Quick and Easy Easter

Chocolate Truffle Bunny, from Truffle!

I know, I’m late to the Easter planning party!  Most of you have probably already made all your plans, picked your menus, and dyed your eggs.  I’m always a little behind with holidays like Easter, since the chocolate biz is crazy for a couple weeks before the big day – I never seem to have time to do any of my own stuff in advance!  But, if you are behind the eight ball, like I am, the least I can do is share some links and ideas with you.  Most of these things are right up my alley – as in, not a ton of ingredients, simple to make/do, not a lot of time or prep involved.  That’s how I roll.  Otherwise, I’d never get anything done!  Wait, actually . . . I don’t get much done.  Never mind.

Ideas for eating:

Easter definitely means pastries, don’t you think?  From the Chocolate & Toast archives, I’m eye-ing these babies:

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

If you’re one of those people who does that January thing that involves resolutions and dieting and exercising and giving up sugar and attempting to find a healthier you to start the year . . . well, good for you!  But you might want to leave now and not visit again until you’re feeling less . . . resolved.  Don’t let me be your undoing.

There now.  For the rest of you, please join me as I continue the feasting and the festing and the full fat full sugar excess of the previous few months!  I’m pregnant.  I can’t help myself!

That’s a lie.  I was doing the same thing last year when I wasn’t pregnant.

Caramel Cheesecake Pastries

WELL.  It has been one heck of a year, don’t you think?  I have to say, 2010 really kicked me right in the pants.  In a good way.  In the best way, in fact.  But I’ll come back to that in a minute, because I much prefer to bury the lead (is it lede, really?) when possible.

Ahem.  So, let’s do a few fun facts, shall we?  We shall.  Because I’m sitting in a recliner, wrapped up in a blankie, watching football, and would you believe I have an entire afternoon and evening ahead of me with nary an obligation in sight?  I can’t believe it either.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins with Chocolate Chip Walnut Streusel

Whoa, time warp.  I’m missing two weeks here.  What just happened??  It seems someone clicked the hyperdrive button on my life – and now it’s October.  OCTOBER, people!  As in, the beginning of The Holidays (at least, for my business).  As in, I’m about to take a deep breath and dive headfirst into a multi-month stretch of madness – seven day work weeks, 12 and 14 and 16 hour days, and because of that, the only time of year I can hang out with chocolate all day and still lose weight.  Not even kidding.

Sour Cream Blueberry Scones

I know I’ve been a broken record about this “weather” thing – but, seriously, I can’t help myself.  I know that a bunch of you all are living in places that are suffering heat waves and record setting temperatures and such . . . but honestly, it’s hard to wrap my brain around, considering that I’m STILL WAITING FOR SUMMER TO START.  I went for a jog the other morning and it might as well have been October, for all the gray skies and the wearing of long sleeves and pants.  And don’t even get me started on my garden.  My poor, sad, garden.

Pineapple Upside Down Carrot Cupcakes

We had a beautiful weekend here in Portland, sunny and in the 70′s, the perfect antidote to a difficult week of re-entry from vacation.  I planted tomatoes and peppers (both sweet and hot!) and parsley and a passionflower vine in the garden, drank a beer on a neighbor’s back deck and coo-ed at their new little twin babies, and went to a barbecue at a friends house.  Blissful.  And then woke up this morning to 48 degrees, gray skies, and drizzle.  Ahh, well.  Reality bites.

Brunch for Mom

Holy carpe diem, did you know Mother’s Day is this Sunday?!  Was it not just New Year’s Day, like, yesterday?  Sigh.  I wish time wouldn’t keep speeding up on me.  At any rate, in case you are as behind-the-times as I am, I thought I would post some quick links to my favorite easy-peasy yummy things that you can whip up in no time this weekend.  Mom deserves to be spoiled, after all.

In order with above pictures, starting at the top, from left to right:

Bacon Kale Mushroom Quiche

Butter Crumb Cakes

Dead Simple Chocolate Tart

Leek and Mushroom Tart

Ham and Gruyere Bread Pudding

Passionfruit Pound Cake

Chocolate Chai Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Fresh Fruit Galette

Brown Sugar Yogurt Cake with Blueberries

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend to you all, I’ll be back next week with some new baked deliciousness to share!

One year ago on C& T:  Rum Raisin (Currant) Cookies, or The Booziest Cookies I Ever Did Make