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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Celebrating Easter



A few days worth of preparations all came together today as we celebrated Easter.
The miracle of Christ's resurrection and his victory over death was remembered in
our church service and in our prayers as a family.

 We started the day eating these giant cinnamon rolls with warm buttermilk glaze. 
I used a recipe of my crescent roll dough, rolled out and filled with butter, brown sugar and
lots of cinnamon.  Roll, slice into 12 huge rolls, rise and bake 25 min at 350.
 Easy to make and smelled so good while they were baking that we had to
sample them the day before, too!




 And I think the cross cut-out cookies ended up being my favorites! 
 I used edible ink markers for the detailing. It's always fun to make up the Easter baskets. 
 Taylor's little basket is a Longaberger one that I bought him for his very first Easter.
  It has a little chocolate stain on the outside from his little toddler finger that
 I smile at every year when I pull it out. :)


Fresh flowers, an old ceramic bunny and chocolate eggs make the foyer table cheerful!


Trader Joe's naturally flavored Citrus Gum Drops have become a tradition in recent years.
I went the natural route coloring eggs this time.  Check out the process HERE!
And I can't resist making some cookie eggs with fancy frosting.
British chocolates are so sweet with their nest and chick wrappers.
I love the way they look under this etched dome.




Nothing smells better than homemade rolls rising and then baking!


The traditional ham was dressed up in a pineapple-mustard-brown sugar  glaze and I tried a new recipe, Braised Ginger Carrots, from the book French Women Don't Get FatThe devilled eggs got dressed up with the first little snips of dill from my herb pots!
These crescents beat anything from a can.  If you'd like to try them, the recipe is HERE.
Dessert was layers of scratch yellow cake with raspberry preserves in the middle and a lemon drizzly glaze poured over the top.  Gloria's raspberry ice cream was the perfect accompaniment and the first ice cream I've made this year.  If was fun to pull the ice cream maker out, too!

I'm stuffed, sitting here with a cup of hazelnut coffee and feeling sleepy.
I hope you've had a wonderful day!
I'll be back in the morning with my "H" word for the
A to Z Challenge!

68 comments:

  1. Hi Betsy all look amazing and beauty I msdr alot of recipes of the french women dont get fat is a nice book.I m happy you had a nice time and celebration!!

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    1. thanks, Gloria. Have you had a nice day? I'm tired! ha. Lots of work but fun, too. Your icecream was delish! :)

      I don't have that book, but everyone is talking about it and I did a search online and found some of the recipes.

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    2. Im tired dear (and am in bed for a while an my mom sleep beside me)lol
      Betsy my recipe of baguete that always made is from this book!

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    3. Can you serve me a cup of tea? Lol, hs today to lunch i made cheese and prawns little empanadas!

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    4. oh, bed sounds good. I'll serve you tea. :) ha.
      ooh...those little empanadas sound so good! Yum!

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    5. Thanks Betsy I need this cip of tea:)

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  2. Can I sign up for Easter at your house next year? Sounds like a perfect Easter, Betsy. blessings to you and yours ~ tanna

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    1. well, of course, you know I'd love to have you! ha.

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  3. Everything looks so delicious! Should have guessed that Easter would be a good time to be at Betsy's house :]

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    1. Thanks, Mike..that was very sweet of you to say!

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  4. Oh that giant cinnamon roll...!!! I am drooling!!

    Happy Easter Betsy and family! Take care
    x

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    1. happy easter, kitty! Hope you had a wonderful day, too. I'll pass a cinnamon roll over to you if I could! Still have a few left!

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  5. I think your new name must be Super Mom. How do you do it? I get tired just looking at and reading about all you did for today. Wow! You're a very special woman, your sons are blessed. God bless you, your blogging friend, Connie :)

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    1. aw, thanks connie. I try to be...that, or wonder woman. lol.

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  6. It looks like it was a wonderful Easter at your house! I love all your festive holiday goodies. Like Connie, I wonder how you find the time. You do sleep, don't you?

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    1. Oh sure, I sleep. haha. But I'm one of those people that have to plan early, make a list, and not wait until the last minute. And we love to eat...and it you love to eat, you have to cook! lol.

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  7. Wow went all out at your shore
    Which I'd expect nothing more
    Really decorated to the hilt too
    For your crew
    All hyper today were they?
    Running about your bay
    Food galore as well
    And I must tell
    Pat had to have a nap after eating today
    With two cats lying on his back all the way
    Guess that coffee I have to look into
    Getting old at my zoo..hahaha

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    1. well isn't that what the Easter Bunny does
      goes all out on his day just because?
      haha. The triplets don't like sweets
      so they weren't hyper from treats
      they got potato chips in their baskets, though
      hmmm..sounds like someone else I know!
      You, Pat Hatt, took a nap?
      I'm getting worried about you, chap.
      but just between me and you
      I think I know what's wrong with you.
      hahaha.

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    2. Yep that is what he is supposed to do
      And it was surely done by you
      I got a bunch of pringles too
      And some luggage from the easter bunny came due
      I wonder why he gave me that
      Must think I'm leaving my mat..haha
      I nap here and there
      But no a days it isn't so rare
      Why I do not know
      Maybe the cat keeps me up with his rhyming flow..haha

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    3. Luggage you say?
      someone is clever at that other bay!
      But that's just what moms do
      it's a talent we have, it's true! ha.
      And you have tomorrow off, too!
      Maybe another nap will come due!

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    4. Oh after the drive one will surely come
      As the cats give their usual hum
      And are glad to leave this shore
      Forever more
      And clever I guess
      Even if 50,000 questions came and no less..hahaha

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    5. oh, the questions and elation
      bet it was like an interrogaton. lol.
      that's kind of cute though
      everything they want to know. :)
      Don't tell the cats next month they return to that shack
      and they won't even get to sleep on your back!
      Oh the things you make them do!
      But I guess they do owe you!
      hahaha.

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    6. LOL yeah an interrogation it was
      As they were all abuzz
      With their murder shows
      Causing them woes
      Of course being a smart arse Pat
      Was also fun at their mat
      The poor cats will have to stay
      With the 12 others at this bay
      That will not make their day
      But they do owe me as you say

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    7. you a smart mouth? No, it just can't be.
      I'd never believe that about you. Well, maybe.
      Cass and Orlin will survive
      it's the others that might get eaten alive.
      If only they could talk as well
      oh the stories they would tell.
      Maybe the interrogators can relate some to you
      about what went on during those days, too.
      Or Orlin could right a post
      I bet he'll rant and boast.
      lol.

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    8. LOL he already has all the posts ready to go
      I think he is psychic just so you know
      Apparently he tries to run away
      Each day I'm gone from nanny's bay..haha

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  8. Ok... Please Please, you to adopt me!
    You sure know how to celebrate the Resurrection!

    Thanks for the great, yummy pictures.

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    1. please come,..or let me come there! lol.

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    2. Remember I live in a cottage BUT the door is always open.
      With that said, when?

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    3. well, let's see...if I leave right now I could get there by...Thursday? ha.

      I'll sleep on the couch
      and be as quiet as a mouse.
      I only require coffee
      and I'm not at all bossy.
      :)

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    4. Coffee on every corner of the block.
      Couch is really comfy.
      Don't care if you are bossy or not.

      I need help with my birds. I need Dr. doolittle!

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    5. will work for coffee
      even as a bird whisperer.
      lol.

      What's wrong with your birds?

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    6. There aren't very many. Must be because of all the noise (building)?

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    7. Is your feeder new...as in, did you just put it up since you've lived there? Maybe they just haven't found it yet. If you tie something red to the feeder, like a ribbon, they will find it faster.

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    8. I read that somewhere and tried it myself...and it did work!

      Good luck! :)

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  9. Looks like a wonderful day and gorgeous decorations. I always love seeing your creative cookies.

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    1. thanks, michelle...your day was nice with your family, too!

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  10. Looks like you had a wonderful day and a delicious meal. Happy Easter!

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    1. happy easter to you, too! It was very nice...but I'm tired! ha.

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  11. Betsy, these are some great photos. Lots of awesome looking food, definitely gets me hungry, doesn't help that I have a wicked sweet tooth. Love how you prominently incorporated the religious symbolism in the piece, often the real reason for holidays gets overlooked, glad you put it in as you did. The ceramic rabbit and the porcelain chicken are very neat, we have a bunch of animals, in fact we had a little green bunny gravy boat but it broke a few years back. Thanks and Happy Easter

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    1. Yep...totally agree....you can't forget the true meaning of the holiday!

      I have a wicked sweet tooth, too...oh dear, do I ever! ha.

      Now that bunny gravy boat sounds too cute...sorry it broke!

      How did the little one (neice or nephew..can't remember) like the day? You didn't steal anything from their easter basket now, did you? lol.

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    2. Oh lucy loved it, she loves her food, way too much so with all the treats around, she was in paradise for a few hours, until her mom kept taking away every bit of food she tried to take, and boy, oh boy, that baby can scream when she doesn't get what she wants- funny too, how all the adults find the screaming funny now, but in a few years they won't like it very much

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  12. Wow, you really know how to celebrate Easter! Everything looks so beautiful and delicious.

    Sorry that Spencer and Harry don't sit at the table with you. Do they enjoy Easter?

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    1. Oh, they enjoy Easter...and they even looked around for their easter baskets when they saw Taylors! ha. So they remembered! But they gag when they look at our food so we don't make them sit and eat with us.

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  13. Hi Betsy, I am not physically hungry but your food always sounds so delicous and looks so pretty in your photos - that I am wishing I was hungry and could really eat your blog .

    and your egg plate is just too cute.

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    1. I'm not hungry either...and probably won't be until Tuesday. lol. :)

      the egg plate belonged to my mother-in-law. when she died, it was the only thing of hers that I wanted. Isn't it sweet? I wish I knew the history behind it. It looks really old.

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  14. Looks tasty! I was just reminiscing about what my mom used to make for Easter dinners, since we are too far away to pop by these days. I'm pretty sure the crescent rolls were a standard, but homemade ones have got to be tasty!

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  15. I am grateful just to gaze at your photos.

    H is for Lunatic... Okay, how about Hazelnut?

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  16. What beautiful flowers those are :-)
    Looks like a wonderful day and don't you worry, I will be back tomorrow! ha!

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  17. I am just exhausted looking at all you did!! Everything you did was amazing.

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    1. oh don't worry...I didn't do it all in one day! or even two! ha.

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  18. Replies
    1. well, thank you...and have a cup of coffee while you're here! :)

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  19. Goodmorning Betsy!Lovely easter photos.So pretty.Im going to try sometime soon those cinnamon rolls.I loveeeeeee cinnamon rolls.I see you have a trader Joes too.I wish we did I have heard alot of great things about the place.

    Have a beautiful day...Easter blessings for you and yours.

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    1. oh, they're good...but I've never had a bad cinnamon roll. lol. :)

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    2. our closest Trader Joe's is about 40 minutes away so I don't get there very often. Usually a girlfriend and I make a day of it and go to lunch while we're that way. It is a neat little store!

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  20. Such a stunning spread... well done!!! I'm intrigued by those edible ink markers. Shall try and find them here.

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    1. thanks, G. Hope you had a lovely easter, too! Look in the cake decorating aisle of your crafty store!

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  21. Oh yum! Everything looks delicious! Happy Easter!

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    1. thanks, dear...hope you had a lovely weekend, too!

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  22. Hi Betsy .. gosh I'm surprised we're not all on a plane, or driving over, to see you for dinner or lunch .. it all looks gorgeous .. if I ever need inspiration - I'll be here ..

    So pleased you had such a great time .. Happy Easter and here's to Spring and summer .. cheers Hilary

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    1. well, buy that ticket and come...lol...that would be so fun! Hope you had a lovely easter, Hilary!

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  23. Oh Betsy your day looks YUMMY! We were feasting next store of course! LOVE EASTER SUNDAY!

    He is risen INDEED!

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  24. What a glorious Easter....Loved your dinner menu, and one of the things I've had to conquer, is my dissapointment of not fixing a big Easter Dinner...Our oldest daughter has started a tradition several years ago, of meeting after church at La Mirada Park for potluck and egg hunt, volley ball..etc. Everyone loves it...me included...but I long to make that leg of lamb with all the trimmings....So I'm going to do a miniture one for Don and me!!!

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    1. I like that idea of doing one for you and Don! Or maybe you can start a Good Friday tradition? :) Leg of Lamb sounds so delicious! If you do it, take photos! :)

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  25. Betsy - everything looks so breath-takingly beautiful - just like you! =) VERY nice - sure do love your fancied-up cookies and decorations. Thanks so much for sharing.

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