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easter

carrot cake recipe
EasterFamily RecipesFoodLifestyle

The Perfect Carrot Cake Recipe For Your Family’s Easter

by Grandma Penny
written by Grandma Penny

If you’re going to have dessert at your family Easter celebration, why not make it carrot cake? It’s the Easter Bunny’s favorite, and it’s a cake that both kids and adults will love. There are so many different ways you can make carrot cake, but this recipe is definitely my favorite.

The cake is nice and moist, and the cream cheese frosting is rich and delicious. If you’re feeling ambitious, why not try decorating your cake with some frosting carrots or Easter eggs? You can also make your life easier by whipping up this cake the day before Easter–it’ll still taste great on day two.

Check out this simple recipe that your family will be sure to love down to the very last bite!

Once you have the cake completely cool, whip up this simple frosting recipe and spread on the cake layers. 

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Easter bread
EasterFoodRecipes

Fun And Festive Easter Bread For Your Family Gathering

by Grandma Penny
written by Grandma Penny

 

Easter is one of only a few times a year when entire families get the chance to sit down together and enjoy a delicious meal. Whether your family sticks to tradition by serving baked ham or has a different go-to Easter meal, this festive Easter bread will make the perfect addition to your buffet table. It looks almost too pretty to eat, but trust me, it’s so tasty you won’t want to miss a bite.

My Easter bread recipe is a family favorite. I make it every year, and every year there’s nothing but crumbs left on the plate. This bread is soft and sweet, and our tradition is to have it for Easter breakfast. I make sure I put in enough colored eggs so everyone can have one. It would also go well with baked ham if you want to save your festive-looking bread for your main Easter meal.

Easter bread

One of the best things about this recipe is that you don’t need to be a bread-making professional to get it right. The trickiest part will be braiding the bread into a long log and then curling it into a round pie plate. But even if your braid isn’t quite even, the dyed raw eggs will help cover up any mistakes and attract everyone’s attention. Besides, it tastes so good, no one will mind if your braid is a little lopsided.

Here’s my recipe for this fun Easter bread.

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left over easter ham
EasterFoodRecipesSeasonal

5 Recipes To Use Up That Leftover Easter Ham

by Grandma Penny
written by Grandma Penny

We always serve the traditional baked ham for Easter. It smells good, it tastes good, and it reminds us of all the family holidays from our past. But then there is the problem of what to do with the bone and all the scraps? The first thing I recommend to do with your leftover Easter ham is make stock.

How to Make Basic Ham Stock

First, you’ll want to trim any big chunks of meat off the bone and reserve those scraps for the following recipes. Next, add the ham bone to your largest pot and cover with water. (A crock pot would be ideal, but I’ve yet to find one big enough for my massive ham bones.) Add parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns, and cover with water about 1″ above the top of the bone. Slowly simmer, uncovered, for about 3-4 hours.

When you’re done simmering, strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve and into a large bowl. And that’s it—easy as pie. Now you have stock from which to make your favorite smoky delicious split pea soup, white bean soup, and/or to simmer with your collards. You can keep the stock in the fridge for a few days or freeze for a few months.

After you make your ham stock, try out these ideas on how to use your Easter leftovers to feed your family.

1. Split Pea Soup With Ham

Split pea is a very simple soup. It freezes well and is very welcome after a few weeks of chicken dinners. Just add the “Holy Trinity of Soup” (celery, carrots and onions) to your basic ham stock. Next you’ll need to add the leftover diced ham and spices, stir occasionally, and then simmer until it’s a delicious soup.

2. White Bean and Ham Bone Soup

This soup is rich, filling, comforting and can feed a large family on a small budget. You can simplify this recipe by using canned beans, but it’s much cheaper, has far less sodium, and has a better texture when you use the dry beans. It’s a great way to use up your leftover Easter ham. 

3. Southern Style Collards

These collard greens may take a few hours to simmer, but they only require a few minutes of hands-on cooking time. And they can be made ahead and reheat beautifully—in fact, they taste even better on the second or third day.

4. Spinach Dip With Ham

This spinach dip recipe is great for regular snacking, and you can also make it for parties or as an appetizer for a nice dinner. It’ll use up your leftover Easter ham so you don’t need to throw anything away. Pair it with homemade crostini for a really delicious combination that will leave everyone satisfied.

5. Sunday Morning Denver Strata

Everyone in my family loves a Denver omelet, but there’s no way I can whip up omelets fast enough so we can all eat at the same time. The same goes for toast. By the time I make four servings of toast, the first slices are cold. There is just too much running around to enjoy the meal. This beautiful and delicious take on the Denver omelet can be made the night before and refrigerated until you are ready to bake. Then you can all sit down and enjoy a hot, fresh breakfast without all the jumping around. 

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spring crafts
CraftsDIYHoliday

12 Spring Crafts You Need To Make Right Now

by Mary Mulroney
written by Mary Mulroney

Spring and Easter will soon be here and you know what that means: craft time! It’s time to break out those craft boxes, head to the craft stores, and start making all the adorable Spring and Easter decorations you can. I can’t let a holiday pass me by without making something for my home. I am, however, a little obsessed with decorating and crafting so maybe I’m the only one that feels this way. If, by some shadow of a doubt, I’m not, check out these adorable spring crafts that you’ll love. I’ll probably see you at the craft store later buying all the supplies.

spring crafts

Source: Debbie-DebbieDoos.com

1. Spring Burlap Art

A piece of burlap, a stencil and some fabric paint is all you need to whip up this adorable and handmade piece of art this spring. The rustic look is perfect for your farmhouse or vintage style, and you can even use a frame you already own!

Find the easy tutorial at Debbie-DebbieDoos.com.

spring crafts

Source: ACultivatedNest.com

2. Button Art

This sweet craft is a perfect afternoon activity to do with your little ones, or for a solitary activity! The spring-colored buttons are overlapped and glued into an egg shape, atop a neutral background yardstick. Frame and enjoy!

We found this adorable idea at ACultivatedNest.com.

spring crafts

Source: YesterdayOnTuesday.com

3. Robin’s Egg Speckled Vase

Gorgeous robin’s egg blue is nearly synonymous with Spring! These mason jars have been transformed with the help of chalk paint and some strategic speckling, then wrapped in jute twin to give it that perfect post-winter feel. Fill with babies breath and enjoy!

See how simple this craft is at YesterdayOnTuesday.com.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

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naturally dye Easter eggs
DIYHoliday

Here’s How To Naturally Dye Easter Eggs- And It’s Easier Than You Think!

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

Easter is around the corner and dying eggs is a tradition in most homes. If you’re like me, you run out to the store to buy those pre-boxed packages of dying tablets to color your eggs simply and quickly. But what if there was another way? Before PAAS dying kits graced the shelves of our big box stores, people dyed their eggs naturally using fruits and vegetables from home. And it’s not as difficult as you think!

When it comes to picking foods to dye your eggs, think of the bright fruits and veggies you eat already- rich-colored cabbage, bright blueberries and crisp carrots. They make perfect colors for eggs! The video below from HGTV Handmade shows how simple it is to naturally dye Easter eggs this holiday.

While this technique definitely requires a little more patience because you have to make the dye AND wait overnight for the eggs to really absorb the color, you can rest easy that there are no artificial dyes or chemicals coating your eggs. This method may best be used if you’re dying eggs for your own enjoyment, or for older kids who can stand to wait the 12 hour process for the eggs to be done. I can’t see a toddler being okay with waiting overnight to pull out their eggs, can you?

So, will you use this process to naturally dye Easter eggs this year? Let us know in our comments!

 

RELATED STORIES

6 Creative Ways To Dye Easter Eggs

Stop Dying Your Easter Eggs The Boring Way & Use Rice!

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Here's How To Naturally Dye Easter Eggs- And It's Easier Than You Think!

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egg recipes
Family RecipesFood

Awesome Egg Recipes for Your Family’s Easter Breakfast

by Guest Post
written by Guest Post

Easter is coming. Before the little ones stuff their faces with chocolate, stuff them with eggs — the real kind. Eggs go with everything Easter and taste delicious in their versatile breakfast incarnations. You can scramble, fry, bake, boil and poach them, among other cooking techniques. Here are a few awesome egg recipes for your family’s Easter breakfast.

egg recipes

1. Mediterranean Hummus Egg Smash

Take a classic hummus recipe and let a poached egg run all over the top. You can pick up hummus in the grocery store, but it’s better if you make your own. Soak the chickpeas overnight with at least two inches of water on top.

You’ll make the hummus, poach the egg, and then combine two of the best things on Earth for Easter breakfast. Serve with a large pita or mini pitas for ultimate scooping action. You’re welcome.

2. Stewed Peppers and Tomatoes With Eggs

Why worry about a complicated breakfast with everything else going on for Easter? Make stewed peppers and tomatoes with eggs as a one skillet recipe with fresh herbs. Heat the oil and onion. Add spices and ingredients, cracking the eggs in wells cleared in the sauce, and let it cook more until the egg whites set. Yum!

3. Parmesan Egg-in-a-Hole

Keep breakfast simple with a classic egg-in-a-hole toast recipe. Just add fresh Parmesan on top to up your egg-in-a-hole toast game and impress the family with this tasty upgrade. Texas toast style bread is the best for the thickness, but you can use a similarly thick bread.

egg recipes

4. Egg Drop Soup

Who said you can’t have soup for breakfast? No one! Egg drop soup is the perfect light and soothing Easter breakfast meal.

You only need to use three base ingredients for this easy soup: broth, eggs and cornstarch for body — everything else adds a texture or flavor, including tofu, mushrooms, greens, star anise and cinnamon. Don’t be afraid to work with what you have on hand.

5. Lasagna Omelet

Yes, you can have breakfast and dinner all in one meal, as lasagna and eggs meet to complete this love story of an omelet recipe. Combine three eggs with beef, spinach, cheeses, marinara sauce, chorizo mix and spices in a single pan and cook it. Nothing fancy here — just easy and tasty.

6. Farmers Market Quiche

Expecting family over for Easter and need something easy to throw together without it looking that way? Enter farmers market quiche.

Fill a small basket with veggies to make a simple quiche, and you’re all set! Use a mandolin or knife to thinly slice fresh veggies and fruits, such as zucchini, onions and tomatoes, and slide them into the quiche to bake.

Add a fancy cheese to make the recipe feel and taste more decadent — Gruyere is highly suggested.

egg recipes

7. Overnight Sausage, Egg and Croissant Breakfast Bake

Get your guests to relax with morning mimosas while you pop the overnight sausage, egg and croissant breakfast bake in the oven to heat. It’s an all-in-one breakfast meal made overnight by browning the sausage and combining it with eggs, cubed croissants and Monterrey and cheddar cheeses with spices.

No need to worry about presentation. Let your guests dig in and enjoy.

8. Gluten-Free Egg-in-a-Hole

Try this gluten-free egg-in-a-hole twist using bell peppers to contain the eggs. The beauty of the recipe is baking it in the oven. Slice bell peppers in half, boat-like, and crack eggs into the bell peppers with cheddar cheese, bacon and spices. Bake until the whites set.

9. Egg Salad Sandwich

Go classic and use up boiled Easter eggs with an egg salad sandwich on a buttery croissant. The kids can help smash up the eggs and stir it up with the mayo, mustard, vinegar, chives and other ingredients. Plop it on the croissants with no hassle. Add spinach or lettuce and thinly sliced radishes for extra crunch and color.

10. Egg Stuffed Mushrooms

Get your protein in bite-sized egg stuffed mushrooms — the danger is in eating too many as you toss them back like popcorn.

You can also use boiled Easter eggs as mushroom stuffing with onion, wine, butter, garlic, crumbs parsley and blue cheese. If the kids hate blue cheese, substitute a different kind. Bake for a few minutes and add paprika on top.

These awesome egg recipes will make your family Easter breakfast unforgettable. Plus, the recipes are no-fuss, with simple pantry ingredients and a little fancifying while using up boiled Easter eggs.

Author Bio

Jennifer Landis is a 29-year-old healthy living blogger who loves yoga, running, and dancing it out with her toddler! You can find more from Jennifer at her blog, Mindfulness Mama, or by following her on Twitter: @jenniferelandis.

 

RELATED STORIES

7 Easy, Delicious and Meatless Recipes For Your Family to Enjoy For Lent

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10 Tasty Easter Treats

Awesome Egg Recipes for Your Family's Easter Breakfast

 

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Easter egg hunt
Holiday

7 Exhilarating Easter Egg Hunt Ideas For Kids

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

Easter Egg hunts are often the highlight of Easter for kids. What’s better than running around collecting plastic eggs filled with candy, money or toys? If you’re looking for new ways to liven up your family hunt, check out our roundup of fun and eggs-ilerating (see what we did there?) Easter egg hunt ideas to try this year.

Easter egg hunt

Source: EatsAmazing.co.uk

1. Energy Burning Easter Egg Hunt

A romp around the yard is hardly enough exercise to exhaust little kids, and that’s why this energy burning hunt idea is genius! Print out this list of mini-exercises and stuff in plastic eggs in place of regular candy. It’s a candy-free way to enjoy Easter and pretty funny to watch too!

Get the free printable at EatsAmazing.co.uk!

Easter egg hunt

Source: LifeAsMom.com

2. Easter Egg Hunt Tokens

Instead of filling your eggs with candy, fill them with tokens! When your kiddos find the eggs, they can save up their tokens to buy items you’ve purchased ahead of time that they can use in the coming months. This is a fun way to mix up the Easter egg hunts but also let you kids get ready for summer!

We found this genius idea at LifeAsMom.com!

Easter egg hunt

Source: TheMaven.net

3. Color Hunt

Assign a color to each kiddo and have them search for that shade only. This is a great way to make sure kids get the same amount of eggs and perfect for little ones who aren’t quite fast enough to get a huge egg haul.

There are 4 more cute ideas at TheMaven.net!

Easter egg hunt

Source: MakeTheBestOfEverything.com

4. Puzzle Easter Egg Hunt

Swap out that candy for puzzle pieces this year! This would be a great idea for a bit older kids who find puzzles enjoyable. You can use a puzzle you already have, or get a plain one and personalize just for Easter to make it fun.

Check out MakeTheBestOfEverything.com for more tips on this fun idea.

Easter egg hunt

Source: CelebrationsAtHomeBlog.com

5. Balloon Easter Egg Hunt

Toddlers will love this Easter egg hunt, where helium filled balloons are attached to plastic eggs. They won’t help being drawn to the balloons and at their own pace. Make sure older kids know to leave these magical looking eggs alone!

This adorable idea was found at CelebrationsAtHomeBlog.com.

Easter egg hunt

Source: GrowingAJeweledRose.com

6. Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt

Mix up your Easter egg hunt and do it at night! Grab some dollar tree glow bracelets, snap and put inside eggs to host the ultimate after dark egg hunt. This is such a fun way the warming spring weather.

Check out GrowingAJeweledRose.com for tons of additional Easter egg hunt ideas!

Easter egg hunt

Source: StoryPiece.net

7. Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Big kids will love the idea of a scavenger hunt to find this year’s Easter eggs! This prep ahead of time activity is perfect for teens who otherwise feel too old to participate. Pack eggs with a little candy and a clue and watch them enjoy the magic of a good egg hunt.

Check out fun clue ideas at StoryPiece.net.

 

RELATED POSTS

8 Non-Candy Goodies To Put Inside Easter Eggs

6 Colorful DIY Easter Decorations

Completely FREE DIY Easter Garland

Easter egg hunt

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easter crafts for kids
CraftsHoliday

10 Exciting Easter Crafts For Kids

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

Spring is coming and that means tons of fresh crafts for kids. We all need an arsenal of activities to keep the boredom blues away, so we’ve rounded up some super cute Easter crafts for kids. Whether your littles love painting, paper crafting or drawing, there’s a little something for everyone on this list.

easter crafts for kids

Source: PremeditatedLeftovers.com

1. Potato Easter Egg Stamps

One walk down the stamp aisle at your craft store is all it takes to see how crazy expensive stamps are! For Easter this year, try making your own from potatoes! They are cheap, washable and you can toss them when you’re done (i.e. no storing more craft crap for your kids). Adults should be the ones to carve designs into the potatoes, but the kids can have all stamping fun.

Check out how easy it is to make your own potato stamps at PremeditatedLeftovers.com.

easter crafts for kids

Source: KatiesCrochetGoodies.com

2. Easter Bunny Silhouette

Some spring-colored yarn, paper and tape is all you need to make this sweet bunny silhouette craft. This would be the perfect craft for your young kiddos to do and is totally framable too! All you have to do is lay out rows of the yarn, tape them down, then lay a sheet of paper with a bunny silhouette cut out on top. Easy peasy!

Head to KatiesCrochetGoodies.com to see how easy this craft is!

easter crafts for kids

Source: IHeartCraftyThings.com

3. Tin Foil Easter Eggs

An egg-shaped cardboard cutout, foil and Sharpie markers are literally all you need for this craft. Wrap your cardboard that’s cut in the shape of an egg with foil, then let the kids go to down drawing shapes and lines. Oh, and don’t stray too far away because Sharpie markers and kids don’t always make a good pair!

See tons of additional craft ideas at IHeartCraftyThings.com.

Pages: 1 2 3

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dye easter eggs
Holiday

6 Creative Ways To Dye Easter Eggs

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

Dying Easter eggs is a right of passage, even though it’s usually a messy affair. There’s nothing like whipping out the PAAS egg dying kit with it’s practically useless wire egg holder and watching those little dye tablets fizz away. But what if you’re looking for something new? There are plenty of creative ways to dye Easter eggs and we’ve rounded up some of the easiest and hopefully, least messy methods.

dye easter eggs

Source: ItsAlwaysAutumn.com

1. Tissue Paper

This spill free egg dying project is perfect for little kids. For starters, you’ll need bleeding tissue paper (not the regular kind) and a few squirt bottles. Once your hard boiled eggs are ready to go, this project is as simple as layering small pieces of tissue paper on the wet eggs and then spritzing a little water to make sure the paper is wet. Allow to dry and then remove the paper for some seriously gorgeous eggs.

Check out the video tutorial at ItsAlwaysAutumn.com.

dye easter eggs

Source: Instructables.com

2. Rice

Using rice to help dye eggs is a great way to make fun eggs with little mess. Rice is dyed with food coloring, and then eggs are added to the mixture and rolled around in order to coat. Did we mention the rice is contained in a sandwich bag or cup? No mess!

Head to Instructables.com to see three methods of using rice to dye your eggs to decide which is the best for you!

stir fry recipes

Source: OneLittleProject.com

3. Tie Dye with Paper Towels

This method is not for clean freaks. Grab some gloves, food coloring and paper towels because it’s about to get messy- in a good way. While the end result of these fun tie dyed eggs is gorgeous, it doesn’t come without some patience! Once you’ve followed the method described by OneLittleProject.com, you’ll need to let these eggs dry anywhere from a few hours to overnight before removing the paper towels and seeing how great they look! This is definitely a project for older kids or crafty moms.

dye easter eggs

Source: Coupons.com

4. Shaving Cream

A muffin tin, shaving cream and some food coloring minimizes the mess in this egg dying method. Simply spray foam shaving cream into each muffin tin compartment and then add the food coloring to your liking. Roll eggs, and allow to sit with the cream on them for 10 minutes. Rinse and marvel!

See all the details and more Good Stuff at Coupons.com.

dye easter eggs

Source: CraftyMorning.com

5. Cool Whip

Break out the edible food dye because Cool Whip is here! This egg dying practice is as simple as layer out some tasty Cool Whip in a dish, dropping in some bright food colors and gently swirling around. Then rolling your eggs and voila! Beautiful eggs and some tasty coloring to boot.

Check out CraftyMorning.com for all the tips!

6 Creative Ways To Dye Easter Eggs

Source: FabulesslyFrugal.com

6. Kool Aid

Kool Aid and water is all it takes to get super vibrantly colored eggs- and it’s so cheap too! Not only that, your kitchen will probably smell a lot better than it does when you use Vinegar-based egg dyes. While I’ve never tried this myself, I did read that the fruity flavors do NOT change the taste of your eggs. But if it did, would that really be so bad?

Check out more details at FabulesslyFrugal.com.

 

More fun Easter projects:

Stop Dying Your Easter Eggs The Boring Way & Use Rice!

Completely FREE DIY Easter Garland

7 Gorgeously Unconventional DIY Easter Eggs

 

dye easter eggs

 

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easter eggs
HolidayTips & Ideas

8 Non-Candy Goodies To Put Inside Easter Eggs

by Leena Kollar
written by Leena Kollar

You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” When it comes to hunting for Easter eggs, I think this concept rings true for most children. While opening the eggs to see what’s inside is exciting, the hunt for the eggs is just as much fun. And I think kids are probably so excited to open their eggs, they don’t have any expectations about what’s inside. For parents who have a no-candy policy, this is music to their ears. Instead of filling those Easter basket eggs with sugar and sweets this year, try one of these non-candy goodies for your kiddos.

(This post contains affiliate links)

easter eggssource: Amazon

1. Easter Stickers

What kid doesn’t like stickers? You can find tons of designs and they are usually very inexpensive. Roll them up inside of the eggs, or put individual stickers in. You could also put a sticker book in your children’s baskets for them to use the stickers with.

Snag these cute Easter stickers on Amazon.

easter eggs

2. Cereal Bits

Dry cereal can be eaten for breakfast, but it also makes a nice afternoon snack. It just so happens that cereal bits like Cheerios or Lucky Charms also fit perfectly inside plastic Easter eggs. Your children will probably work up an appetite on that Easter egg hunt, so this will give them a boost of energy.

easter eggssource: Target

3. Bouncy Balls

Kids, especially ones who are active, generally love bouncy balls. They get a thrill trying to catch them and love seeing how high they can bounce them. Bouncy balls are just the right size for putting in an Easter egg.

You can find colorful and fun bouncy balls from Target.

easter eggs4. Dollar Bills

I know I’d be stoked if I opened my Easter eggs and found money inside. For kids, money means even more than it does for adults. You can also start teaching your children about finances by helping them understand how to count, save and spend money. If your children have piggy banks, you can put coins in their eggs instead of dollar bills.

easter eggssource: Amazon

5. Mini Bubbles

When the weather is nice outside, many children enjoy blowing bubbles. A cute little mini bubble bottle would be so much fun to find inside an egg on an Easter hunt. You can find bottles in cute, spring colors, and put a refill bottle in your children’s baskets.

Check out the mini bubbles you can grab on Amazon.

easter eggssource: Ducky Street

6. Temporary Tattoos

Artistic children might already be asking for a tattoo. Especially if mom or dad has one. Temporary tattoos are a great compromise. You can find so many different styles, and your kids will love changing their tattoos, which they can’t do with real ones.

Head over to Ducky Street to find super cool tattoos for your tots.

easter eggs

7. Erasers

If you have school age children, they probably use erasers all the time. And while an eraser by itself might not be that exciting, an eraser with a fun design would be. Toss a pack of Easter pencils into their basket so they’ll know that the eraser will be put to use.

easter eggssource: Stein Mart

8. Mini Nail Polish

Girly girls who are old enough to paint their nails will be thrilled to find mini nail polish bottles inside of their Easter eggs. Go with pretty pastels for a totally festive look. There is even nail polish made specifically for children that is safer to use.

Check out the mini nail polish collection at Stein Mart.

Leena Kollar

Leena Kollar

Contributing Writer at Life As Mama
I'm a wife, mother and everything else associated with domestic life. I can often be found hiding from my kids to sneak treats (especially ice cream). I love rainbows and naps, and I find any excuse to go to Target. When I actually make it out of the house in real clothes, I document my outfits on my fashion blog, Leather & Lip Gloss. My love for fashion also inspired me to start my own comprehensive style website, The Style Spectrum.
Leena Kollar
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