Easter Treat: Chocolate Coconut Nests

One of the most fun parts of Easter is the candy and other traditional holiday treats.  Jelly beans, Cadbury Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs, and Peeps, just to name a few, have found their way into a myriad of recipes.  Our own resident baker, Emily Tracy of Get Baked, shares one of her popular items with us:

Chocolate Coconut Nests

1 1.2 c. chocolate chips
3/4 c. coconut 7 oz.
desired eggs for garnish (Cadbury Mini or Jelly Beans)

Melt the chocolate for 30 seconds at a time in microwave safe bowl, or using a double boiler over the stovetop.  Once melted, mix in the coconut.  Drop the mixture 1 tablespoon at a time onto a lined cookie sheet.  Make a divet in the center with the back of a spoon, and fill with your chosen eggs.  Chill until firm.  (Super fun idea: use white chocolate and color it green.)

No time to make your own?  Stop by Get Baked at 25 Central Street in Windsor at pick up any of these delicious treats:

Rice Krispies Easter Eggs

Peeps cucakes

Babka

Hot cross buns

No matter your taste, Get Baked will have something for you to enjoy this weekend, or anytime!

Easter Finds

Easter is heading our way this Sunday, so we scoured the Nutmeg Collective membership to find you some unique finds perfect for the upcoming holiday:

Get a unique Easter "basket" from The Toy Box by Vinny (choice of toy included!!), $40

Gorgeous adventurine + mother of pearl cross bracelet from bba bracelets, $25

New baby?  Gift this adorable Easter basket from baby blossom company, $65

Cute as a bunny outfit crocheted by Everything Glitzy, $20

Need a card?  Laura's Paper Creations has you covered! $4

Don't forget the chicks! Lucky will make everyone smile. by Hickster Tees, $16

Personalized Easter egg treat holder!  Contact QueenVanna Creations, starting at $5

We hope you have a lovely holiday with friends and family this weekend.

Homemade Peppermint Patties.

The sun is getting brighter, the weathermen are promising that the temperatures outside will get warmer, and I’m about ready to come out of hibernation. I’m ready for some color, and maybe a little something sweet. These homemade peppermint patties are a simple recipe that I've made with my children in the springtime for the past few years. They love to help, but also love a good snack!

Homemade Peppermint Patties

4 cups confectioners sugar
3 Tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 Tablespoons evaporated milk

In the bowl of a stand mixer or other mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of confectioners sugar and the rest of the ingredients. Add remaining sugar 1/2 cup at a time until completely incorporated.

Roll mixture out into 1/2 – 3/4" balls, then slightly flatten into discs with the palm of your hand. Place on cookie sheet.

Note: they’re very rich and you might like to make them just slightly smaller than you think you would – Think somewhere between Junior Mints and York Peppermint patty sized.

Freeze for 20 minutes.

While discs are freezing, melt colored candy wafers or chocolate candy bark of your choice until smooth. We've tried the dark chocolate candy wafers and they are amazing with the cool minty inside! Dip discs one at a time into candy coating, shake off excess then place on wax or parchment paper to dry. It takes a lot of practice to make them look pretty (I have not mastered that skill!) – once they’re dry, use a little more of the melted candy to drizzle a design on top. I usually use a fork, but this time I dragged the back of a spoon dipped in the candy and smeared it on top – that way the messiness looks like it was on purpose!

Makes about three dozen, depending on size. They’re great as an addition to a holiday dessert table, or bagged up as treats for teachers or friends! Store in an airtight container.

C’mon, spring!

Vanessa Felie, aka "Queenvanna" juggles a husband and two blond pixies while running her burgeoning paper arts and crafts business,  QueenvannaCreations. Her job and family inspire her to create crafty projects for holidays, vacations, as well as times when there's just not much going on. Perpetual calendars and other home items, scrapbooking album kits and personalized gifts of all kinds - She looks to add a little flair to everything she makes, to put some extra fun in to daily life, as well as special occassions.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | queenvanna@cox.net

Gift Guide: Easter Baskets

If you're going to fill an Easter basket for a child this spring, think small - small gifts from small businesses for those sweet small hands!  

Start your planning with a custom made Easter basket by Rhymes With Smile.  These baskets are made from simple clothesline and thread, and stitched in any color of your choice.

For a different twist, fill a screen printed organic cotton tote bag from and Morgan or an art supplies tote from Little Fingers Gifts.  

Now, on to the little things!  Fill a few of these Sports Star Push Pops by Queenvanna Creations with your child's favorite candy (and if a few M&Ms happen to spill out into your hand while you're putting these together, it'll be our little secret).

Next, tuck in a set of the Woodland Critters Magnets by our secret treehouse.  These little dudes can pull double duty as refrigerator artwork holders and pretend playtime/storytime actors.

Be sure to include a set of Little Notebooks by River Dog Prints.  Notice that this is a set of two ... so, ehem, you can keep one for yourself.

And since children love seeing their own name in print, consider including one of these Personalized Bag Tags by freckle paper.  After spring, the sturdy little tag can go on backpacks, luggage, diaper bags, and more.

What basket would be complete without some eggs?  The Felt Haus has durable felted wool eggs that your child can hide, hold, and play with for along time.  And with colors like these, they'll win the "Most Likely To Be Mistaken For A Rainbow" award at the neighborhood egg hunt, and you can walk away proud.

Show your local connections with a screen printed baby onesie or shirt from Hartford Prints!

Finally, tuck in an Easter card by Laura's Paper Creations - and there you go!

Happy Easter!  Think Spring!

Katherine Lile is the chief basketeer and queen bee of Rhymes With Smile. She learned coiled rope basketry and quilting from her mother, and hopes to pass on some awesome crafty skills to her own two children. For now, baskets and quilts take up most of the magical Kid Naptime Hours. When not at the sewing machine, you can find her growing tomatoes, enjoying the outdoors with her family and dog, or trying to drink an entire cup of coffee while it's hot.