Remember when hankies were made of fabric — for every day use, not just “for show” or for special occasions like weddings? When I discovered the handkerchief craft tutorials at Bumblebee Linens, it was an instant trip down Memory Lane…

As a small child, I learned to iron (a skill I seldom practice these days!) on Dad’s big cotton handkerchiefs. More interesting, however, were the hankie dolls and animals that my mother showed me how to make when I was confined to bed with chicken pox (or possibly mumps, one of those childhood illnesses, anyway) for what seemed like weeks…

The handkerchief-craft tutorials at Bumblebee Linens include a mouse, an angel and the cutest little Easter bunny you could ever imagine making from a rolled-up and folded piece of embroidered linen.

I distinctly remember making a handkerchief mouse from one of my father’s big plaid hankies, and feeling slightly outraged that he didn’t have any that were more appropriately mouse-coloured. There was a doll, too — just big enough to fit in the palm of my young hand — but I’ve long since forgotten how to make it, and haven’t yet found the instructions anywhere…

At the moment, though, hankering for spring, I’m all about this handkerchief bunny –

All you need is a hanky (or a hanky-sized piece of lightweight fabric), a length of ribbon, a handful of cotton balls, and a needle and thread — but don’t worry about the needle and thread, if sewing’s not your thing or you want to create an Easter Bunny as a project with your kids, because that’s just to fasten on the little cotton-ball tail. (The instructions say to pin the tail on the rabbit, actually, but you might as well take a couple of quick in-and-out stitches with thread and not worry about having a stray pin falling out on the carpet — not that this is something that would ever have happened to us!)

Full instructions for making a handkerchief bunny — with step-by-step photographs — are at Bumblebeelinens.com Hankie Bunny tutorial.

Enjoy!

by Kael Geary

As Easter draws near, we’re often left scrambling trying to find the right ham recipe for Easter dinner, or even the right demi-glaze to make for that ham. What about dessert? Surely you’re going to need a great dessert recipe, right?

Well, I’ve included a couple of my own for your own use. Please feel free to use these recipes for your next family gathering and enjoy the feast that is sure to come.

1) Cinnamon Pork Roast

Serves 6

Ingredients:
• 3-1/2 to 4 pounds boneless center-cut pork loin roast
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon >
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 onion (about 1/2 cup), finely grated
• 4 garlic cloves (about 2 tablespoons), minced
• 1 or 2 tablespoons of soy sauce

Recipe Properties:

Combine cinnamon, salt pepper, sugar, onion, and garlic. Blend in 1 tablespoon soy sauce. If not spreadable, add another tablespoon of soy sauce. Rub mixture into loin. Refrigerate 3 hours to overnight. Grill pork over medium-low indirect fire 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until the internal temperature is 155 degrees F. Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into thin slices.

2) Raspberry Glazed Ham

I really had my doubts about this recipe at first, but we tried it this past week and it is delicious! —Jen

Ingredients:

1 (4-5 lb.) fully cooked boneless smoked ham
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/3 c. seedless red raspberry jam>
1/4 c. dry white wine
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. butter

Recipe Properties:

Score ham in diamond pattern, if desired. Place on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, in 325 degree oven for 1-3/4 hours. Meanwhile, in small saucepan, blend wine and lemon juice into cornstarch. Add about half of the jam. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in remaining jam and butter. Heat and stir until butter is melted. Brush ham with raspberry glaze. Bake 10 minutes more. Spoon remaining glaze over ham. Garnish with watercress, if desired.

3) Scalloped Zucchini

Ingredients:

• 2 small zucchini, cut up and peeled
• 1 egg, beaten with one fourth cup whole milk
• 1 ounce pepper cheese
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 to 2 slices white bread, torn in pieces
• 1-4 ounce can mushrooms or 4 ounces fresh, sliced if large >
• 1 ounce smoked sausage

Recipe Properties:

Mix all ingredients in a buttered casserole dish. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes. Easy dish to make, goes great as a side dish.

As you can see, there are some great recipes to make for Easter. Go ahead and stop by http://www.easterrecipes.org to find more recipes along with pictures and reviews of your favorites as well as ones you’ve never heard of. Good eating this holiday!

This article was prepared by Article Authors
for the Easter Recipe Site Easter Recipes

Copyright Kael Geary – http://www.easterrecipes.org