Easter Egg Hunts are not for the faint of heart at my house!

I love Easter because it reminds me of Springtime with all of the pastel colors on the soft fluffy stuffed Easter toys, Easter eggs and the baskets all decorated in such pretty colors. Seeing all of the cute Easter dresses for little girls that are in the stores makes me feel like Spring is almost here. I also used to love to take my kids to the big Easter egg hunt at the school when they were little. Easter is my kids’ absolute favorite holiday after Christmas and it’s all because we made one big fatal error a long time ago at my house on Easter which changed Easter morning as we knew it forever. I started hiding money eggs. I thought this was a good way for them to have some spending money in the spring or get something they wanted or needed. So the first year after they raced around the house collecting eggs my oldest daughter decided to share with her little brother and gave him all of the eggs that didn’t rattle with the change inside of them and wasn’t she upset when he had dollar bills. So after that the fierce competition began! Now this has gone on for quite a few years and even though they are almost all grown up I asked them if we should stop the egg hunt; it was a definite “no.” They know easy money when they see it. But last year – and I’m truly serious when I say this – they actually limbered up and stretched before they went to find the money eggs and as they started looking for them I just stood in horror watching everything in the house rattle, rumble and shake.

When I finally came to my senses, I was, as usual, bellowing at the top of my lungs. “Don’t break my grandmother’s dishes!” “You’re going to drop the refrigerator on the dog!” “No, not in the washing machine – it’s running!” All I could do was just flop in a chair and wait for it to be over. It is really truly amazing to see grown children pushing and shoving each other out of the way and one of them leaping right over the coffee table, all for one lonely egg on the windowsill. So with that said I’ll be filling money eggs again this spcoming Easter, rearranging the furniture for a more raceway atmosphere, and putting all of my favorite knick knacks, my grandmother’s china and anything else I hold dear someplace safe.

I think this year I’ll stay right out of the way while sipping on a refreshing beverage.

 

The Easter Bunny

1 1/2 oz. dark crème de cacao

1/2 oz vodka

1 tsp. chocolate syrup

1 tsp. cherry brandy

Shake the crème de cacao and vodka with ice; strain over ice in an old fashioned size glass and top with the chocolate syrup and cherry brandy.  Happy Easter Lee Hollis

An Apple a Day

Today is the official release date for “Death of a Kitchen Diva”! and I couldn’t be more excited. Of course a small celebration should be had so I think after a brunch of the delicious recipe below I will then top off the evening with a couple of my new favorite shots!

I’ve have never really been a fan of apples but a while back a friend of  mine talked me into to trying a couple of apple delights and let me tell you I have never looked back and have been whipping up batches of both for friends and my self.

I’m sharing these with you and I hope you will share with your friends and family and enjoy them as much as I did. Of course one can never ever go wrong with a Washington Apple Shot. 

 

 

 

Washington Apple (Shot)

 

1/3 oz Crown Royal Canadian whisky
1/3 oz  Sour Apple Pucker schnapps
1/3 oz cranberry juice
1 splash 7-Up soda

 

Pour Crown Royal Canadian whisky, sour apple pucker and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a shot glass. Add a splash of 7-Up if desired, and serve.

 

Caramel Apple French Toast

 

Melt 1/2c. butter; 1 c. brown sugar and 2 tbsp clear karo syrup until clear

Pour into pam sprayed 9 by 13 baking dish.  Peel 3 granny smith (or whatever I guess) apples, cut into 1/4 inch slices, lay in flat rows.  Sprinkle dried cranberries and toasted walnuts amongst the apples to your taste. 

Cut a loaf of French bread into 1 inch slices and lay on top of apples (9-12 slices) 

 

Pour over top combination of:

 

5 beaten eggs

1 cup of milk

2 tsp of vanilla

cinnamon

nutmeg

 

Cover and Refrigerate over night. 

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes (until top browns but not wiggly – it really says that ) Serve in squares with a dollop of vanilla yogurt and slices of apple. 

Cheers

Lee Hollis