holidays & recipes: an easter follow up

Fabric Easter Eggs Fabric Tape There are several occasions to look forward to throughout the year after Christmas. There’s Valentine’s Day, and after that, it’s Easter. I know the religious significance of Easter should never be overlooked. It’s the day wherein we remember how Jesus rose from the dead after he sacrificed himself to save mankind. I’m no religious fanatic but I am a Christian woman and I come from an Interfaith-International-Interracial Family (even though I find it hard to reconcile my sailors tongue despite being Christian) it’s always good to believe in something. It gives us faith and hope which helps life not be so difficult in times when we really need a miracle. There was a brief period, a little over three years where I simple didn't know what I believed in, but it didn't take long for me to find faith again. Fabric Tape Crafts in Japan {The Fabric Easter Eggs are Made Fabric with Adhesive, or Fabric Tape, the eggs are styrofoam we buy our fabric tape directly in Japan from Rakuten: English Shop here.} Growing up, I always looked forward to every festivity that entailed anything fun, and family oriented, and who would think Easter isn’t?! There are Easter eggs, the hunt, the Easter bunny and all the colorful delights that come with spring. I’ve always wondered what the relation was of Jesus rising from death and the Easter Bunny and eggs, because there can’t be anything farther from reality than comparing them in one holiday. Fabric Easter Eggs Fabric Tape Woodland Easter Bunny So it seems Easter is always celebrated in spring. Spring signifies the rising fertility of the earth, and eggs and rabbits are symbols of fertility. Needless to say, rabbits are prolific breeders and they seem to love breeding during springtime and everything seems to be in bloom. Fasting is a common ritual practiced by Catholics during the Lenten season and eggs were one of the things that Catholics were not allowed to eat. So every Easter there seems to be an abundance of eggs. Coloring them is to symbolize the colors of spring. Well, I guess there is some farfetched logic to all this when you really think about it. Ceramic Easter Bunny I also always enjoyed all the Easter-themed movies that seem to cap off my Easter festivities. Here are some of them: The First Easter Rabbit – I just love the trademark style of Rankin/Bass animations, it has the typical style of the 70’s that always brings me back down memory lane. This particular cartoon has all the trimmings. The story is narrated and sung by the legendary Burl Ives who brings the character of Stuffy to life. The cute bunny moves to Easter Valley and is made responsible for starting a tradition of bringing Easter treats to children much like Santa Claus. No cartoon would be complete without a villain. Stuffy has to deal with Zero after he freezes Easter Valley with the help of no less than Santa Claus! I was just a wee baby in 1976 when the cartoon was released but I find Burl Ives’ voice so comforting. Fabric Easter Eggs Fabric Tape Here Comes Peter Cottontail – This cartoon is another Easter classic that was released in 1971 by Rankin/Bass Productions. I can’t seem to get enough of their cartoons. But like many other classic cartoons, we never seem to get tired of them even if they weren’t made with all the high tech magic all the modern animations have. This time the hero, Peter Cottontail voiced by Casey Kasem, has to deal with the Evil Irontail to get the position of being the Chief Easter Bunny. Peter has to deliver more eggs than Irontail to save Easter for the children. The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town - Another Rankin/Bass Easter special features Fred Astaire as the narrator. Rankin/Bass seems to have all the classic heavyweights lending their voices to immortalize their productions, similar to what is commonly being observed nowadays. This 1977 Easter special tells the story of Sunny the Bunny and his troupe from Kidsville invent all kinds of Easter traditions to get Grouchy Town to join in the merriment and who doesn't love the little engine that could? That was my favorite scene! {The Rabbit was Bought From Takenoko Last year we put a few baskets together, look at this fella!} Adorable Stuffed Easter Bunny by Takenoko in Japan It’s the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown! – Easter would not be complete without the whole Peanuts gang. This 1974 Charlie Brown classic tells the story of how the whole gang is getting ready for the Easter festivities. Just like The Great Pumpkin myth Linus fervently believes in, he comes up with a similar Easter hero in the likes of the Easter Beagle! It’s a Springtime Easter Extravaganza for every child at heart. Some of the movies I still haven’t gotten to and would love to rekindle spring fever with and get into the spirit of Easter are Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo, the latest Winnie the Pooh Movie and Easter Parade. I can watch all these via Apple TV, and download, buy in HD onto our video recorder. In terms of quality, it beats Blu-ray, and with Blu-ray you STILL have to buy DVDs which, in my opinion, takes up a lot of space (I will be doing spring cleaning in that regard). I watched the new movie HOP, and it was funny. Hopefully, this will open up ideas for producers to make or add to the Easter Movie Collections. But while it was hilarious, and the graphics were pretty good, I fear nothing will every replace my favorites. Perhaps that's due to partly growing up in the 80's and watching TV shows like Punky Brewster. That decade really created some of the most memorable shows that helped shape the newer shows. Easter would not be complete without homemade chocolate candy. Growing up, my mother, and grandmother would make homemade chocolates for Easter and Christmas, my favorite, Peanut Butter Easter Eggs, I remember seeing so many candy and chocolate molds galore. No HFCS here. Where to find: 1. Ceramic Easter Bunny bought from and Ebay Vendor, Personalized, we went with a basic bright white and black ribbon. 2. Fabric Tape we bought in Japan, however you can buy Fabric Adhesive Sheets from any craft, DIY store. I have found that Japan offers much more varieties. Here are some on ebay. 3. Decorative Adhesive Tape shipping from Australia here.
Recipe is adapted from Brown Eyed Baker (we used cup molds) Homemade Peanut Butter Cups Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs or Cups Yield: About 15 eggs (we made balls and used cup molds with a layer of caramel peanuts) Prep Time: 1 hour 1 cup creamy peanut butter (Organic salted) ¼ cup unsalted butter ¼ cup light brown sugar 1¼ cups powdered sugar 2 cups milk chocolate chips (or 12 ounces milk chocolate, chopped) We used Nestles's All natural chocolate chips. 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (all natural or organic, you can also use natural lard) 1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper; set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan, combine the peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar over medium heat. Heat until completely melted and starting to bubble a little, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Add the powdered sugar a ¼ cup at a time, stirring until completely combined with the peanut butter mixture after each addition. Set aside and let cool to room temperature. 3. Using a medium cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon, scoop out peanut butter mixture and shape into eggs. I found it easiest to roll the scoop into a ball, and then roll it into a short cylinder. I placed it on the baking sheet, and then used my fingers to shape the ends into an egg-like oval. Refrigerate to allow the peanut butter eggs to set, about 30 minutes. 4. Once the peanut butter eggs are set, melt the chocolate chips and shortening together in the microwave on 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted. One at a time, dip a peanut butter egg into the chocolate and, using a fork, flip it over so it is completely covered. Remove it from the bowl, letting any excess chocolate drip off. Return it to the baking sheet, and repeat with all of the peanut butter eggs. Sprinkle with decorations, if desired. Return the chocolate-covered peanut butter eggs to the refrigerator to allow the chocolate to set, about 30 minutes. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve.
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6 comments

  • April 11, 2012 at 11:15 am //

    Mmmm, peanut butter cups. Dangerous territory. ;)

    • April 11, 2012 at 8:56 pm //

      Tee-hee = ) Thanks Kiri.

  • April 11, 2012 at 10:07 pm //

    those eggs!!!! LOVE!

    • April 11, 2012 at 10:18 pm //

      Thank you Michelle.

  • April 13, 2012 at 12:29 am //

    Such a sweet Easter posts! I have old VHS tapes of a few of those movies :P

    • April 13, 2012 at 9:39 am //

      You do, OH I just love, love the claymation series? I hope they come out with the HD versions, you were a child of the 80′s too? Aren’t they adorable, it doesn’t feel like Easter if I can’t watch them.