Easter Entertaining

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a result, it has become synonymous with rebirth and rejuvenation. The holiday also takes place in early Spring which is the season of new growth.

For these two reasons, I enjoy including fresh, bright foods and decorations. There is nothing better than gathering with those you love to celebrate life.

Easter Recipes

A good Deviled Egg recipe is a must. Serve them as an appetizer or as a side with your main meal.

Ham is the traditional main course for Easter dinner. Ham is incredibly easy to prepare since it is typically fully cooked and simply needs to be warmed to proper serving temperature. Most hams come with their own glaze packet or you may have a favorite family recipe.

However you decide to prepare your ham, serve it with this delicious pineapple salsa. It has just enough of a kick from the horseradish combined with the sweetness of the pineapple and apricot preserves. It goes together in minutes and can also be made in advance and chilled until ready to serve, making it perfect for entertaining.

I love asparagus in the Spring so, to me, it is the perfect side dish for your holiday ham. This simple and delicious Roasted Asparagus really highlights the vegetable itself without a lot of fuss.

Another yummy Easter treat is Hot Cross Buns. With this semi-homemade version, nobody will ever know you didn't bake them from scratch.

Easter Tablescape

When I think Easter, I think Spring and when I think Spring, I think tulips. For your Easter table, a beautiful table cloth with a glass vase full of delicate, multi-colored tulips is perfect.

Since coloring eggs is such a tradition, use it to your advantage. Turn your colored eggs into place cards by simply writing each guest's name on an egg and placing an egg in a decorative egg cup at each place at the table.

Carry the theme through to your napkins by folding them into adorable bunnies. Rectangular napkins work best for this. You can make them from square napkins, but you may need to secure the bunnies with a clip or pin. Here's how you do it:

1. Iron and lightly starch your napkins.

2. Place the napkin, right side up, on your work surface with a short end closest to you.

3. Fold the short end of the napkin that is closest to you up 1/4 the length of the napkin. Repeat, folding the napkin over it itself three more times.

4. Holding the bottom, right corner of the napkin, fold up along the imaginary center line of the napkin. Repeat with the bottom left corner. You should wind up with something that resembles a downward pointing arrow.

5. With the point of the arrow facing you, fold the top right and left corners down and in toward the center of the napkin. Your napkin should now be in a diamond shape.

6. Fold the right and left corners of the diamond in toward the center line so that the tips of the corners are touching.

7. Carefully, flip the napkin over.

8. Fold the bottom point up so that the tip of the point is approximately one inch above the center fold.

9. Flip the napkin back over and carefully fold the right side in half.

10. Now fold the left side in half and tuck the bottom of the left side into the pocket that was created when you folded the right side in half. If you are using a square napkin, this is where you will need to secure your bunny together.

11. Turn your bunny around, adjust the hood around his face, adjust his ears and you have an Easter Bunny napkin for your table setting.

Easter Craft Idea

If you are looking for a craft to keep your kids entertained this Easter, try this adorable wooden bunny magnet. It is so easy and fun to make, your kids will want to create an entire bunny family!

• 2 small wooden ice cream spoons
• glue
• white craft paint
• a small sponge brush
• small googly eyes
• small pink pom-pom's
• thin ribbon
• thin magnet

Directions:

For each bunny glue two ice cream spoons together so that the wider ends are aligned on top of each other and the thinner ends form a V (making the bunny's head and ears).

Paint the bunny white and let dry. Glue on the bunny's pom-pom nose and googly eyes. Tie the ribbon into a bow and glue it just where the head turns into the ears. Glue a small piece of magnet onto the back and you have yourself the cutest wooden Easter bunny magnet.