Easter Treats & Greetings

With the approach of Easter, I have been whipping up lots of delicious treats in honor of the holiday and spring season and thought I would share them with you, before Joshua and I head down to Virginia to spend the holiday with his family. We leave very early Saturday and will return late Monday, so I won't be able to make the rounds to all of your blogs to wish you Easter greetings...but I hope you know that I send them your way!

I have a weakness for cupcakes and make them {a little too} often. Recently, my step-mother, Jennifer, came over and we went spent the day getting Easter baskets together for my younger siblings...and then later in the afternoon, Destiney (5) and Ezra (10) came to help me bake some of these goodies. First order of business, however, was giving Destiney the giveaway prize I won from Sandi. She was so sweet to wrap it in Destiney's favorite colors "pink" & "sparkly". There was a even a sparkly silver "D" adorning the ribbon which made Destiney's day. Look at that smile...

She was definitely delighted to receive this special gift...and even though it is a bit too big as of yet, there is no doubt she loved it! {As you can see in the corner...someone else loved it too and was really hoping it was for him!}

From the bottom of both mine and Destiney's hearts...thank you Sandi! {I told you she would love it!}

Then we were on to making some delicious treats. When I made some cupcakes for Josh and I  a couple of weeks ago {see I told you it was a little too often!} I used yellow cake mix with vanilla frosting. We ate them too quickly and didn't get any photos of the finished product...

But I thought you would enjoy seeing where Renoir positioned himself while they baked. If only you could hear the whimpering too as he waited.

I knew that Destiney would prefer pink {my "normal" cupcake of choice...they just taste so good!} when we baked together, so, I also got strawberry cake mix and fluffy pink frosting...as well as some "embellishments" that I knew she and Ezra would enjoy...including yellow Peeps, jelly beans, Cadbury Mini Eggs and edible "grass" in pink and green {found at Walmart}. And we went to town...

Destiney was definitely happy with the Peeps! And we enjoyed being creative coming up with new "designs" for each one...

The edible grass was used to create "baskets" {mine and Ezra's idea} as well as broken up for some little nests {Destiney's idea}...

Destiney proudly showed off the one she decorated completely on her own...

And Ezra had fun creating one for himself as well...how cute is this little basket of eggs?

When he finished his masterpiece, he stole all of the eggs off of it {see chipmunk face below} and left the rest behind...

While we waited for the cupcakes to bake we made some "chocolate nests". I came up with this recipe based on treats I remember eating at my grandmother's house long ago...chocolate covered Chow Mein noodles. To make them into "nests", I used my favorite Easter candy...the Cadbury Mini Eggs {very addictive}...and nestled one inside each batch of noodles.

These are so simple to make and taste delicious if you love chocolate!

To make these Chocolate Nests you will need:

1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 bag or can of dried Chow Mein noodles

1 bag of Cadbury Eggs

Pour the bag of chocolate morsels into a saucepan over low heat until melted. Once melted, mix in a portion of the Chow Mein noodles and stir till the noodles are completely covered. Spoon out small drops of the noodles onto wax paper or foil. Place a Cadbury egg in the center before the chocolate dries, and then place all of them into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to allow them to harden.

It's that simple! {You can also mix in butterscotch morsels if you want them to be extra sweet....but I found that I prefer them without}

Jennifer had the creative idea to put some of the left over edible grass on a silver platter with the nests on top. Too cute!

Our table full of treats...and a sweet card sent to me by Kelly. Thank you Kelly!

I hope that you enjoyed seeing the delicious treats we made!

From our nest to yours...we hope you all have a blessed Easter!

“Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations..."  ~Luke 24: 46-47

Comments

[Kerryanne English]

Happy Easter wishes are sent your way also. I hope you, Josh and Renoir have a wonderful celebration with your family.
Loved all your photos from your day spent with your siblings. Priceless moments!!
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

[Shana]

Happy Easter, Alice. Such beautiful and tasty looking treats. (Now I'm hungry for some sweets and it's not even 7:30am!)

While shopping at Walmart last night I also ran across that edible Easter grass. I couldn't believe it - and at Walmart of all places. :) I have some creative uses for it too.

I agree those cadbury eggs are way too addictive. I refused to buy them this year as I ate way too many last year.

Have a wonderful time in Virginia. :)

[Leah C]

Yummy treats! Have a blessed & Happy Easter, Alice:)

[Debbie]

If Renoir isn't just the cutest most photogenic "dog" I don't know who is! Blessed Easter to you!

[Suzy's Vintage Attic]

Hello Alice
Those Easter cakes look delicious and so pretty! Very cute children!
I wish you all a very happy Easter
Isabelle. x

[Tracie~My Petite Maison]

This post made me smile. How very sweet of Sandi! Destiney grinning from ear to ear, it's easy to see she's loves her new Princess wear. Looks like cozy fun making all those goodies together and Renoir, who could resist that face and his little chair - so cute! You brought back some great memories with the chow mein noodles. Love the edible grass, how funny and adorable for Easter.
I wish I was closer so I could bring Zeke over to see Renoir, but I know he's got his Nanny there!
Happy Easter to you and your family, Alice!
xo~Tracie

[Sandra Boothman]

Hi Alice,
So happy that Destiney loved her shirt. She is soooo cute...and that smile! :)

Wishing you and yours a glorious Easter as we celebrate our risen Savior.
Blessings~

[Sheila R]

Happy Easter. What a wonderful time you had making lovely treats.

[Stephenie]

Looks like an amazing time...I love all the yummy treats..Hope you and your family have a Happy Easter...
STephenie

[Lori]

Alice, it looks like you had so much fun making your edible creations! Destiney reminds me so much of my great-niece, Ellie! Oh boy, now I'm craving cupcakes!

Have a very happy and blessed Easter!!!

xoxoxo
Lori

[La Donna]

Happy Easter! XXX

[Alice's Mom]

Well it looks like you certainly all had a good time baking! Hope you had a Happy Easter with Josh's family. We missed you today. Oh and Angela is taking good care of Renoir. Talk to you when you get home!

HAPPY EASTER!!
LOVE
MOM

[Counting Your Blessings]

Happy Easter, Alice. Your chowmien nests look yummy!! Blessings.. POlly

[Jenny Fowler]

Such cute treats! You had a blast! Happy Easter!

[Andrea]

Your treats turned out so cute! It looks like a great time was had by all. I love the little nests you made...I'll have to try that one.

[Lesley]

Alice, it looks like you all had such a wonderful time creating together. I absolutely love that shirt. We have several of th Go Fish shirts but I've never seen anything with that design on it. *S*

Hope your Easter was beautiful and blessed. I cannot wait to hear about that new niece!

Lesley

[Andrea Villarreal]

I love the chocolate nest idea. I didn't think there was away to make Chow Mein noodles more yummy, I was wrong!! I hope they make it on to my cupcakes someday:)

[Jeanne]

Your Easter treats look so yummy! My favorites are the Peep chick cupcakes and the chow mein noodle nests. My SIL makes nest like that using coconut, but I love the chow mein noodles better because they give a more "twiggy" feel to the nests. I'm saving that recipe for next year!
xo
jeanne

[kelly]

Alice your treats look amazing!!! I recall those little chocolate *nests*, I think I will whip some up too, I miss them! And Destiny is growing up!!!

And of course Renoir is dashing as always, the little sweetie!

Hugs~
kelly

( please note new blog addy~ )

[milli wagoner]

What a "sweet" day you had! Love the easter treats you made with your little sister and brother, wonderful memories in the making! I adore the picture of Renoir waiting patiently by the oven, toooo precious! Happy Easter!

[Scarlett Clay]

Hello
I just found your blog after reading the article in Artful Blogging. Your blog is gorgeous-perfect really! I recently started a blog of my own and you have truly inspired me! After looking at yours I feel like putting my hand to the plow and giving it my best shot. Thanks for all your lovely photos and sharing all of your pretty creations with everyone! God Bless you and your family-Scarlett Clay (Texas)

[Cindy]

I have been away and finally catching up on my favorite blogs...what an incredible, extremely yummy post! Look at what you can do with a box of cake mix! It looks like you and your younger siblings had so much fun...and turned cupcakes in to art. One of my favorite pictures though is that absolutely adorable picture of Renoir on the chair! Oh how CUTE!

[June]

These treats look sooo goood. I have the biggest sweet tooth and very poor self control. It looks like Ezra was loving it. Renoir looked like me sitting there anxious for the finished product. I want to thank you for your gracious messages you leave me. I'm so excited to have you visit.
I hope your Easter was magic. June

[Terri Morse]

The Easter treats look delicious. I love cupcakes too. The more icing, the better I like them! You've arranged them so attractively. The photos make me want to reach right in and grab one (or more)! Hope your Easter celebration was a joyous one.

[Tina]

darling! = )
Tina~ Cherry Hill Cottage...

[Fifi Flowers]

LOVELY Easter post... yummy treats... love the t-shirt... and of course Renoir is divine!