Easter Activities: Simple Easter Brunch

There are plenty of ways to make your own easter invitations. Decorate large ovals to look like easter eggs, then write party details on the back. If you are able to hand-deliver invitations, write the details on a blown-out egg with a Sharpie, insert a ribbon, and hang it on the front door knob of your guests. Or, print invitations, fold them into a small size, and stick them into colorful plastic Easter eggs together with a few miniature candies, and stick them in your guests' mailboxes. Read More

A potato gratin is a classic Easter dish. Now it's made classy with the addition of Gruyere and Prosciutto, two savory European treats. This indulgent, cheesy, crispy delight is a great side dish or main course. By sauteing and then baking the potatoes, you insure that they come out of the oven soft and tender. And if you need to, you can make this dish ahead of time and reheat it in a microwave oven. Read More

Don't be intimidated by this impressive presentation. The technique for making these Holiday Eggshell Cups is simple and easy to learn. One trick for emptying out the egg from the shell: get a giant syringe from a medical supply store and carefully, slowly suck out the raw egg. Alternatively, make two holes, one on each side of the egg, and blow it out over a bowl (make scrambled eggs after!) It takes a while but it's good exercise for your lungs. Read More

Why serve a fruit salad when you can transform it into a sophisticated yet healthy and delicious dessert with this easy recipe? Grand Marnier, Champagne, orange juice, butter, orange zest: you can't go wrong with that combination. Just combine, reduce, and mix with fresh fruit: orange, melon, apple, and berries are suggested, but go ahead and add in grapefruit, pineapple, and kiwi if you find them. Serve with a side of fresh whipped cream or fat-free Greek yogurt. Read More

Wow. Did you think quiches were complicated and difficult to make? I know that I did, and a recipe for individual quiches sounds like it should be even more labor-intensive than a larger version. Good news--it's not! This recipe transforms a fancy dish into an accessible and delicious appetizer or side for any brunch. Muffin tins are the secret--simply pour a mixture of eggs, milk and cream into lined muffin tins, add cheese, roasted red peppers, and canned artichokes, and bake. When cool, pop the mini-quiches out onto toasted rounds of bread, garnish with parsley and cherry tomatoes, and get ready to make your guests' jaws drop! Read More

Stop looking, you've found it--this is without a doubt the perfect recipe to serve your mother-in-law on Easter. After perfecting your technique, whip out a bunch of Holiday Eggshell Cups (above) and then go to town with this simple combination of hard-boiled eggs, lobster, and mayonnaise. Fill up the cups, top with sour cream, caviar, and chives, and set each eggshell in a napkin ring or egg cup so it stands beautifully upright. Photograph them before you serve, because you'll want to remember this moment and the look on her face. Read More