FRESH & SWEET

Sugar and spice make everything nice, but sugar and citrus make gift-giving delicious.

Consider it your go-to gift for the season: citrus sugars in lemon, lime and orange, all packaged up in an old-fashioned milk-bottle caddy that’s as sweet as the homemade contents it carries. This refreshing sugar is simple to concoct whether you’re heading to Easter brunch at the in-laws, need a last minute get-well gift for a friend, or just want to say “Happy Spring” to someone you love. And it can be used by its lucky recipient in many yummy ways, from a topping on breakfast-in-bed-worthy pancakes to a substitute for plain sugar in a pound cake recipe, or as a surprising sweetener for iced tea. Then there’s the added bonus for you: The heavenly fragrance will fill your kitchen, making your effort feel downright delightful. The Recipe 2 cups granulated sugar Zest of 2 lemons, 2 limes or 1 orange Place the sugar and the zest of one kind of fruit into a food processor. Pulse until well blended. Spread the mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet for approximately 1 hour to dry. Repeat with zest from the other fruits. Other ideas and free labels can be found at: www.hallmark.com

What's Your Favorite Flower?

MARRIAGE SEMINAR
While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes." He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favorite flower?" Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn 't it?

Want Some New Holidays?

The year is speeding past...January, February- - - - -March! Where did the weeks go? Guess what, Mom? That means only about 9 more weeks of school! That really puts it in perspective! It seems like only yesterday that everyone was shoppping for school supplies and new lunch boxes! Now its already time to look for Easter outfits and baskets.
One of my pet peeves is women saying that they didnt have a good holiday( Christmas, Easter, etc.) because is caught them by surprize! My response is...."The holidays are pretty predictible! They come the SAME time every year! Fourth of July is always ...fourth of July~! Imagine that. We always have a whole year to plan for the holidays!
Make the year fun with holidays....there is almost one for everyday! Just ask Hallmark!
for instance: MARCH 1st is PIG DAY!






Heres some HOGWASH......

Stink like a pig A classic example of hogwash. To say this would insult any average pig. Pigs are very clean animals and have virtually no odour.
Sweating like a pig Pigs do not sweat, they have no sweat glands - this is why they like to roll in the mud to cool off.
Eat like a pig This isn't hogwash. A pig does love to eat and it's not the prettiest sight either.

National Pig Day. The 1st of March is set aside especially for pigs. It was started by Texas art teacher Ellen Stanley in 1972 to honour and give thanks to our most intelligent domesticated creature.

And you thought you had all the holidays covered!!
Variety is the spice of life...add a few "new" holidays to your year!
For more fun holidays...go to: www.earthcalendar.net/

Asparagus Ham Rolls
I love this delicious recipe because it includes three of my favorite locally produced foods—ham, asparagus and cheese. Prepared with leftover Easter ham and fresh asparagus, these rolls make an excellent springtime meal. —Laurie Timm Minneiska, Minnesota
INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups milk 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 24 fresh or frozen asparagus stalks 8 thin slices fully cooked ham (about 1/2 pound) 1/4 cup bread crumbs
DIRECTIONS In a saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour and cook until thick. Gradually stir in milk and cook until bubbly and thickened. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Place three asparagus stalks on each ham slice. Roll up; secure with toothpicks if necessary. Place in 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan; cover with cheese sauce. Sprinkle with crumbs. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Yield: 8 servings.

Start Planning for Easter Treats

Easter Bunny Treats
INGREDIENTS 2/3 cup vanilla frosting 30 large marshmallows Pink gel or paste food coloring Red and pink heart-shaped decorating sprinkles 60 miniature marshmallows
Frost the tops of 12 large marshmallows; stack a large marshmallow on top of each. Quarter the remaining large marshmallows; set aside for ears. Tint 1/4 cup frosting pink. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; place pink frosting in bag. Pipe a ribbon between the stacked marshmallows for bow tie. With white frosting, attach red hearts for eyes and a pink heart for nose. Pipe pink whiskers and smile. For ears, pipe the center of quartered marshmallows pink; attach to head with white frosting. With the remaining white frosting, attach the miniature marshmallows for legs and tail. Let stand until dry. Yield: 1 dozen.