Bunnies Know Best

Happy Easter!  Just who do you think is visiting me at this time of year and has been hippity hopping around the yard? Second to deer and turkeys, rabbits and their multitude of families seem to populate the area in excessive abundance.  They love to nibble on our flowers, shrubs and, later in the season, garden goodies.  They seem to know exactly what is best when it comes to outdoor dining.

Even though these cute little fur balls raid the garden with ferocious courage and a huge appetite, I find that I am secretly pleased when they come away with a good meal and a full belly.  The ample vegetation supplies these ambitious eaters with a smorgasbord of nutritious food and a bunny's paradise.

This year's Easter's tablescape commemorates my cherished back yard friends and their busy way of life.

Some beautiful red/orange amaryllis flowers adore the window accent table in the corner of the room and is pictured in the upper left corner of the above picture.  I think their bright red/orange flowers as seen in the close up photos below bring cheerfulness to the entire room for the Easter holiday.

A little egg-travant candles in real cracked egg shells are included in the Easter tablescape for some ambiance.

The green water glasses in the following picture caught my eye at a local antique store.  They were so inexpensive, I couldn't say no to the purchase.  I knew exactly how I could use them in this table setting. The leaves trimmed in gold surely gave me the impression that they were worth a lot more than what I paid for them, don't you agree?

I have even taken some health tips from my lovable furry advisor and I have decided to make some fun but lighter and more healthier food offerings for Easter.  One of which is my favorite side dish, a Carrot Raisin Salad.  Just three ingredients and the salad is done.  It is a wonderful way to eat raw carrots.  Just shred three medium carrots, add one half cup of raisins (or more, if you like) and enough mayonnaise to coat and make them creamy. Refrigerate the salad for 2-3 hours and serve with any main dish or sandwiches.  I eat this salad often, so I should have vision as perfect as a bunny!

Another family favorite is the dessert, Home Grown Garden Carrots, made with mascarpone cheese, whipping cream, vanilla extract, melted dark chocolate and a sprinkle of chocolate cookie crumbs for "garden dirt/soil". This quick and easy dessert gets its hint of sweetness only from the dark chocolate and cookie crumbs and not any additional sugar.  Therefore, it makes for a perfect dessert for anyone looking to cut down on large amounts of sugar, but still want to enjoy a rich, satisfying dessert.

Perhaps this whimsical egg can be added as a garnish and contribute a bit of humor to the ham and egg Chef's salad with homemade Honey Mustard Dressing?

And, of course, my back yard buddies left some candies for the neighborhood children.

Happy Easter