Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter everyone. If you are looking for recipes, or history, check yesterday's blog.

Today is the day we celebrate the atonement and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The only perfect man who ever lived, He broke the bands of death, and made it possible for us to live again. His mercy, grace and atoning sacrifice make life everlasting a reality.

As disciples of Christ, we can never achieve perfection in this life, but we can follow his teachings, reach out in love to our fellow beings, and faithfully serve him all of our days. His is the only name under Heaven whereby we can return to our Father.

The following poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is a favorite of mine.

Gethsemane

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

In golden youth when seems the earth
A Summer-land of singing mirth,
When souls are glad and hearts are light,
And not a shadow lurks in sight,
We do not know it, but there lies
Somewhere veiled under evening skies
A garden which we all must see --
The garden of Gethsemane.

With joyous steps we go our ways,
Love lends a halo to our days;
Light sorrows sail like clouds afar,
We laugh and say how strong we are.
We hurry on; and hurrying, go
Close to the border-land of woe,
That waits for you, and waits for me --
For ever waits Gethsemane.

Down shadowy lanes, across strange streams,
Bridged over by our broken dreams;
Behind the misty caps of years,
Beyond the great salt fount of tears,
The garden lies. Strive as you may,
You cannot miss it in your way.
All paths that have been, or shall be,
Pass somewhere through Gethsemane.

All those who journey, soon or late,
Must pass within the garden's gate;
Must kneel alone in darkness there,
And battle with some fierce despair.
God pity those who cannot say,
"Not mine but thine," who only pray,
"Let this cup pass," and cannot see
The purpose in Gethsemane.

Suffering and sorrow are a part of this mortal life, but through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, they don’t have to be a part of the next life. He took our sins upon himself in the Garden of Gethsemane, and paid the price for each of us with his blood. May we all recognize him as our Savior, and thank him this day for his gift of eternal life.


Saturday, April 11, 2009

Easter Bunny Saturday

It was March 30, 1975. I woke up Easter morning, and ran to the front door (well, I actually kind of waddled to the front door). I threw it open hoping to see a beautiful basket left by the Easter bunny with eggs, and candy, and flowers, and chocolate and grass (you get the picture) but most of all, I was hoping to see a baby in it. I was three days overdue and had pinned my hopes on the Easter Bunny bringing our baby as a surprise! He let me down – no baby. She was born the next day – my beautiful Shannon. It would have been a lot more comfortable to have had the bunny deliver it, though, so I figured he owed me.

Being a good researcher, I decided to find out everything I could about his history before I confronted him. The earliest references to the Easter Bunny trace back to Germany in the 1500s and parts of France during the 1600s. He’d been around a LONG time and should have known better than to disappoint a pregnant woman! Some claim that his a symbolic representation of life dates back to pagan fertility rituals. Fertility rituals....yeah, he should know better!

My information gathering was proving fruitful – he had been alive a LONG time. He came to the US from Germany – I had good reason to suspect that he actually came from the Carpathian Mountains and went to Germany after Trannsylvania was defeated in 1004. Fearful of discovery, he laid low in Dusseldorf, changing his personna into that of playful, loving “Oschter Haws." He occasionally made PR visits to Hamm and Wuppertal, and even once to Frankfurt. He emigrated to the US in the 1700s with German immigrants who brought with them both the Easter Bunny and the egg tradition. Taking root in the Pennsylvania colony, the tradition of the Easter Bunny and eggs was almost as popular as the Christmas traditions. Children would make nests in secluded spots, believing that if they were good, that the Easter Bunny would bring them brightly colored eggs or candy. The tradition of making hidden nests for the eggs gradually evolved into traditional egg hunts in which children would carry their baskets about searching for the eggs and candy to gather up.

Armed to the teeth (no pun intended) with carrot “stakes,” I sought out “Count” Bunny. (He lives up City Creek by Pocatello, ID, in case any of you are interested. ) Our initial meeting can best be described as taking place with fangs exposed. I told him my complaint and he explained to me the legal definition of “libel.” He was a “good, God-fearing bunny”, and I better not hint otherwise. We made a deal, I kept my “findings” (completely spurious findings according to him–he’s never even HEARD of Carpathia) to myself. He agreed to come to my home every year on the Friday night before Easter so that we could find our baskets Saturday morning and leave Sunday for the observance of the Savior’s death and resurrection. It’s worked well.

He didn’t come today. I guess he knew that there were no children here to leave baskets for and that I’m on a diet and Dean has given chocolate up. Too bad, I’ll miss him.

2 Easter recipes:

Easter Nests
12 oz. package butterscotch chips (chocoholics can use a package of milk chocolate chips)
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 c. peanuts
5 oz. Chinese noodles

Melt butterscotch chips, add peanut butter and blend. Add peanuts and Chinese noodles and blend well. Form into nests on waxed paper and cookie sheet. Cool in refrigerator. Add jelly beans or candy eggs of your choice.

Easter Carrot Cake
2 c sugar
1-1/2 c. canola oil
5 eggs
3 c. grated carrots (about 7)
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. chopped nuts

In mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Mix in carrots. Combine in bowl flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Sift. Add flour mixture to carrots mixture. Mix. Add nuts. Pour into greased and floured two round cake pans. Bake in 325 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until cake test done.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. soft margarine
1 (1 lb.) box powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Chopped nuts or dyed coconut to sprinkle on top of frosted cake

Combine cream cheese, margarine, powdered sugar and vanilla; mix well. Use to frost cooled cake. Sprinkle chopped nuts or coconut over top for garnish.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

April Fools Day

Welcome everyone! It is so great that you have come to my blog today in search of historical info on April Fool's Day -- how it started back in France in the 1500's. Besides the history, you've eagerly awaited reading the tales of the greatest pranks ever pulled throughout history, and getting some fun recipe besides. WELL, Happy Poisson d'Avril. Ha-ha...ha-ha.... ha, ha, ha!