24/7 MOMS

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

5 Egg-stra Simple Easter Cupcakes

Create simple Easter cupcakes that every kid and adult will love for your Easter celebration.

MOM Tip: Make a sample of each cupcake then place out the Supplies for a DIY cupcake buffet ( decorate it yourself) Kids will love having the opportunity to create one of these simple cupcakes.


Fluffy Bunny Cupcakes


Ingredients
  • 1 box vanilla cake mix and ingredients to make cupcakes per box instructions.
  • 1 can vanilla/white frosting
  • 1 bag coconut
  • Pink sugar sprinkles
  • 1 large marshmallow per cupcake
  • 1 small marshmallow per cupcake
  • Black cake decorator gel
  • Cake decorator candy confetti sprinkles
Directions

1. Following directions on box of cake mix to make cupcakes.

2. Frost the cupcakes using the canned frosting.

3. Place desired amount of coconut into a bowl and dip each cupcake into it to create a fluffy look.

4. Cut the ends of a each marshmallow. Squeeze each end slightly to give it an oval shape, then decorate the sticky side of each one with pink sugar sprinkles and put a tiny bit of frosting on the back side then place on cupcake for the ears.

5. Add a candy confetti for the nose and two pieces of candy confetti for the eyes, and cut each mini marshmallows in half for the cheeks. Then draw the whiskers using the decorators' gel.


Easter Basket Cupcake


Ingredients
  • 1 box vanilla cake mix and ingredients to make cupcakes per box instructions
  • 1 can vanilla/white frosting
  • 1 bag coconut
  • Green food coloring
  • Jelly beans
  • Green pipe cleaners

Directions

1. Following directions on box of cake mix to make cupcakes.

2. Frost the cupcakes using the canned frosting.

3. Place desired amount of coconut into a zip bag and mix with 3 to 4 drops of green food coloring. add more if needed. mix well.

4. Place one teaspoon worth of the green coconut in the enter of each frosted cupcake.

5. Place 3 -4 jelly beans onto the coconut.

6. Bend the pipe cleaner fin to an arch or the handle ( cut to desired length) . Push each end to the sides of the cupcake to form a handle as seen in the picture.



Strawberry Surprise Cupcake


Ingredients
  • 1 box vanilla cake mix and ingredients to make cupcakes per box instructions
  • 1 can vanilla/white frosting
  • Colored sugar sprinkles
  • 1 Small fresh hulled strawberry per cupcake
  • Fresh mint leaves

Directions

1. Following directions on box of cake mix to make cupcakes.

2. Remove the liner from the cupcake.

3. Cut and remove a portion of cupcake from the top/center of each cupcake, ( size of strawberry) leaving about 1/2 to 1-inch of cake in the bottom. Stuff each cupcake with a strawberry .

4. Frost each cupcake by spreading icing over the top of the cupcakes. Sprinkle colored sugar. Top with small mint leaves .

Fluffy Easter Chick Cupcake

Ingredients
  • 1 box vanilla cake mix and ingredients to make cupcakes per box instructions
  • 1 can vanilla/white frosting
  • 1 bag coconut
  • Yellow food coloring
  • Orange gum drops or spice drops
  • Black cake decorating gel or chocolate chips

Directions

1. Following directions on box of cake mix to make cupcakes.

2. Frost the cupcakes using the canned frosting.

3. Place desired amount of coconut into a zip bag and mix with 3 to 4 drops of yellow food coloring. add more if needed. mix well.

4. Dip frosted cupcake into yellow colored coconut

5. For eyes use black decorator gel or chocolate chips

6. For beak -cut orange gum or spice drop into desired shape.


M&M Spring Flower Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 1 box vanilla cake mix and ingredients to make cupcakes per box instructions
  • 1 can vanilla/white frosting
  • Colored sugar sprinkles
  • Easter M& M's
  • Confetti candy cake decorations
  • 1 piece green fruit-by-the-foot

Directions

1. Following directions on box of cake mix to make cupcakes.

2. Frost the cupcakes using the canned frosting.

3. Sprinkle colored sugar. Place M& M's on top in a flower petal pattern. Press a confetti cake decoration candy in the center of the flower. Cut the fruit-by-the- foot to make the flower stem, press onto the cupcake.

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WIN: The Katy and VJ Series by Baby Elephant Books

The Katy and VJ Series by Baby Elephant Books make great gifts for any occasion or no occasion at all because you never need an excuse to promote literacy, especially when reading with Katy and VJ is fun, interactive, and educational.

Katy and VJ are two preschool age children who use their imagination and things from around their house to pretend about jobs in their area of interest and that use their skills and abilities.

Our Books are Fun

Each book is chalk full of dramatic play ideas to help children pretend to be different jobs in their area of interest Librarians, educators, and parents can use the ideas in the book to act out each job and make career education fun for children of any age, by using things you commonly find around the house. A set of earmuffs and a q-tip are now a sports broadcaster headset, so turn down the volume on the TV and let your child narrate the next game. An ordinary butter box can be transformed into a camera and your child can use their artwork to create a photo shoot while they pretend to be photographers. The possibilities are endless and there is no right way to use the books; the only things we ask is that you have fun with them and remember that work can be fun when we are doing something we love.

Our Books are Educational

As you turn through the pages you will notice professionals in each book are featured in nontraditional gender roles and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and ages to promote diversity, but our books are also highly educational and adaptable to children of all ages. Part of our vision is linking career education to everything children learn, so that they don’t learn just to pass the tests but to explore future job options. This approach helps children develop a love for learning, so they want to complete school to advance to their chosen career, rather than dropping out because they are bored and don’t see the point. For example, our daughter learned her shapes and colors while being the animal patrol officer and she is learning to ride her bike through the ice resurfacing machine operator. Simple, maybe, but we can teach things like division through the pet pastry chef, physics through the footwear engineer, and computer programming through the animal shelter website administrator. In the near future we will have our curriculum up on the Katy and VJ site but until then, we are happy for you to contact us for curriculum ideas. Just like children learn the names, habitats, diets, and other random facts about animals, we encourage them to learn the same things about jobs. Although our daughter loves dinosaurs too and we teach her all about them, in reality, when is she ever going to meet a Stegosaurus? If you are wondering if it is too difficult to teach a 2 year old about a sports psychologist and the word imagery might be too advanced of a concept, look at all the other things your child is learning and reevaluate your perspective. They are capable of learning anything we present them with, especially when it is fun and they can use dramatic play to explore the world around them. When we fail to educate about career options from an early age, our children’s exposure is limited and we cheat them out of future jobs they never even got to consider. Look back on your career knowledge and did you even know there was such a thing as a sports psychologist when you were in high school? We can’t become what we don’t know and we can’t be truly happy at work unless we love what we do. Check out our adult workshops if you don’t get up every morning and say, “YEAH! I get to go to work today!” That is our goal for children of this generation. Yes we know work is not all fun and games and there will be bad days, but what if most of our days were as fun as children have using and playing with our books. Give this simple gift to a child in your life today by ordering our books online.

Looking for a new fundraiser for your child’s preschool, elementary school, or sports league? Baby Elephant Books offers fundraisers where groups earn up to 51% of sales. And it isn’t too late to cash in this spring for extra money for a year-end school field trip or a fun summer sports camp for your team.

To preview, or to order your own Baby Elephant Books, visit www.babyelephantbooks.com. The Katy and VJ Series by Baby Elephant Books make great gifts for any occasion or no occasion at all because you never need an excuse to promote literacy, especially when reading with Katy and VJ is fun, interactive, and educational.These 38 page durable books are ideal for kids 2-10 at only $8.95. They also offer media mail so you save on shipping. Discounts are offered when purchasing more than one book.

If you are a mom looking for some extra cash in these tough economic times, Baby Elephant Books allows you to buy their books at 50% off and sell them at cost or higher. A box of 30 will earn you an average of $150 and there are no registration fees or commitment. Whether you just want to make one extra payment on your credit card or you want to sell year-round to help pay for dance lessons for your daughter or to save for a family vacation, Baby Elephant Books can help. Finally, if you love to host parties and you love kids, they can train you to provide preschool sports camps and ‘Doggie Days Out’ in your community as birthday parties, story-times, family nights, etc.

WIN: 24/7 MOMS and Baby Elephant books are giving away (1) DOG BOOK and one (1) SPORTS BOOK .

Enter for your chance to win:

1. Become a 24/7 MOMS Subscriber Enter your email address below then leave a comment that you subscribed along with your email address.

2. If you are already a subscriber just leave a comment that you are a subscriber along with your email address.

US entries only and one entry per person. Winner will be chosen on April 11, 2010.


Enter your email address:

Delivered by

*We received a complimentary Baby Elephant Books for review no financial compensation was received.

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FREE Letters From The Easter Bunny

Start a new tradition with your kids this year with a letter from the Easter Bunny. You can hide it in one of their eggs or place it in their Easter baskets.

You can choose to compose your very own letter or use one of the FREE ones that I discovered that you can download and print off.

Free Personalized letter from the Easter Bunny : http://www.theholidayspot.com/easter/bunny_letters/

Free letters from the Easter Bunny for boys and girls as well as coloring pages to download: http://www.freeeasterprintables.com/

Free Personalized letter from the Easter Bunny : http://www.easterbunnyletters.co.uk/

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Table Talk

Tonight's Table Talk
....to create conversation

Q: If we were to plant a garden, what would plant in our garden?
Riddle:
Q: What do rabbits get when it rains?

A: Wet

(each day 24/7 MOMS posts a question and riddle to help you create dinner time conversation with your families)

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Bunny Money Fun - Alternative Egg Filler


Tired of all the candy your kids collect during their Easter egg hunt? We have a Fun Bunny Money alternative idea for you.

24/7 MOMS has created FREE down loadable printable Bunny Money for you to use in creating fun this coming Easter.

Steps to fun:

1. Print out Bunny Money by clicking here

2. Fill various plastic Easter eggs with Bunny Money

3. Create a bunny store - by purchasing and creating things for your kids to purchase with their Bunny Money. You can even make signs like a menu of items for sale and the cost of each one in Bunny Money.

Some examples of things you can have for sale in your store are

Coupons for Movie night
Favorite healthy snacks
Small toys
Coloring books
Work books
Games
Coupon for Ice Cream after Dinner
Coupon for night out with mom or dad
Art supplies
the ideas are endless

4. Hide the Bunny Money filled eggs. Once your children have found all of their filled eggs, have them add up the amount of Bunny Money they each found.

5. Open up the bunny store for business and let your egg hunters begin their shopping.

Do you have other ideas on ways to use Bunny Money this Easter? Leave a comment and share with the 24/7 MOMS.

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Creating An Egg-stra Simple Easter Dinner

Easter is almost here and the planning has begun. 24/7 MOMS has discovered a few new recipes to help you create an Egg-stra simple Easter dinner.


Easter Ham with Cherry Sauce Recipe

from : taste of home

Ingredients

  • 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (6 to 8 pounds)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 can (16 ounces) pitted dark sweet cherries, undrained
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

  • Place ham in a roasting pan. Score surface of ham with shallow diagonal cuts, making diamond shapes. Combine the brown sugar, syrup and mustard; rub over ham and press into cuts.
  • Cover and bake at 325° for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 140° and ham is heated through.
  • For cherry sauce, in a saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Add cherries. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in lemon juice and extract. Serve with ham. Yield: 8-10 serving.

Creamy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

from: Nestle

Ingredients

  • 6 medium (about 2 pounds total) potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3/4 cup NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

PLACE potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender; drain.

RETURN potatoes to saucepan; add evaporated milk and butter. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in cheese. Season with salt and ground black pepper.

NOTE: Chopped green onions, chopped parsley or cooked, crumbled bacon may be added to mashed potatoes.

Parmesan - Garlic Butter Green Beans

from: Betty Crocker

Ingredients:

4 cups Green Giant® SELECT® frozen whole green beans

2 tablespoons butter

1 small clove garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Cook green beans as directed on bag to desired doneness--except do not season to taste; drain.

Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic is tender

Pour garlic butter over cooked green beans; stir to coat. Sprinkle with cheese; toss gently.


Baked Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese

By: California Asparagus Commission

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb asparagus
1 Tbl olive oil
2 ½ Tbl grated parmesan cheese
1 ½ Tbl soft white bread crumbs
2 tsp margarine

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Toss asparagus spears in 1-2 tsp olive oil and arrange in baking pan .

Sprinkle with cheese and bread crumbs. Drizzle with remaining olive oil.

Bake uncovered until asparagus is just tender, about 15 minutes.

Serves 4

Simple Broccoli Salad


Ingredients
1 bunch broccoli
1 bunch cauliflower
1 c cheddar cheese, shredded
1 chopped sweet onion
½ lb bacon, fried

Dressing
½ c mayonnaise
¼ c sugar
1 T. vinegar

Cut broccoli and cauliflower into Florette's. Add cheese, onion and bacon. Mix in dressing. Chill for 1 hour or more.

Easter Carrot Salad

Ingredients
2 pounds raw carrots sliced in circles
1 purple onion, sliced thin
1 green pepper thinly sliced
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salad mustard
1 can tomato soup
3/4 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

Place carrots in boiling water Blanch the carrots for about 30 seconds. Place into ice cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well.

Place carrots in a large bowl, add in onion and green peppers.

Mix remaining ingredients in a separate bowl then pour over carrots.

Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for 24 hours.


Adorable Edible Easter Dinner Rolls

from: Rhodes


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WIN: Bella Sara Collectible Cards



Looking for the perfect Easter basket filler for your horse fan ? Try the newest Bella Sara collectible cards.

Bella Sara is a magical world of horses with positive messages, where
girls can expand their imaginations through play offline and online at
BellaSara.com. Through toys, collectible cards, books, games, puzzles, arts
and crafts and more, the magical world of Bella Sara is unlocked online
with secret codes found in products. Here, girls can play fun games,
adopt their own horse, go on adventures, read stories, learn of Emma’s
journey into the magical world North of North, and help nurture the
magical horses at www.bellasara.com.


Join Emma and her friends as they search the Jasmine Forest for the missing horses of Herd Sunflower. Discover magical flower, tree, and plant horses and meet new friends and characters. Your adventure with Emma begins with the secret codes found on the Bella Sara™ Tickets in each Card Pack. Use your secret codes to unlock a new set of adventures at BellaSara.com! What adventures will your secret codes unlock?


Secret Code Activation Experience:

-Activate all the Sunflowers adventures, with specific new horses and characters from the Sunflowers release when you enter Sunflowers secret codes at BellaSara.com

-Customize your very own avatar

-Unlock horses in their stables with each secret code

-Receive seeds and objects to place in the world with each secret code

-Earn 250, 350, or 500 horseshoes with each secret code.


There are Twenty new collectible miniature horses to add to your collection and activate online adventures. The new set is a mixture of Bella’s Ball, Sunflowers, and Moonfairies velvety horses with secret codes. Each secret codes activates new adventures in Bella Sara Adventures at BellaSara.com.

Each set contains:

· One random miniature horse

· Secret Code: unlocks Bella Sara Adventures

· Colorful checklist



WIN: 24/7 MOMS and Bell Sara are giving away 2 card packs and 2 Minis to one 24/7 mom.

Enter for your chance to win:

1. Become a 24/7 MOMS Subscriber Enter your email address below then leave a comment that you subscribed along with your email address.

2. If you are already a subscriber just leave a comment that you are a subscriber along with your email address.

US entries only and one entry per person. Winner will be chosen on April 11, 2010.


Enter your email address:

Delivered by

*We received a complimentary Bella Sara cards for review no financial compensation was received.

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Table Talk

Tonight's Table Talk
....to create conversation

here is your most favorite place you have ever visited?
Riddle:
Q: Why can't a rabbit's nose be 12 inches long?

A: Because then it would be a foot!

(each day 24/7 MOMS posts a question and riddle to help you create dinner time conversation with your families)

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Monday, March 29, 2010

Scrappin' Fun Time- Don't Miss It

Mom time is what it's s all about on 24/7 MOMS Live - every Tuesday night

It's Fun - It's Free - It's Fabulous Mom time - Join us

This Week 24/7 MOMS Live Features:

- Tips and Tricks of Scrap booking

- FUN crafty demo - you don't want to miss. Will we give it away?


-
Egg-cellent Easter Cupcake Ideas

- 7 Taming The Sibling Rivalry tips


The #1 MOM webcast goes live every Tuesday night 7pm PST or 9pm PST at www.247moms.com

Put your kids to bed - Grab a hot cup of your favorite beverage - Surf over to channel www.247moms.com on your computer and join us.

Join the chat to WIN prizes ( instructions are posted at www.247moms.com every Tuesday at 5pm PST)

Tweet, TXT, Facebook , invite all of your MOM friends to this weeks 24/7 MOMS Live webcast.

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3 No Experience Needed Easter Favors-Hostess Gifts

No CRAFT experience needed to create these simple Goodie bags - Hostess gifts - Table favors for your Easter celebration.

#1 My Favorite PEEPS -

Materials Needed:
Snack size zip bags
5 PEEPS per bag
Bag Topper - Free from 24/7 MOMS Click here
Stapler or double sided tape

Directions:
Place 5 peeps into snack size zip bags
Print free bag topper. Click here to print.
Attached bag topper to zip bag ( follow instruction son bag topper) with stapler or double sides tape


#2 Bunny in a bag

Materials Needed:

Chocolate Bunny or Bunny sugar cookie ( homemade or purchased from bakery)
Easter grass color of your choice
Cellophane bags
Easter/ spring ribbon

Directions:
Place Easter small handful of Easter grass in bottom of bag
Place bunny in bag standing up
add in several chocolate eggs or M&M's
close bag my tying ribbon into a bow.

* Add a tag with a special saying or quote if you desire.


#3 Treat Jar

Materials Needed:
Small empty jar - size of your choosing ( I purchased a small craft supply jar)
Easter candy ( jelly beans, M&M's, etc.)
Scrap book paper, ribbons embellishments
Double sided tape

Directions:
Decorate jar using the supplies you have chosen
Fill jar with candy

* Add a tag or sticker with a quote or note on it.

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Hoppin' Fun Easter Bunny Brunch Ideas

Create a kid friendly brunch this Easter with these Hoppin' fun brunch ideas.

Carrot Utensil Holders

from: Family Fun
Make one of these carrots for each party guest, then display them in a big bunny-tempting pile on the brunch table.
Materials
  • Orange paper napkins, dinner size
  • Green plastic utensils ( I used clear)
  • Green pipe cleaners

Instructions
  1. For each carrot, fold one of the paper napkins into a rectangle. Place a set of utensils across the lower left corner of the rectangle, fold in the lower right corner as shown, then roll it up loosely.
  2. Wrap one or two green pipe cleaners around the napkin and necks of the utensils, then twist them to secure, as shown.
  3. Trim the pipe cleaners a bit, if desired, so they look like leafy carrot tops.


Bunny Pancakes
from: Pillsbury

Ingredients
1stack Pillsbury® frozen original microwave pancakes (3 pancakes)
2raisins
1/2 maraschino cherry
2pieces (1 1/2 inches each) red string licorice
1/4cup maple-flavored syrup

Directions
On large microwavable plate, stack 2 of the pancakes. Microwave uncovered on High 30 seconds.

Cut remaining pancake into ears and bow tie. (See photo.) Arrange ears and bow tie around stack of pancakes to look like bunny head. Microwave on High 30 to 45 seconds or until hot.

For bunny's face, arrange raisins for eyes, cherry for nose and string licorice for mouth. Drizzle with syrup. Serve immediately.

* You can also use fresh made pancakes with this recipe.

Scrambled Egg Nests
By: Family Fun




In these easy and charming bites, shredded potatoes are baked in a muffin tin to form crunchy cups, which are then filled with scrambled eggs to make a festive and kid-friendly finger food.


Ingredients:


1 (3 1/2-cup) bag frozen shredded potatoes, defrosted (we used Simply Potatoes)
1/3 cup vegetable oil or butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/3 cup finely diced bell peppers
3/4 cup diced cooked breakfast sausage Shredded Cheddar
Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400°. In a large bowl, toss together the potatoes, 1/4 cup of the oil or butter, salt, and pepper. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the potato mixture into each cup of a 12-serving muffin tin. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of each cup, then bake until golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the nests from the oven and allow them to cool.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and milk. Heat a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining oil or butter to the pan and heat. Add the onions and peppers to the pan and saute until both are soft and the onions are slightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sausage and cook until heated through. Add the egg mixture and stir until the eggs have set and small curds have formed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Remove the potato nests from the muffin tin and place them on an ovenproof platter or cookie sheet. Fill each cup with some of the egg mixture, top with a sprinkling of the cheese, and place the nests in a 375° oven until the cheese is melted, about 2 to 3 minutes. If you like, garnish each nest with a little parsley. Serve warm.

Cinnamon Roll Bunnies

Ingredients

  • 1 tube (12.4 ounces) refrigerated cinnamon roll dough
  • 12 M&M's miniature baking bits
  • 4 pink jelly beans
  • 24 pieces black shoestring licorice (1 inch)
  • 1 drop red food coloring
  • Brown decorating gel or color of your choice

Directions

  • Separate dough into eight rolls. Place four rolls on a greased baking sheet. Using a 2-in. biscuit cutter, cut 3/4 in. into both sides of remaining rolls to form ears and bow ties. Place ears at the top and a bow tie below each cinnamon roll; pinch to attach. Slightly flatten rolls.
  • Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside 1-1/2 teaspoons icing. Spread remaining icing over bunnies. Place a baking bit in the center of each bow tie; add remaining baking bits for eyes. Place a jelly bean in each center for nose; attach licorice pieces for whiskers.
  • Tint reserved icing pink with red food coloring; pipe mouths and outline ears. Pipe edges of bow ties with decorating gel. Yield: 4 servings.

Easter Bunny Pear Salad

Ingredients
Lettuce leaves
Fresh or canned pear halves
Raisins
Almond slivers
Whipped cream (canned)
Directions
Place lettuce leaf on plate. Lay one pear half on each plate of lettuce, flat side down. Make bunny ears with almonds on small end of pear. Use raisins for nose and eyes on small end of pear. Squirt whipped cream on large end for the bunny tail.


Easter Bunny Bread Bowl

With its toothy grin, lovely golden crust and tummy that's perfect for serving dip, this charming rabbit is sure to bring a smile to guests young and old.

Ingredients

  • 2 loaves (1 pound each) frozen bread dough, thawed
  • 2 raisins
  • 2 sliced almonds
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • Lettuce leaves
  • Dip of your choice

Directions

  • Cut a fourth off of one loaf of dough; shape into a pear to form head. For body, flatten remaining portion into a 7-in. x 6-in. oval; place on a greased baking sheet. Place head above body. Make narrow cuts, about 3/4 in. deep, on each side of head for whiskers.
  • Cut second loaf into four equal portions. For ears, shape two portions into 16-in. ropes; fold ropes in half. Arrange ears with open ends touching head. Cut a third portion of dough in half; shape each into a 3-1/2-in. oval for back paws. Cut two 1-in. slits on top edge for toes. Position on each side of body.
  • Divide the fourth portion of dough into three pieces. Shape two pieces into 2-1/2-in. balls for front paws; shape the remaining piece into two 1-in. balls for cheeks and one 1/2-in. ball for nose. Place paws on each side of body; cut two 1-in. slits for toes. Place cheeks and nose on face. Add raisins for eyes and almonds for teeth.
  • Brush dough with egg. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
  • Place bread on a lettuce-lined 16-in. x 13-in. serving tray. Cut a 5-in. x 4-in. oval in center of body. Hollow out bread, leaving a 1/2-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). Line with lettuce and fill with dip. Yield: 1 loaf.
Bunny In A Cup Pudding

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 twists black licorice
  • 1/4 cup vanilla frosting
  • Red liquid or paste food coloring
  • 8 cream-filled oval vanilla sandwich cookies
  • 8 green jelly beans
  • 4 pink jelly beans

Directions

  • In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Pour into four small bowls; cover and refrigerate.
  • Meanwhile, cut licorice widthwise into fourths, then lengthwise into thirds; set aside. Combine frosting and red food coloring; frost top of cookies to within 1/2-in. of edge.
  • Just before serving, insert tow cookies into each bowl of pudding for ears. Add green jelly beans for eyes and a pink jelly bean for nose. Place three pieces of licorice on each side of the nose for whiskers. Yield: 4 servings.

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