Post 101: Otherwise Known As Easy, Crafty Easter Treats

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Happy Friday, everyone! I am overwhelmed by the kind comments many of you left in response to my big fat GIVEAWAY post that I started yesterday! I was so encouraged by your words...I had no idea that anyone besides a few friends actually really read anything I write. The Giveaway is open until Monday, April 13th, at noon, so please be sure to check the link above for details. I've heard it's pretty good. (wink, wink)

Easter Sunday is just around the corner! I've been busy scouting the 'Burg for some fun Easter treats...and I'm not just talkin' Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs, people!

Natalie goes to preschool two days a week. This alone elevates her teachers to sainthood in my book, as those two days have restored some serenity to my life, and it gives me some extra girl time with Michaela Byrd. I knew I wanted to do something special for Miss A and Ms. M, but I also knew I couldn't break the bank.

Where did I head? The Dollar Tree, that's where! Maybe you're like IusedToBe and the thought of crossing the threshhold of TDT makes you break into a cold sweat. Fear not, my bargain hunter friend! I picked out two of these:

Then I filled each one with a layer of candy (bought on sale! at Target), like so:

Miss A's jar couldn't have any chocolate eggs because her son is allergic to peanut products. Gasp! If I couldn't keep chocolate in my house, I think I'd have to find a magic pill for them to take or something. Life without chocolate is just not really living.

Finally, I added two little personalized cards to the top, talking about what "egg-cellent" teachers they are. Please don't laugh at my "eggs" (I use the term loosely). It was very late, my eyes were starting to cross, and I didn't feel like being crafty at the time. I know there are tons of ways to fix this project up...I just wasn't feeling the love at 12 am.

You would have thought we'd given Miss A and Ms. M the moon on Wednesday morning when Natalie passed them out with hugs. I think it was truly just the thought that counted. Plus, they probably already have 5678 ceramic apples that say "#1 Teacher." These would also be fun for Sunday School teachers this weekend.

On to my next "crafty" treat. (Yes, you get more than one today because I am in such a good mood over all the good feedback on the Giveaway)

Got this little nest with my Michael's coupon for $1. Where to put it?

I stuck it in a "repurposed" butter dish (all I could find...I can't find a good apothecary jar in this town's thrift shops to save my life!). I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Since my gorgeous friend over at SouthernInspiration gave away a copy of Celebrate Spring, I looked all over town for a copy. I finally found some at Costco, deeply discounted, no less! I decided on Margaret's Black Walnut Pound Cake for a little girlie get-together I hosted last week. It is scrumptious!

{Margaret's Black Walnut Pound Cake}

from Phyllis Hoffman's Celebrate Spring

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

3 cups sugar

5 large eggs

3 cups cake flour, sifted

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped black walnuts (I don't know if mine were black walnuts...they were whatever I grabbed off the rack at the grocery while simultaneously shoving a cracker snack cup at Michaela Byrd and yelling at Natalie to quit taking her shoes off)
Garnish: whipped cream

To Prepare:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Spray a 10 inch tube pan with non-stick baking spray with flour

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Gradually add cake flour to butter mixture, alternately with cream, beginning and ending with flour, beating well after each addition.

Add vanilla, stirring well to combine. Stir in walnuts.

Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for 2 hours, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Garnish with whipped cream.

It's like buttah! No really, there's a lot of butter in there!

All done!

No, my cake is not sprouting Gerber Daisies...I just took the photo from a different angle and liked it!

You will probably need a shot of insulin nearby after you sample this treat. It would be a nice addition to an Easter luncheon, but maybe not so much after a serving (or 4) of Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs! Here's a picture of the cover of Celebrate Spring, in case you're interested! Hope you'll stop by Thursday's post (yesterday) for the Giveaway!)

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