Hostess with the Mostess™

I can’t believe that Easter is already going to be here in a few short days… the year is seriously flying by! Hope you get to celebrate with friends & family and enjoy the day on Sunday! Here are a few recipe ideas for Easter brunch celebrations to help get you started…

{Pictured above} Big-Family Easter Brunch from Everyday with Rachael Ray:

• Grapefruit Sparkler
• Corn Bacon Muffins
• Asparagus, Orange, and Blue Cheese Salad
• Homemade Breakfast Sausage

{Pictured above} Breakfast ideas and Easter treats from the HWTM Recipe Box:

• Sweet Potato Pecan Waffles with and Praline Peaches
• Glebe House Eggs Benedict
• Mini Blueberry Turnovers
• Easter Egg Nests

RealSimple.com has a great article/slideshow up right now featuring new and fun ways to get creative with Easter’s favorite sugar-coated marshmallow friends!

The feature also includes some “Fun Facts” - including this one which seriously shocks me: “PEEPS were made by hand using a pastry tube until 1954, when a machine was invented to create multiple marshmallow chicks at a time. Prior to this time it took 27 hours to make one PEEP.” 27 hours?! Who knew! Click here to check out the full article.

If you have kids or are just looking for something simple and fun to do for your Easter tabletop, here are some quick, easy ideas for a cute tabletop design, utilizing a few inexpensive elements that can double as gifts and treats for your loved ones…

These adorable little stuffed bunnies (purchased in-store at These adorable little stuffed bunnies (purchased in-store at Hallmark for $8 each) were the inspiration for this tabletop and immediately give it a playful feel. To give the table height and help the bunnies sit upright, set them on top of little pails (available at Michael’s for $1 each). The pails were embellished with fabric ribbon and cute little self-adhesive chick decals from The Container Store, which were also affixed to green ribbon to create coordinating napkin rings. Colored eggs in white ceramic egg cups are an easy, fitting decorative accent. (Egg cups from at IKEA for $1 each.) The lime “table runner” is actually a folded twin sheet and could also be used as a full tablecloth!

Salad plates and place cards are great places to add a pop of color to the place settings. The contemporary Salad plates and place cards are great places to add a pop of color to the place settings. The contemporary wire flower placecard holders pictured here are available at weddingfavorites.com for $2.50 each. Purple, yellow, and lime flowers make for a beautiful “springy” arrangement. For the tabletop, a couple stems of gerberas and tulips in a glass vase is all you need to make a refreshingly simplistic statement.

Last but not least, whether you’re a fan of the taste or not, a tray lined with neat little rows of brightly-colored Last but not least, whether you’re a fan of the taste or not, a tray lined with neat little rows of brightly-colored Marshmallow Peeps makes for a super inexpensive, yet ultra-modern display!

I was so excited to see these bright & cheery glazed ceramic eggs in my inbox this morning. What a fantastic centerpiece these would make…especially with each one in a white ceramic egg cup, all lined up in a neat little row.

Also found some other fun easter treats on the red envelope website: {clockwise from top left} easter cactus (LOVE the colors in the arrangement!), chocolate egg & chick, spring egg candies in pretty soft pastels, and easter cookies by Eleni’s.

I can’t believe that Eater (April 8th) is already just around the corner! Fortunately, there are lots of great Easter entertaining finds out for the season, like these cutie chick and bunny designs from Sur La Table. Shown below, clockwise from top left: 14.5″ peep! ceramic platter ($24.95), vintage easter towel ($9.95), hand-painted bunny plates ($19.95/set of 4), and adorable chick candles ($40/set of 8).

Also fitting for an Easter table are these beautifully simplistic Also fitting for an Easter table are these beautifully simplistic porcelain double-egg cups - serve one egg on top while the other stays hidden and warm in the lower chamber of the cup. Very clever and just $7.50 for a set of 2. And if you want to get really fancy with your presentation, this gourmet stainless steel professional egg topper can help - just pull the knob to quickly & consistently cut a perfect circle from the top of each egg or eggshell, leaving you with a smooth canvas to decorate as you wish! ($54.95 each)