner on Amazon that’s calling my name. It’s pictured at the top and, no doubt, you’ll see why I love it.

Uh Oh, I just realized how beautiful bright yellow napkins would look with that table runner.

Related: I’d have so much more money if I’d never met Amazon.

Yahoo! Editors Taste Test Peeps Flavored Milk

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Winter finally took a hint and headed for the hills. That means spring and Easter are just around the corner.  I’ve already seen the adorable Easter Themed Peeps in the store and I’ve seen something else…. Peeps Milk!

I haven’t tried any of the flavors yet, but I am intrigued by two of the three. The Egg Nog one and I will never see eye to eye and I’ve accepted that.

If you’re a little leery of Peeps flavored milk, the Yahoo Food editors have your back. They recently taste tested the new Peeps- Flavored Milk so you don’t have to go about it uninformed.

In the video above, watch as the editors test each of  the three flavors—marshmallow, chocolate marshmallow, and… yes… EVEN  Easter eggnog.

I love Peeps more than the average person, but I’m guessing I’ll stick to enjoying them as candy…

Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit Cupcake Kit

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Peter Rabbit Cupcake Kit

Every now and again I come across something that’s so cute it makes me just want to call it a day. It’s like, “Well, nothing I see or do today’s going to top this, might as well put on my pink pajamas and go to bed.”

The Meri Meri Peter Rabbit Cupcake Kit just had that effect on me and I can’t promise that a day hasn’t, indeed, been called.

Features:

  • Includes 24 cupcake cases and 24 decorative toppers in 4 designs
  • Features beatrix potter’s classic illustrations
  • Coordinates with meri meri peter rabbit party range
  • Designed in England
  • Contains standard size cupcake cases that are oven safe and greaseproof

This beautiful cupcake kit is available on Amazon. Click through for more details.

Lemon Cakes: A Perfect Recipe for Easter from Woman’s Day

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 Woman's Day Lemon Cakes

The April issue of Woman’s Day (pictured after the recipe) hits newsstands today and it definitely qualifies as a must have. Spring and Easter themed recipes include the one below that Woman’s Day is generously sharing with us.  Each cake costs only 13 cents (!!!) to make and can be decorated in many fun, creative ways.

Lemon Cakes

Makes 40 – Cost Per Cake 13¢

1-1/2 cups all-purpose Flour
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp lemon zest
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 Tbsp whole milk
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 16-cavity silicone oval pans
Poured Fondant

Royal Frosting

  1. Heat oven to 350° F.  Lightly coat two silicone oval pans with cooking spray.  In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  2. Using an electric mixer beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest in a bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time.  Reduce the mixer speed to low and alternately add the flour mixture, milk and lemon juice, mixing just until incorporated.
  3. Divide the batter among the prepared pans (1 Tbsp per hole).  Place on baking sheets and bake, rotating the positions of the sheets halfway through, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 17 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack, rounded side up.  Rinse pans and repeat with the remaining batter.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare the Poured Fondant.  Keep the pan over very low heat (remove from any heat if the frosting becomes too runny).  Hold one cake on a fork and spoon frosting over the top, being careful to coat all the sides.  Tap off any excess fondant, and then transfer to a wire rack.  Repeat with the remaining cakes and fondant.  Once dry, decorate with Royal Frosting.  To garnish these critters, decorate with sprinkles, crystal sugars, edible glitter, and use your frosting to make your critters come to life!

 

Poured fondant

1 lb confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3 tbsp water

In a small, deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan on low heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir until melted and warm but not hot to touch, 3 to 4 minutes.

Royal Frosting

3 large egg whites
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 lb confectioners’ sugar
Gel food colors

  1. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg white, vanilla and cream of tartar on medium-high speed until foamy, about 1 minute.
  2. Turn off the mixer and add the confectioners’ sugar.  Beat on low until incorporated.  Increase the speed to high and beat until medium-stiff glossy peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes.  Separate into bowls, tint to desired colors, then place in pastry bags fitted with fine round tips and decorate as desired.

Woman's Day April 2014 Cover

Click for a larger version to see the ADORABLE details on the cakes. So cute!

Recipe and Photo Credit: Woman’s World

Easter Candy Cookies: Beautiful and Delicious

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Easter Candy Cookies

Easter Cookies Recipe

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tbsp. vanilla
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cups small chocolate Easter candies or coarsely chopped candy bars (Editor’s note: We used Hershey’s Solid Milk Chocolate Eggs)
36 jelly beans, if desired

  1. Heat oven to 375⁰F.  Beat butter, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well mixed. Mix in both sugars.
  2. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until smooth. Stir or knead in chocolate candies (Target Tip: To make it easy for kids to chop larger pieces of hard candy, place candy in sealed plastic bag and let kids pound with a rolling pin or large wooden spoon.)
  3. Drop mixture onto cookie sheets using a tablespoon.
  4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown around edges. Press a jellybean into each cookie.  Let cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet.  Cool completely.

Yield: 3 Dozen Beautiful Cookies

Photo and Recipe Credit: A Bullseye view!

The Woman’s World April 9, 2012 Issue

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Woman's World April 9 2012 IssueAs you may know, I’m something of a magazine fanatic. What’s more, I refuse to part with them.  My daughters and I pass them around, then one of us will lay claim to the booty and file it under “Mine, all Mine!” I collect most of my magazines like the treasures they are – especially the ones with great recipes.  A great day is when I return from the store with bags of wonderful groceries and an armful of new magazines. I can only imagine the expression on my face when I see that new magazines have been put on the store’s racks. I must look like a kid as he leaves school for summer break.

ECSTASY!!!

There are a couple of magazines that I simply put into the cart the minute I see a new issue. Others, I’ll thumb through – making sure it warrants a trip home. One of the magazines that automatically go into the cart is Woman’s World. For less than $2.00, Woman’s World is the greatest literary bargain you’ll ever find. Possibly the greatest bargain left in the world. Basically, this magazine is smiles from cover to cover. There are always countless adorable pictures and wonderful stories that warm your heart and comics that make you laugh out loud. You know, the kind you cut out and pin to your refrigerator.

Speaking of pictures, there’s a photo of a kitten smelling a poppy in the most recent issue that gets me every time I look at it. Someone needs to tell this kitten that she’s simply too cute. I’d looked through the magazine half a dozen times before I even realized that beneath the kitten’s picture were GORGEOUS pictures of poppies on tablecloths, plates, handbags, shoes, bracelets, and even a sundress. This crazy cat lady had never noticed them before.

In addition to the photographs, stories, and funnies, each issue has priceless beauty, fitness, money, and health advice. In this particular issue (April 9, 2012), for example, you can find the following:

  • Stay Stroke-Free For Life
  • 6 Easy Ways to Stop Thinning Hair
  • Dodge the Year-Round Flu
  • 9 BEAUTIFUL Spring handbags
  • How to Use Makeup to Make You Look Slimmer
  • How to Improve Your Mood Quickly (One suggestion is coffee – no wonder I’m seldom in a bad mood… I’m seldom without a cup of coffee nearby)
  • Treat Sensitive Teeth
  • End Joint Pain
  • Lose 9 Pounds in 2 Days
  • How Chocolate is Good for You (Man, I seriously love this magazine…)
  • Contests (win $1,000 in groceries!)
  • A Bunny Bonnet Cake Recipe and Instructions
  • 5 Gorgeous Breakfast Recipes
  • Turn a Can of Soup Into Dinner
  • Easter Favorites (Recipes which include a Flourless Orange-Chocolate Cake, Leg of Lamb, Cupcakes, and Matzo Ball Soup)
  • Spring Decorating Tips and Ideas
  • How to Make Designer Eggs
  • Crossword Puzzle (in every issue – love these)
  • How to Slim Down with Spices
  • What Your Food Cravings Reveal About You
  • Horoscope (again, in every issue)
  • Sudoku
  • A Couple of Brain Games
  • A few short stories
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul Story (these are always amazing)

All of that (and more!) for less than $2.00.  Freaking amazing.

The adorable Easter Cake in this issue:

Easter Cake in the Woman's World April 9, 2012 Issue

Below is one of the recipes in this issue. It’s a “Lighten Up” Recipe for Double Strawberry Bars and I can’t wait to try them.

Double-Strawberry Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 pkg. (8 oz) 1/3 less fat cream cheese, at room temperature
4 Tbs. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! cooking and baking 79 percent vegetable oil spread, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups frozen sliced strawberries, thawed and patted dry with paper towels
3/4 cup low-sugar strawberry preserves
1/4 cup blanched sliced almonds
1 Tbs. coarse white decorating sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13″x9″ baking pan with foil; coat with cooking spray.

Mix flour, cinnamon and salt; reserve.  On medium speed, beat cream cheese and butter spread until blended.  Beat in granulated sugar until combined. Beat in reserved flour mixture until combined.

Turn out onto unfloured surface; gather mixture into smooth dough. Reserve 1 cup dough.  Press remaining dough into bottom of pan.

In bowl, toss strawberries with preserves; spread over dough in pan.  Using fingertips, crumble reserved dough over strawberry filling.  Sprinkle with almonds. Bake 35 minutes or until golden. Cool.  Sprinkle with decorating sugar.  Using foil, lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into bars.

 

 

Gifts from the Kitchen

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When it comes to cookbooks, I’m on a roll I can’t even believe. I’ve been sent some of the most amazing cookbooks and cooking magazines to review lately.  As a cookbook collector, I’m in hog Heaven. Chefs, publishers, authors, and food lovers are turning out some of the most amazing cookbooks I’ve ever seen lately.  The competition is fierce in this hugely popular subject, and believe me, everyone’s stepping up their game.

The most recent beauty I was sent to review is no exception. Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion is filled with stunningly beautiful photos and highly unique, absolutely amazing recipes. There’s a recipe for Fortune Cookies (page 126), for example, and you can even add your own message inside. They’re gorgeous.

If, for some reason, you aren’t sure you want to buy a book just for baked Christmas gift ideas, let me assure you that this is a book you’ll use year round. Check out some of the great recipes, and you’ll see what I mean:

  • Granola (make a batch for yourself to use on yogurt or cereal or make for a gift – fills about 4 jam jars)
  • Chocolate Valentine’s Cakes
  • Baby Shower Cakes (they’d be gorgeous for wedding showers too)
  • Easter Nest Cupcakes (adorable!)
  • Doughnuts
  • Stained Glass Snowflake Cookies
  • Stollen
  • Wedding Cake
  • Pickled Cucumbers
  • Pink and White Vanilla Marshmallows (perfect for Mother’s Day or birthdays)
  • Lollipops
  • Raspberry and Rose Chocolate Wafers (too beautiful to even talk about)
  • Greek Honey Cookies
  • Candied Citrus Peel
  • Apple Jelly
  • Mint Jelly
  • Hot Chili Pepper Jelly
  • Strawberry and Vanilla Preserves
  • Cherry Jam
  • Raspberry and Passion Fruit Pastilles
  • Love Heart Sugar Cubes (PERFECT for Valentine’s Day – they look like candied sugar hearts – the kind with words printed on them)
  • Pesto
  • Chocolate and Hazlenut Spread (Homemade Nutella? I’m all int!)
  • English Muffins
  • Sea-Salted Caramels
  • Peanut or Macadamia Brittle
  • Tortellini with Roasted Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Ricotta
  • Pickled Beets
  • Chocolate Truffles
  • Spiced Cranberry Jelly
  • Biscotti
  • Spiced Nuts
  • Herbal Teas
  • Pecan Snowball Cookies
  • Shortbreads
  • And even more!

In the back of the book, the author has listed different occasions – along with the recipes that would be ideal for each. The occasions include:

  • Mother’s Day
  • Father’s Day
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Easter
  • Housewarming
  • Baby Shower
  • Birthday
  • Bachelorette Party
  • New Year’s Day
  • House Guest
  • Christmas

You could easily add:

  • Grandparent’s Day
  • Secretary’s Day
  • Boss’s Day
  • Game day
  • Tailgating
  • Anniversary
  • Graduation

Then again, since when do we even need an occasion to bake beautiful treats for our loved ones? I baked two beautiful pies last night and the occasion was “On Account” – On account of wanting to see everyone’s faces light up when they came through the door and smelled (and saw) Apple and Cherry Pies greeting them.  This gorgeous cookbook and gift guide is FILLED with “On Account” recipes!

See Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion for more information. Fellow foodies, this is one you’ll want to order today.  It’s beautiful.