Easter Ideas

I LOVE celebrating Easter! Springtime is alive with all the beautiful colors and warmer temps, and the Easter Sunday service is always special to me and my family.

Check out my sidebar on the RIGHT (scroll down just a bit) to find some great Easter recipes and ideas to make this celebration extra special. *If you click on the photo, you will be taken to the recipe.

CROCK POT HAM-Paula Deen's Corn Casserole, Asparagus, Resurrection Buns (great to make with the kids to tell the Easter story), Meringue cake, Hot cross buns, and more!

For the Christian community, of which I'm proud to be a part, this event changed the world as we know it. This week is Holy week- set aside to reflect on Jesus' great sacrifice.

We must make a intentional effort to give honor to Him as we are pulled in so many directions.

A few things that help keep Christ at the forefront is to re-read the Easter story in the Bible. You can read it online here. Share it with your family the night before, or read it before dinner on Easter Sunday.

*If you have small children or grandchildren, telling the story with RESURRECTION EGGS is a fun project to do with the kids. You can watch an instructional video (here.)

*Rent THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST or JESUS OF NAZARETH to give yourself a visual of His life, death, burial and Resurrection!

*Attend an Easter  service, drama or Cantata at a local church.

*Attend a sunrise Easter service with a local congregation.

*Google Easter ideas and create a new tradition for your family.

Here's to a wonderful Easter celebration for you and yours!

Three Ingredient Thursday- Cranberry Mustard Pork Chops

This little experiment worked out really well. This came from the mind of a bored cook with a nearly empty cabinet right before a food shopping spree, while she was trying to use up some ingredients she had on hand.

I'm bored easily and because my sons are frequent guests at my dinner table, my cabinets get emptied on a regular basis. SO this one was easy to come up with.

Who says cranberry sauce must be a seasonal ingredient? It was wonderful!
You will need :

*Pork Chops ( I like a thicker cut, but your preference will work)
*Dijon mustard
*whole berry cranberry sauce (from the can)
(We won't count S&P and oil for cooking)

Season chops with S & P and brown slightly in skillet in 1-2 T. oil. Brush on mustard and cook on med.heat on stovetop covered for 5 minutes. Turn over and brush other side with mustard and cook for 5 more minutes on Med. High heat while covered. Turn heat to med., till meat is thoroughly cooked and spoon cranberry sauce over top. Heat through.

It's that simple.
Something a bit different for when you're bored and your cabinets are bare.

Enjoy!

My Irish Blessing

I believe we should do everything within our power to promote strong family ties, and in my family (coming from an Italian background) that usually means family get-togethers that revolve around food!

When I married into my husband's Irish family, I decided to make a huge deal of St. Patrick's Day! The result? My three grown sons are very proud of their Irish heritage and it strengthens our family as a whole!

I invite My parents, Big Al's mother, my brother and sister and their children and my sons, of course.

My house is decorated for the special day

Simple table decor---and we eat on paper plates (let's face it...the Irish are NOT pretentious!)


Lots of traditional Irish music in the air (I have about 7 CDs now)


ANd we dance an Irish jig or two....



We enjoy traditional Irish recipes (corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread)




along with some other favorites that aren't necessarily Irish, but green in color and delicious! (Like the green ITALIAN creme cake (lest my boys forget their Italian heritage!)



And you know how the Irish enjoy story tellin'.....




My son Jordan is full of Blarney...he was awarded the Blarney Stone!


We look up interesting Irish facts and have an Irish trivia contest.


MY IRISH BLESSINGS-
My brother and Mom....

My Mom and sister








My niece Cortney and I....I hope she grows up with fond memories of St. patty's Day at her great Aunt Sherri's house.


When the dancin' is over, we "sweep the floor" with the child with the longest hair! (A Murphy family tradition)





Any good Irishman helps his wife clean up after a big shindig!



Don't let these opportunities pass you by- celebrate ANYTHING and Everything with those you love most!

And may your house always be too small to hold all your friends!~ An Irish blessing.