happy spring!

Many things have been made this week in preparation for the first day of Spring (our big family event at home) and Easter. This bunny cake is lemon ginger and is a modified version from this month's Everyday Food. Or was it in this month's Martha? I can't remember. I also realized why I liked it so much—it's almost identical to a mailorder recipe from 2 years ago.  I am so predictable. It was served with mixed berry compote and almond whipped cream. Sadie thought the whipped cream tasted funny and the bunny had a broken neck. Also, note to self, before I use these crazy big animal pans, think about what I will serve it on. I had nothing big enough to present this creature, so he was served off the rack. Sort of tacky.

Hot crossed buns made from the challah dough recipe from my new bread book. They were very very good and can't wait to make more from this dough. There wasn't an exact recipe for this in the book, I just used the dough, added cinnamon sugar and and egg wash on top before baking and then made an orange icing.

Only one Easter dress was completed. This was weeks ago, and since then dresses were purchased by various family members, and the girls were more interested in dress up, so this is the only one this year that was sewn by me. As I was about to trim this with lovely ribbons and make it all fancy, the middle child said to leave it plain because it's Cinderella's rag dress. Ah, yes, of course. My tastes once again don't quite live up to her sparkly version of a proper holiday dress. But at least Cinderella can wear it while cleaning. And she does.

I am super excited and flattered that a Bend-the-Rules Sewing Swap has been organized by Clicky the Moose! How cool and fun! The first project is a swap for the Pleated Beauty Handbag, check it out. (sign-ups are closed March 31st)

Comments

[Paper Dolls for Boys (Tracey)]

Your baked bunny looks like (s)he is blushing! :) I just ordered the bread book, thanks for the tip!

[Ericka B Traven]

The bunny is super cute and I am on my way to go and check out the swap.

[heather]

Well, you're way ahead of me, I just cut my Easter dresses out this afternoon, and I am still trying to get back to my sewing table to see if I can at least make the effort to start sewing them tonight. So far, it hasn't happened. And your cake and hot cross buns looks delicious, there is nothing like fresh baked goods!

[meggiecat]

Middle child taste stories crack me up!!! You are in for it, friend, for the next how many years? I'm still laughing out loud.

[daria]

Around here, those are known as "workity rags," my girl would be so jealous, ha! Love the giant-eared bunny.

[Tiel]

it is Autumn here, so Happy Autumn and Happy Easter to you and your family.
We make apple pie, eat roast pork with fennel and other fresh herbs and of course gobble some yummy eggs.

[Suzanne - The Farmer's Wife]

I don't know about these bunny pans. For some reason that bunny looks angry. Maybe he realizes he's going to be served off a rack! That Cinderella is absolutely a doll and I love the comment about Cinderella's rag dress.

[amy]

that bread makes me hungry. and the cinderella rag dress bit is too funny! i finished my daughter's dress almost two week ago and i nearly fainted from the excitement of working ahead! happy easter!

[Helen]

MMmmmmm...wish I had the recipe for those hot crossed buns...

[Tipper]

Bread looks delicious! I totally understand the mother likes-daughter likes issues. And yes middle school girls still write notes-at least mine and their friends do.

[michelle fitzgerald]

Love the bunny and now I really want to make that skirt below! So cute and it does sound easy!

[pam]

Cinderells'a rag dress. Ahh kids. They really know how to keep you in check don't they.

[patty]

Oh what cute bunny cake(:) thanks for sharing it~~hugs Patty

[erinK.]

Regarding the bunny cake - Easter is my favorite holiday and a couple years ago my son's birthday was on Easter! It was the best. Anyway, I made a bunny cake with a mold - but it had both sides so it stood up tall on my great grandmother's cut glass cake stand. I sandwiched it together with lemon curd and drenched the whole thing in a chocolate ganach (sp?) frosting, and since it was Elvis Presely's favoirte pound cake recipe - it was literally like a giant wonderful bunny-shaped cake donut. My mother seemed to take great pleasure in be-heading the bunny when it came time to cut it. Oh- and I had to use some small skewers to keep the neck for breaking - it's a thin spot.

[MeMe]

an interesting twist - hot crossed buns for Easter out of Challah dough. Happy Purim all ... be well and be happy .

[lissilulu]

oh Amy, sorry bout the rags comment.
LOL!
very cute dress btw.
I cut out one dress last night and the other is already layed out to cut. mine is almost the same as your dress shown except I made a short bodices and ruffled skirts.

[Mary]

Oh My God...the rag dress story had me almost wetting my pants! that was hilarious! This past Christmas I knit my 6 year old a white fur muff...so soft...so pretty...she said I love it, but I don't actually have to use it right? Nooo, I made it just to pass the time becuase I couldn't think of anything else to do everyday for a week.

[NikkiG]

Ugh. Isn't so difficult when you have an AMAZING family(in all seriousness) that wants to buy your children nice things but then the store bought fancies sort of ruin their taste for what you want to make them? It is the story of my "i only have 1 kid and she has tons of adoring fans" life. Well, your kids will love it someday....right? RIGHT.

[Niki]

I LOVE the Cinderella dress. Exactly the response I would have gotten from my 6-year-old. It honestly is so hard to compete with today's world. A shame really, but someday the Cinderella dress will be the one that's remembered and eventually treasured. Hope you have a wonderful holiday...no matter what you're wearing ;-)

[gillie]

Lovely dress. I wish my girls would wear skirts and dresses but it is not to be LOL We suddenly realised we hadn't made Hot Cross Buns this year so ours are rising as I type. I hope they are as yummy as yours look.

[Susan]

i am afraid to ask, why "angry chicken"? i am not a lover of chickens cause there were a bizzilion of them on kauai and they totally dug up your lawn making walking very dangerous...total ankel breakers. i actually had a fedx driver brake her ankel in my yard..she leaped before she looked and landed in a chicken hole.

children can be crule in their own sweet innocent way...slaving over that dress and "dont dress it up cause it will be cinderella's rag dress" i cracked up. victoria, my darling grand daughter is the receipient of many "girlie" dresses and things from her nana. i raised three boys so my sewing skills went to aloha shirts and walk shorts and trunks but you better believe i am having a ball dressing up tori!!

[ande]

I've done the panicked "no place to put this cake!" thing plenty of times! I finally learned to keep several of those cardboard cake board things (from cake decorating shops or Michael's-type places) on hand for just such occasions. You can also just cut the shape you want from any cardboard box, obviously. Cover it with plain old aluminum foil (tape on the back side), or there are lots of pretty foil options at The Decorette Shop.

[RAS]

De-lurking to say that I just bought the 5-minute A Day bread book a couple of weeks ago on your recommendation and I LOVE it! I was skeptical at first but all 4 of the recipes that I have tried turned out great! (I have only been making half recipes) Thanks! Always enjoy your writing and the little glimpse into your life.

[Tana]

Cinderella's rag dress?!?!? Oh, that's painful! [Laughing]