My Oven Roasted Asparagus is a super easy and super delicious side dish for this holiday weekend. Feel free to add more Parmesan cheese if you want.
If you’re starting to plan your Easter menu then think about adding this luscious Easter Coconut Cake as a fitting conclusion.
Super Easy Coconut Cupcakes
These cupcakes are so easy to make. They get their coconut flavor from coconut milk.
INGREDIENTS
10 Tablespoons Softened Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 Large Eggs (Room Temperature)
2/3 Cup Plus 2 Tablespoons Coconut Milk (Divided)
1/2 Teaspoon Coconut Extract
1 Cup Shredded Sweetened Coconut
1 1/4 Cups Cake Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/4 Cups Powdered Sugar
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. In large-size bowl whisk butter, sugar, and kosher salt until light and creamy. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Whisk in 2/3 cup coconut milk, coconut extract, and 1/2 cup coconut. Add flour and baking powder to bowl and whisk until combined. Spoon batter into liner cups. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remember that each oven heats differently. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove and transfer to wire rack to cool completely before icing.
To make icing: Stir powdered sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons coconut milk in bowl until smooth. Adjust with more sugar or coconut milk to achieve a thick glaze consistency. Add a drop of vanilla or coconut extract if desired.
Spoon glaze over cupcakes and sprinkle with remaining shredded coconut. Transfer to serving platter. Serves 12
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Chocolate Checkerboard Cookies
These cookies are beautiful. They take some work, but are worth it.
INGREDIENTS
3/4 Cup Softened Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
4 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Milk
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Grease several baking sheets. Divide butter and sugar equally between two medium-size bowls. To make vanilla dough: In a bowl, beat half of butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and 1 egg. In another bowl, sift half of the flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Blend in with spoon, then work by hand to form a smooth dough. To make chocolate dough: Make chocolate dough in same way with remaining butter, sugar and egg, adding milk and sifting in cocoa powder with remaining flour and baking powder. Divide each portion of dough into 4 equal pieces. On a floured surface, roll each piece of dough into a rope 12 inches long. Place 1 chocolate rope next to a vanilla one. Place a chocolate one on top of a vanilla one and a vanilla one on top of the chocolate. Press firmly together to form a square. Wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut dough into 48 slices and place on baking sheets. Bake 20 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks. Makes 48 cookies.
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Asparagus & Pea Soup
Spring is here and asparagus is bountiful. This soup is so delicious that you’ll want to make it all year round.
INGREDIENTS
2 Large Trimmed Leeks (White Parts Only)
2 Bunches Trimmed Asparagus
4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Diced Onions
2 Tablespoons Unbleached Flour
8 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
2 Cups Fresh or Frozen Peas
2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Chopped Fresh Thyme
1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
Split leeks in half lengthwise and rinse under cold running water to remove any grit. Cut leeks into 1/2 inch thick slices. Remove tips of asparagus and set aside. Dice asparagus stems into very small pieces. In a small-size pot blanch asparagus tips in salted water over a medium heat for 3 minutes. Drain and transfer tips to a bowl filled with ice water for 1 minute (this stops cooking process). Drain asparagus and set aside. In a large-size pot melt butter over a medium heat. When butter starts to bubble cook leeks and onions over a low heat for 10 minutes. Sprinkle in flour over vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Stir constantly. Add chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Skim off any residue that rises to top. Add asparagus pieces (chopped stems and tips), peas, kosher salt, thyme and pepper. Cook on medium-low for 5 minutes. The asparagus should be tender. Transfer soup, in batches, to a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and serve hot. Serves 8
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Deviled Eggs Four Ways
I like basic deviled eggs, but if you’d like to mix it up a bit here are some unique deviled egg options for you and your family.
Basic Deviled Eggs
INGREDIENTS
6 Hard Boiled Eggs
1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
1 Teaspoon Mustard (I Like To Use Yellow Mustard)
1 Teaspoon Vinegar
Paprika (Optional)
Parsley Sprigs (Optional)
Boil eggs and remove shells. Halve eggs lengthwise and gently remove yolks. Set Whites aside. Place yolks in small bowl and mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar. Mix well. If desired season with kosher salt and pepper. Stuff egg white halves with yolk mixture. Cover and chill until serving time (up to 24 hours). If desired, garnish with paprika and/or parsley. Makes 12 Deviled Eggs
Greek Deviled Eggs
Prepare as above except fold 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese, 1 tablespoon finely chopped pitted kalamata olives, and 2 teaspoons snipped fresh oregano into yolk mixture.
Curry & Crab Deviled Eggs
Prepare as above, except omit mustard and vinegar. Stir mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon snipped fresh chives, and 1/2 teaspoon curry powder into mashed yolks. Mix well. Fold in 1/4 cup crabmeat.
Chipotle Deviled Eggs
Prepare as above, except omit mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar. Stir 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion, and 1 teaspoon finely chopped canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into yolk mixture.
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Easter Menu Ideas
Breakfast
Hot Cross Buns
Ginger Scones With Crystalized Ginger
Croissants
Blueberry Crumb Muffins
Pecan Sticky Buns
Fresh Fruit Salad
Ham & Gruyere Quiche
Scrambled Eggs With Bistro Ham & Cheddar Cheese
Hors D’Oeuvres, Soups & First Courses
Peking Duck In Scallion Pancakes
Coconut Shrimp With Mango Dipping Sauce
Miniature Crab Cakes
Spring Asparagus Soup
Carrot Ginger Soup
Salmon With Mustard Dill Sauce
Deviled Eggs
Main Courses
Sliced Filet Mignon With Horseradish Chive Sauce
Roasted Salmon With Mango Grilled Pineapple Salsa
Roasted Chicken Breast With Mushroom Sauce
Rosemary & Garlic Crusted Rack of Lamb
Spiral Cut Easter Ham With Honey Tangerine Glaze
Side Dishes
Roasted Broccoli With Lemon Zest, Pine Nuts & Sweet Garlic
Rosemary & Thyme Roasted Potatoes
Honey Roasted Baby Carrots
Oven Roasted Roma Tomatoes With Herbs de Provence
Haricots Verts With Wild Mushrooms
Asparagus, Peas, Pearl Onions & Carrots
Desserts
Strawberry Shortcake
Coconut Cream Pie
Carrot Cake
Mixed Berry Tart
Petit Fours
French Macarons
Dipped Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Coconut Cake
Mini-Lemon Tarts
Chocolate Checkerboard Cookies
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Hot Cross Buns
These slightly sweet buns are often served during the Easter season.
INGREDIENTS
4 to 4 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Package Active Dry Yeast
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
3/4 Cup Whole Milk
1/2 Cup Butter
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
3 Room Temperature Large Eggs
2/3 Cup Raisins or Currants
1/4 Cup Diced Candied Orange Peel (Optional)
1 Beaten Egg White
1 Tablespoon Water
Powdered Sugar Icing (See Below For Recipe)
In a large-size bowl combine 2 cups flour, yeast, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. In a medium-size saucepan add milk, butter, sugar, and kosher salt. Heat over a medium-low heat and stir until butter almost melts. The temperature should reach between 120 to 130 degrees. Add milk mixture to flour mixture along with eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. Scrape bowl constantly. Turn to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Stir in raisins and orange peel. Stir in as much of remaining flour as you can. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour for 3 to 5 minutes. You will want moderately soft dough. Shape into a ball. Place dough into lightly greased bowl. Turn once to grease surface of dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until doubled in size. Punch dough down. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Lightly grease two baking sheets and set aside. Divide dough into 20 pieces. Gently pull each piece into a ball. Tuck edges under to make smooth tops. Place balls 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until nearly doubled in size. Preheat oven to 374 degrees. Using a sharp knife make crisscross slashes across top of each dough ball. In small-size bowl combine beaten egg white and water. Brush egg white mixture over rolls. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately remove buns from baking sheets. Cool slightly on wire racks. Drizzle Powdered Sugar Icing into crisscrosses on each bun. Serve warm. Makes about 20 Hot Cross Buns.
Powdered Sugar Icing
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Milk
In small-size bowl combine powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Stir in additional milk if needed one tablespoon at a time until icing reaches drizzling consistency. Makes about 1/2 cup.
© Victoria Hart Glavin
Happy Palm Sunday!
