Spring Break! Getting ready for Easter and having some fun!

             

      A blessed Palm Sunday to all! Easter week is a busy time in an Italian household (even a half Italian one) and we're busy planning and cooking and trying to keep up with all the not-so-much fun things that still have to be done.
If you've been following us on Facebook (and you should- we have fun! And we post "bonus" recipes that don't show up here), you know that we got a special request a couple of days ago from a follower. 
          
         Tricia said "When I think of Easter, I remember that every year when I was little, my grandmother gave each of the us a giant peanut butter, chocolate covered egg. she also had them in Strawberry..but it was the PB that I loved. We kept them in the fridge and would slice off a piece at a time. ..I'd love to find a recipe for those. She didn't make them, she got them from a lady she worked with..so she can't give me the recipe."


       Well, you all know that we love anything that comes from a Grandma, so we took on the challenge. We did a little online research (LOVE the internet!) and Lo and Behold!- peanut butter eggs are apparently some kind of classic! Now in my family, Easter eggs meant one thing- my nonni in Italy would send a box every year with goodies for me and my brother which always included Italian chocolate eggs. 

This is similar to what I remember

         Those eggs were extravagant (by today's standards) and nothing like the Hallmark eggs we find in the supermarket today. My absolute favorites were the chocolate and sugar eggs with a peephole cut into them. There was always an elaborate little "diorama" type scene inside. They were quite large and often included moveable pieces and extra "surprise" gifts inside. I searched and searched, but couldn't find any pictures of those. We also LOVED the surprises found inside the luscious chocolate eggs- my brother and I would fight over those! And the eggs were HUGE!

     We posted these recipes on Facebook, but decided to put them here too since they were such fun to make. I took what I thought looked like the best components of the recipes we found online and in various community cookbooks and combined them. Our follower proclaimed them a success and I had to hide them so we'd have a few left for Easter! We actually made second batches of each today. So, we'll be back this week with more Easter goodies and hopefully a dinner or two, but in the meantime, enjoy this very "American" Easter tradition.

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

1 1 pound package confectioners' sugar
1 rounded cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 stick cup butter8 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon shortening

In a mixing bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter and milk until blended. Shape mixture into two 1/2 pound eggs on a sheet of waxed paper. I just scooped out 2 blobs and smoothed them into shape with a spatula. Then I ran a wooden skewer lengthwise through the egg and out the other side. Freeze eggs for 1 hour. When they're pretty solid, cut semi-sweet chocolate into small pieces, add shortening, and place in a bowl over a pan of simmering water with shortening. Melt over medium heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Dip the eggs in melted chocolate(use a spoon to cover with chocolate) to cover then drain on waxed paper. When the eggs are cooled and set, decorate with colored frosting.

Coconut Eggs 

(Allie proclaimed these better than her favorite Mounds bars!)

1/2 of a 14 ounce bag of coconut
1/2 of a 7 ounce jar marshmallow cream
1 egg white
1/2 box of confectioner's sugar

Mix all together (I used stand mixer with paddle), form eggs (roll between your palms, and chill for an hour or so. Dip in melted chocolate. When set, decorate as desired

As Always,

Buon Alimenti, Buon Amici,

Pattie and Allie