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EASTER RESOLUTIONS THINK OUTSIDE THE DYE

EASY EASTER BRUNCH BUFFET

EASTER BASKET MAKEOVER

The y n n u B r e t s a E

A BRIEF HISTORY OF

EASTER BASKET MAKEOVER

CHOOSING HEALTHIER TREATS

By C. S. Nelson

Chocolate bunnies and jellybeans are harmless, right? Maybe not. With the rates of childhood obesity and diabetes on the rise, parents need to be vigilant about teaching and modeling healthy eating habits. Eliminating sugar from the Easter basket may be extreme, but cutting down on sweet treats is doable.  E xchange those chocolate bunnies for stuffed rabbits. Of course, it really doesn't have to be a rabbit but why throw tradition completely out the window? For older children or those who aren't into cuddly friends, try a toy that suits them. Legos, sidewalk chalk, crayons and books are fun alternatives. M ake this Easter morning active by hiding Easter baskets and making the kids find the treats with scavenger hunt clues.You can also add gifts that promote movement.

Jump ropes, Frisbees and hula hoops are always fun. With summer right around the corner, this is a great time to give your children new swimsuits.  S pring means flowers are starting to bloom, and gardens are being prepared. Why not add a few packets of seeds or small garden tools to the basket? You may just find your children love planting their own vegetables. Growing their own food increases the chances that they'll eat fresh produce from the garden. N uts and unpopped popcorn make good fillers. Also, fresh fruit such as apples and oranges add color to the basket while providing vitamins and fiber to your child's diet. Dried fruits, maybe even some dipped in chocolate, make tasty treats without completely sacrificing healthy standards.

Though parents can't control everything that goes into their children's mouths, they can monitor most of the choices made. Providing healthy alternatives is a positive step. And remember, a little sugary treat is okay, it's the abundance that needs to be avoided.

T O H CROSS BUNS

By Amber Marie Arevalos

Hot Cross Buns Serves 12 Ingredients 1 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup sugar 4 tsp instant yeast 4 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder 1/2 tsp clove powder 1/2 butter 1 cup raisins 2 eggs Cream Cheese Icing 3/4 cup powdered sugar 2 ounces 2 tbsps cream cheese, softened 1 tbsp butter, softened 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tbsp water

Instructions • Grease a 8”x12” cooking sheet.

• Start by placing the milk, sugar and yeast in a bowl and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Set mixture until frothy.

• Now, sift the flour, salt and spices into a large bowl.

Then mix the butter in the flour mixture until it becomes a crumble like texture.

• Stir in the eggs, yeast mixture and raisins. Combine until a dough forms.

• Put dough on a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.

• Place dough into a large oiled bowl and cover with Saran wrap. Set aside in a warm place for 30-45 minutes or until doubled in size. Remove the wrap and punch down on the dough.

• Knead again till smooth and divide into 12 large rolls.

• Set aside for another 15-20 minutes for rolls to rise.

• Preheat oven to 400 F. • While rolls are rising, whisk all the icing ingredients together and spoon into a piping bag with a round tip and refrigerate until ready to use.

• Bake for 10 minutes then reduce the temperature to 350 F and bake for additional 15 minutes.

• Remove from oven and let them cool for 5-10 minutes. Using the icing, pipe down the center of each row and then across each row to create a cross on each bun.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving Energy 240 kcal........................................................11% Protein 7.07 g...........................................................13% Total lipid (fat) 4.15 g...........................................9% Carbohydrate 42.66 g..........................................17% Water 42.38 g

The y n n u B r e t s a E A BRIEF HISTORY OF

By B. E. Conrad

There are many symbols of the Easter season, from the cross and the lamb to the Easter egg.

But there is no truer sign that Easter is on its way than the appearance of the Easter Bunny.

At first blush of course, it can seem like quite a stretch from the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the appearance of a fluffy, chocolate toting bunny. When we look a little deeper, the connection of eggs, rabbits and Easter becomes a bit clearer. For millennia, eggs have symbolized new life and have been given as gifts at Easter time. Many of these early Easter eggs were crafted out of silver and gold, and while not as delicious as the chocolate variety, they were quite valuable.

Like the egg, the rabbit has long been a symbol of life and fertility and the appearance of the rabbit was seen as a harbinger of spring in many cultures.

The Easter Bunny legend is thought to originate from an old folkstale involving a woman who hid Easter treats for her children outside on the eve of the holiday.

The legend says that when the children went outside, they saw a fluffy bunny

The Easter Bunny is the favorite symbol of the holiday for most children and bunnies figure prominently in many Easter celebrations. No Easter party would be complete without the appearance of the Easter Bunny and the rabbit is frequently seen adorning chocolates, cakes and other Easter goodies.

sitting next to the treats that had been hidden. This simple folkstale is thought to be the start of the Easter Bunny legend, and for centuries since, children have awakened to the array of treats left by this symbol of Easter.

DYEING EASTER EGGS USING

Rubber Bands

By Lisa Pinkerton

DECORATING EGGS IS ONE OF THE MANY POPULAR CRAFTS DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAY. IT’S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AND A GREAT WAY TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD. JUST ABOUT ANYTHING CAN BE USED TO DECORATE EGGS INCLUDING RIBBON, DYE AND CRAYONS. ALL YOU NEED IS A LITTLE CREATIVITY. RUBBER BANDS ARE EVEN A POSSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO EGG DECORATING. If you are drawing on the egg using a crayon, pencil, paintbrush, or marker, wrapping a rubber band around the egg can help you to make straight lines. Just follow the line of the rubber band with your chosen drawing utensil. Cutting the rubber band and forming it into whatever shape you wish on the egg will make a great stencil. Just attach the band to the egg using tape so then it can easily be removed later.

Rubber bands can be used when dyeing the egg to stop the dye from sticking to certain parts of the shell. This is called resist dyeing. Put the rubber band securely around the egg so that the dye cannot seep underneath the band.

Remember eggs are fragile, especially if you have chosen to blow the inside of the eggs out instead of hard boiling them. They will

crack and crumble if you make the band too tight.

You can make many patterns on the egg using rubber bands. Depending on the placement of the bands, it is possible to make striped, checkered, or even plaid eggs in a multitude of colors. Try to see how many different combinations and ideas you can come up with using rubber bands of different widths and lengths.

When it comes to decorating eggs, the sky is the limit. Just use what you have available and add some creativity and imagination.

Rubber bands come in very handy when dyeing and decorating eggs. They can be used to make patterns, resist dye, or stencil different designs onto the shell. This Easter, get the entire family together to see how many different ideas you can come up with to dye eggs using rubber bands.

Easter

MACARONS

By Nellie Palmer

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MACARONS AND MACAROONS ASIDE FROM BOTH BEING DELICIOUS AND SIMILAR IN SPELLING, MACARONS AND MACAROONS ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT COOKIES. A MACAROON IS COCONUT BASED, WHEREAS A MACARON IS MERINGUE BASED. MACARONS RANGE IN COLOR AND FLAVORS AND MACAROONS ARE LIMITED IN VARIETY. Ingredients For the Cookie •3 large egg whites at room temperature •1 ½ cups almond flour •1/2 cup granulated sugar •1 cup powdered sugar •1 tsp Madagascar vanilla •1/4 tsp cream of tartar •pastel paste food coloring For the Buttercream •1 cup unsalted butter softened •5 egg yolks •1/2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp Madagascar vanilla •3 tbsp water •1 pinch salt •pastel paste food coloring

Instructions For the Macarons • Sift the confectioners sugar and almond flour into a bowl.

• Add egg whites into a bowl.

• Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites. Once they begin to foam, add the cream of tartar and SLOWLY add the granulated sugar.

• Add food coloring (if desired) and vanilla. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.

• Begin folding in 1/3 of the dry ingredients.

• Be careful to add the remaining dry ingredients and fold gently.

• The final mixture should flow without breaking.

Spoon into a piping bag with a medium round piping tip and start piping.

• Pipe 1 inch dollops onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Tap on counter several times to release air bubbles. Allow to sit for about 40 minutes before placing in oven.

• Bake at 300F for 12-15 minutes, rotate tray after 7 minutes. Allow to cool completely before removing from baking sheet.

For the Butter Cream Filling • Combine sugar and water in medium saucepan. Heat over low heat while stirring until sugar dissolves.

Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil • Using a stand mixer, beat egg yolks until thick and foamy.

• Cook the sugar and water syrup until it reaches 240 degrees F. Immediately remove from heat. With mixer running, SLOWLY drizzle hot syrup into bowl with yolks.

• Continue mixing until the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch and the yolk mixture has cooled to room temperature.

• Add in butter one cube at a time allowing each piece to incorporate before adding the next. Add vanilla and salt. Continue mixing until buttercream is smooth and creamy. (About 5-6 minutes.) Add food coloring.

For Assembly • Pipe your filling onto the back of half the shells.

Form a sandwich and repeat. Macarons should be aged in the fridge for 1-3 days for best results. This allows the filling to soften the shells inside.

Forget New Year’s!

What’s Your Easter Resolution?

By A. Thompson

Does anyone ever keep their New Year’s resolutions? I certainly never have! When the weather is miserable, and I’ve just dealt with all the Christmas craziness, I’m really not in the mood to give up treats, clean my house or place any other demands on myself. When do I feel fired up and ready for something new? Spring! The day’s are longer and warmer, the flowers are opening and the air is filled with renewal and vigor and the promise of something new. So I say, out with New Year’s and in with Easter resolutions!

S

pring is already the time of year when we clean our house and tidy up the yard. Everything is blooming, the animals are having their little ones and those winter blues have been chased away by blue skies.

Whether you celebrate a Christian Easter or you’re more of an Easter Bunny fan, this holiday is about rebirth and renewal. A Resolution to start something new is a perfect way to celebrate the season!

Take advantage of all those end-ofseason sales to buy that special outfit you can exercise your way into.

Allow the new growth all around you to inspire you to do something for the environment, like planting a tree or joining a local group.

Use the warmer weather to get yourself out of the house for walks or even jogs.

Spring is filled with new growth and allowing that to fill you with new possibilities will greatly improve your chances of following through with your resolution! No matter what you’ve resolved to do, the sunny joy of spring will inspire you more than the gray, mucky days of New Year’s! Good luck!

Easter baskets are a great premise for gift baskets for local shelters, senior centers, or other charities that will get you out into your community helping others.

Let the fresh air and sweet smell of newly opened flowers remind you why you want to quit smoking.

Easter is typically thought of as a Christian holiday. It celebrates the resurrection of the Son of God. However, this holiday is rooted in pagan traditions that celebrated the advent of spring, new life and fertility. A few question and answer combinations are presented below to test your knowledge of this subject area.

Easter Trivia

By Susan M. Keenan

Q: What word does Eastern Europe use to refer to Easter?

A: Pesach.

Q: Many people believe that the Easter Bunny was introduced to America by people from which country?

A: Germany.

Q: What does the German phrase Oster Haas mean?

A: Easter Bunny.

Q: What did the children have to be in order for the Easter Bunny to lay eggs for them?

A: Good.

Q: What did the bright colors painted on the eggs symbolize?

A: Spring.

Q: What did children leave out for the Easter Rabbit to lay eggs in?

A: Bonnets.

Q: What color flowers are used during Easter to symbolize purity?

A: White.

Q: What is the time that Christians observe before Easter known as?

A: Lent.

Q: What are baby bunnies called?

A: Kits.

Q: Ukrainian Easter eggs or Pysanky are made with what substance?

A: Wax. Q: What is a common color used during the Easter season?

A: Purple.

Q: What did Peter Cottontail get from a boy named Tommy?

A: Jellybeans.

Although Easter is one of those holidays that falls on a different date each year, people from all around the world enjoy it. From Easter bunnies to Easter eggs to Easter parades, a variety of traditions exist for this springtime holiday.