Thyme Honey Glazed Ham

68. Easter Dinner is always one of my favorite meals. This year we stayed close to home and prepared an easy delicious meal with trimmings. I went online and found several yummy recipes and they were all very pleasing. My centerpiece was a flower scape with grass and mini daffodils.

We made a scrumptious baked ham and used

the "Thyme Honey Glazed Ham" recipe and it turned out beautifully.

Instead of mashed potatoes and gravy, I made "Scalloped Sour Cream Potato Bake",

Ham gravy is so very salty and I never seem to enjoy it.

My mother told me that the Polish always have beets and horseradish with their Easter meal so for color I served Buttered Asparagus and Beets. I found several recipes for beets but didn't like all the extras that were added...a cooked, buttered, beet is one of the most delightful flavors of childhood for me.

Horseradish and pickles on the side, to be Polish.

And Brioche with butter...now that is French...oh well.

Dinner was so delicious...I wanted it to last for hours and hours.

For dessert we had coffee, savored

"Strawberry Mascarpone Fruit Tart" with "Chocolate Covered Macaroons"

and Polish Easter Bread. And, played several rounds of "Dutch Blitz"

(..are you practicing K?)

We enjoyed a restful day, besides my tumble onto the kitchen floor with hot asparagus tossed up in the air! Yes, I slipped and fell on a patch of water...from the ice cube our dog was eating...slipped with a pot of hot asparagus I was taking to the sink to drain and landed on the floor. My family thought I passed out...I was just mad the asparagus was on the floor!!! But, I'm ok...a little sore...and shook up...but ok. No more ice cubes for the dog!

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

~Winston Churchill

Easter Baking

65.  This past Easter I prepared several mouth watering desserts and breads.

 So here is a peek!

Polish Easter Sweet Breads 

Apricot and Red Raspberry

and Brioche.

A batch of Coconut Macaroons covered with chocolate.

And a Strawberry Tart.  It was outstanding!

"Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying

of all foods;  and good bread with butter,

the greatest of feasts."

 ~ James Beard

Vanilla-Butter Sugar Cookies

54.  Sugar Cookies are among my most favorite cookies.  

Although they do take time, it is worth every minute.  

I have tried several recipes over the years and have found, 

what I think, is the best recipe!   They are great, no matter the season or occasion.

So, for St. Patrick's Day, I made a batch of green dough and cut out shamrock shapes.

Maggie is always my helper and likes to clean the batter off the

mixer...I have to say...we fight over it sometimes.

"Vanilla-Butter Sugar Cookies"

1 ½ cups sugar

1 ½ cups butter, softened

2 eggs

2 Tblsp vanilla

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar

Frosting:

1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar

3 Tblsp butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tblsp milk

food coloring, optional

colored sugar sprinkles

In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter;  beat until creamy.  Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.  Stir together dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture until completely blended.  Chill for 30 minutes or make the day ahead.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a ¼-inch thickness.  Cut with cookie cutters dipped in flour.  Using a floured spatuala, transfer cookies to ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.  For frosting, combine sugar, butter, vanilla and milk; beat until creamy.  Thin with additional milk to desired spreading consistency if necessary.  Ad a few drops of food coloring if desired.  Spread frosting over cookies and decorate with colored sugar.  

Yield:  7 dozen

I made this recipe but I used equal amounts of almond extract as vanilla.  I also used only almond extract in my frosting recipe.  They turned out so nice and tasted fantastic.

A hot cup of tea and a shamrock cookie...anyone interested?

"Every house where love abides

and friendship is a guest,

is surely home, and home sweet home.

For there, the heart can rest."

 ~ Henry Van Dyke