How Pinterest-ing: Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

Dear Pinterest,

 

I would like to thank you for encouraging me to throw a party for every occasion.  I would like to thank you for allowing me to believe that I too can be just like Martha.  I would like to thank you for inspiring me to believe that being a children's birthday party planner could be my true calling. 

 

Pinterest, my husband would like to share his thanks as well.  Thanks for turning his wife into a crazy party obsessed perfectionist who cannot understand how someone doesn't recognize that sky blue and Robin's Egg blue are two totally different colors and that the difference is monumental when conceptualizing next month's Easter egg hunt!

 

Love and Thanks,

 

Jennifer

 

I, like I'm sure many of you are, are in love with Pinterest.  I am also in love with Easter.  even though it always falls smack dab in the middle of the worst part of tax season, I'd classify it as one of my very favorite holidays.  From the very first bunny butt cupcake pin I saw this year, I knew I wanted to host an Easter egg hunt at our house.  It didn't take long to have an entire board filled with adorable ideas that would make our hunt special.  I thought I'd share a few this morning...

 

 

I think this is such a cute way to serve snacks to the kids.  I'm planning to fill them with Goldfish instead of Cheetos though. 

 

And this is such a clever way to present plain old juice boxes!  Who wouldn't want one?!

 

I love providing silverware all packaged together so that people don't have to try to balance their plates and grab forks and spoons.  This is such a fun way to do so.

 

We plan to serve quiche and salad to the adults and sandwiches to the children.  I think I'm going to keep the tablescape simple.  Perhaps a bowl of daffodils and these precious jelly bean flowers will do?

 

I made these little egg nests last year, and they were precious (and tasty).  They will definitely be the dessert we serve.

 

I can't decide if we'll have these already put together or if we'll stage a little craft table, but I think they'd be the perfect accessory to any Easter outfit.

 

And now for the eggs!  I found these bright jumbo eggs at Oriental Trading Company.  Rather than fill then with candy, I opted for Easter tattoos, stamps, and bubbles.  Each is perfectly sized to fit in the jumbo eggs.

 

We ordered these invites from Tinyprints.  They should arrive any day now!  I can't wait to send them out to all of our friends!

 

Some bunny loves a party!!

 

 

 

 



 

 



Tasty Tuesdays is Back: Barefoot Contessa's Green Beans Gremolata

Photo and recipe courtesy of Food Network

It's been so long since I've posted a recipe.  Until a few weeks ago, we have been sticking with the standards.  But, I found that I really missed trying out new recipes.  I, like many of you I'm sure, have a lot of resources to pick from when it comes to recipe searches.  There are a few that I have found to be foolproof.  My favorites are Skinny Taste for light and flavorful cooking and Barefoot Contessa for easy and simple but company worthy meals.

By around 4:30 on the Sunday of Mardo Gras weekend as the rain threatened to pour down on us, I realized that Jane and I had had enough Mardi Gras for one day.  She and our friends from South Carolina were ready to call it quits.  By that evening, I had not had a home cooked meal in days.  I was craving something hearty and something green!  My parents got me Ina's new cookbook Barefoot Contessa Foolproof for Christmas, and I thought it would be the perfect occasion to test the green bean recipe I flagged.

Let me tell you, Ina is a genius.  This dish is simple and elegant and incredibly delicious.  We had extra gremolata, so I topped off the steak we grilled with it.  The lemon and garlic together with the meat was perfect.  I have since made it twice more.  Three times in two weeks - now that's what I call a foolproof recipe!

Green Beans Gremolata

Ingredients

1 pound French green beans, trimmed

2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

3 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and blanch them for 2 to 3 minutes, until tender but still crisp. Drain the beans in a colander and immediately put them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and preserve their bright green color.

For the gremolata, toss the garlic, lemon zest, parsley, parmesan, and pine nuts in a small bowl and set aside.

When ready to serve, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Drain the beans and pat them dry. Add the beans to the pan and saute, turning frequently, for 2 minutes, until coated with olive oil and heated through. Off the heat, add the gremolata and toss well. Sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and serve hot.

Per Serving (based on a 4-serving yield): Calories 159; Total Fat 13 grams; Saturated Fat 2 grams; Protein 4 grams; Total Carbohydrate 10 grams; Sugar: 4 grams; Fiber 3.5 grams; Cholesterol 3 milligrams; Sodium 426 milligrams

What recipe source do you consider foolproof?

Mardi Gras 2013 Recap!

We started our day at Jane's parade at school.  The one year old class was escorted in their buggy float. The other pre-schoolers marched around the play yard why playing instruments and carrying the floats they had decorated.  I now understand why my mom cried at all of our performances.  When I saw that little watermelon turn the corner, tears spring to my eyes.  I am so excited that Jane is getting to experience all of these amazing New Orleans opportunities.

My college roommate and I enjoying our lunch at Galatoire's!

My co-worker and I celebrating at the Muses pre-party.

A friend and reveler who caught one of my shoes!

Jane reaching for beads!  The girl's a natural.

Jane and her Beaufort aunties who came to celebrate Mardi Gras 2013!

And by the end of the parades on Fat Tuesday, Jane fell asleep in her costume with chunks of Moon Pie in each hand.  It's the only way to end what was an amazing carnival season.

Krewe of Muses: 2013 Shoe Collection and SHOE GIVEAWAY

I cannot believe we are just three days away from my eighth ride in the Krewe of Muses!  I am getting butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it.  For the past several weeks, I have spent hours decorating this year's batch of bedazzled shoes.  Here is a sneak peak into this year's shoe collection!

I cannot wait to hand these to some very excited revelers along the route!!

Would you like a chance to win one of these Mardi Gras collectibles?  Check out my post over at the New Orleans Moms Blog to find out how!