When our boys were little, they had lots of questions about the Easter Bunny. I finally suggested that they should leave him a letter and see what happens. Here's the story....and the reply the boys received along with their baskets full of goodies.
Kathleen's Catholic: Letter from the Easter Bunny
God bless!
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
from The Little Catholic Kitchen: A Pretty Cake for Easter Sunday
by Kathleen Blease
For more recipes from The Little Catholic Kitchen click here.
Mary Lou's Chocolate Cake
From our family picnic, this is my mother's cousin's wife's chocolate cake. I use a seven minute frosting and include the recipe below. A friend took a bite of this cake and said, "It tastes like a childhood memory."
This is very moist. If you use a dark cocoa, it will make the cake dry, so do stick with a basic baking cocoa. Good ol' Hershey's works great. Nine-inch round pans are necessary here; if you use 8-inch rounds, you will have a messy oven in the end. Spray the pans with non-stick spray that has flour in it.
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. milk
1 c. boiling coffee
Yields: one 9-inch two-layer cake
Mix all ingredients in one bowl, except the coffee. Stir until fully combined and smooth. Add the coffee and thoroughly mix again. This is a very wet batter. Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Do not over bake. Cake should seem firm to touch but not dry. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
For the seven-minute icing
Yield: This really is enough for two cakes. You can half this recipe without any problems. If you do, use two eggs whites.
3 large egg whites
2 tsp. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/3 c. cold water
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
In a medium sauce pan, bring 2 inches of water to a simmer. Use a large pyrex bowl as a double boiler by placing it in the sauce pan. It should sit in the pan without touching the water. With the bowl OUT of the sauce pan, combine all ingredients with a whisk. Place the bowl inside the pan. With a hand mixer, beat the egg mixture on high speed until stiff peaks form (about 7 minutes). Remove from heat and beat 3-5 minutes longer until it cools. Use immediately.
Extra frosting can be refrigerated for up to a week, but it must be re-whipped. However, I find that this is not always successful.
Assemble the cake
Note: No crumb coating is necessary here!
Items needed:
cake plate
wax paper
metal spatula
warm water in tall glass
spoon
To frost cake, place a dollop of icing on a plate. Place the first layer of cake on the plate; this helps glue the cake in place. Place four strips of wax paper under the layer of cake to protect the plate. Place more icing on top of the first layer and smooth out to the edges. Be generous! Place second layer of cake on top. Ice the top of the cake. Again, be generous. Then ice the sides.
After you've frosted the entire cake, you can use the back of a spoon to form peaks in the icing. Simply place the spoon in the icing and pull up. Do this over all the top of the cake.
If you prefer a smooth professional finish, dip a spatula in a tall glass of warm water and shake off excess water. Then hold the entire spatula level and/or parallel to the cake and smooth icing to make a seamless effect.
To finish, carefully and slowly slide out the strips of wax paper from underneath the cake. Voila!
You might want to try covering the same chocolate layers with one of my favorite icings, Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing. It's from A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking: The 10th Anniversary Edition by Marcy Goldman, p. 315, originally published with her Yogurt Banana Cake. I double the recipe. We've enjoyed this terrific combination for my sons' birthdays, homeschool co-op picnics, and Boy Scout events. Click here to read my review on A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking. I am turning to this wonderful baking book once again this week. My son, Ben, has requested a special and surprise cake for his birthday dinner. I'm sure I'll find one among its recipes!
For more recipes from The Little Catholic Kitchen click here.
Mary Lou's Chocolate Cake
 |
| A pretty two-layer cake for Easter Sunday. |
This is very moist. If you use a dark cocoa, it will make the cake dry, so do stick with a basic baking cocoa. Good ol' Hershey's works great. Nine-inch round pans are necessary here; if you use 8-inch rounds, you will have a messy oven in the end. Spray the pans with non-stick spray that has flour in it.
I like to make the chocolate layers whenever I have a spare moment, and then I freeze them wrapped in two layers of aluminum foil. When I need the layers, I take them out of the freezer and open the foil. By the time the frosting is ready to use, the layers are just right for assembling.
The seven minute frosting is very much like a meringue. It glides on beautifully, looks glossy, and forms beautiful peaks. But, if you prefer, you can take a metal spatula dipped in warm water and glide it over the icing to make a smooth almost seamless effect--very professional looking.
Whenever I make this cake, I ALWAYS hear "Wow!!"
For the cake:
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. milk
1 c. boiling coffee
Yields: one 9-inch two-layer cake
Mix all ingredients in one bowl, except the coffee. Stir until fully combined and smooth. Add the coffee and thoroughly mix again. This is a very wet batter. Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Do not over bake. Cake should seem firm to touch but not dry. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
For the seven-minute icing
Yield: This really is enough for two cakes. You can half this recipe without any problems. If you do, use two eggs whites.
3 large egg whites
2 tsp. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/3 c. cold water
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
In a medium sauce pan, bring 2 inches of water to a simmer. Use a large pyrex bowl as a double boiler by placing it in the sauce pan. It should sit in the pan without touching the water. With the bowl OUT of the sauce pan, combine all ingredients with a whisk. Place the bowl inside the pan. With a hand mixer, beat the egg mixture on high speed until stiff peaks form (about 7 minutes). Remove from heat and beat 3-5 minutes longer until it cools. Use immediately.
 |
| Whip ingredients over simmering water until stiff peaks form. |
Assemble the cake
Note: No crumb coating is necessary here!
Items needed:
cake plate
wax paper
metal spatula
warm water in tall glass
spoon
To frost cake, place a dollop of icing on a plate. Place the first layer of cake on the plate; this helps glue the cake in place. Place four strips of wax paper under the layer of cake to protect the plate. Place more icing on top of the first layer and smooth out to the edges. Be generous! Place second layer of cake on top. Ice the top of the cake. Again, be generous. Then ice the sides.
After you've frosted the entire cake, you can use the back of a spoon to form peaks in the icing. Simply place the spoon in the icing and pull up. Do this over all the top of the cake.
 |
| The more peaks the better! |
If you prefer a smooth professional finish, dip a spatula in a tall glass of warm water and shake off excess water. Then hold the entire spatula level and/or parallel to the cake and smooth icing to make a seamless effect.
 |
| Hold the knife parallel to make a seamless effect. |
You might want to try covering the same chocolate layers with one of my favorite icings, Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing. It's from A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking: The 10th Anniversary Edition by Marcy Goldman, p. 315, originally published with her Yogurt Banana Cake. I double the recipe. We've enjoyed this terrific combination for my sons' birthdays, homeschool co-op picnics, and Boy Scout events. Click here to read my review on A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking. I am turning to this wonderful baking book once again this week. My son, Ben, has requested a special and surprise cake for his birthday dinner. I'm sure I'll find one among its recipes!
 |
| Here are the same chocolate layers covered in Marcy's chocolate cream cheese icing. |
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Lacy's Easter Link-Up
Over at Catholic Icing, Lacy has organized her latest link-up. Catholic bloggers from all over are invited to feature their posts about Easter. You will find reflections, meditations, and ideas on how to celebrate the entire season (fifty days!) with your family and friends.
Click here to visit Catholic Icing.
While you're there, don't forget to page through all of Lacy's blog, not just the link-up. If you're a teacher, mom, or grandmom, you will find it particularly helpful with lots of craft projects, recipes, and printables that will help bring the Easter story to life for children...and for you. Check it out and have fun!
But before you go, you might want to read my "Easter Joy Inside and Out," a funny little Easter story, which I include in Lacy's link-up. I posted it yesterday. Scroll down or check my archives in right column. Look for the Easter Bunny costume.
Be sure to leave a comment for Lacy and tell her that you came from Kathleen's Catholic! Happy Easter!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easter Joy Inside and Out
by Kathleen Blease
When my oldest son was just four years old, and his brother was two, the three of us made a visit to our favorite mom-and-pop toy store. While my little one was enjoying the Thomas the Tank Engine playset at the back of the store, a surprise guest walked through the front door. Ben saw him right away, and clapped his hands. Then, he ran to get his baby brother. Spring was in the air, and the promise of baskets brimming with candy and goodies was so close!
Ben collected his little brother, who wouldn't give up his Percy, the green engine. "Look, Max, look! It's the Easter Bunny, Max! He'll be coming to our house real soon and bring us some yummy baskets!"
I was marvelling over my son's enthusiasm. His little brother stood with his mouth wide open and his eyes like Little Orphan Annie's--amazed and dazed and a little unsteady on his toddler feet as he gazed up at this holiday giant. His big brother was educating him on the finer points of the sweet holiday just before us.
Ben's thrill was obvious. "Oh, it's the Easter Bunny! The Easter Bunny!" He drew close to my legs and looked at me with a smile full of enthusiam and childlike pure joy.
"Mommy, it's the Easter Bunny."
"I see that, Honey."
He jumped around a bit. Then he waved his long arms in the air and asked, "Mommy, who's in the costume?"
Out of the mouths of babes. Somehow I managed to do what any mother of sound mind would do: I looked at him and put my finger over my lips to convey to him the secrecy of the moment. Shh. Don't give it away.
Oh to see the joy of the Easter Bunny--inside and out!
When my oldest son was just four years old, and his brother was two, the three of us made a visit to our favorite mom-and-pop toy store. While my little one was enjoying the Thomas the Tank Engine playset at the back of the store, a surprise guest walked through the front door. Ben saw him right away, and clapped his hands. Then, he ran to get his baby brother. Spring was in the air, and the promise of baskets brimming with candy and goodies was so close!
Ben collected his little brother, who wouldn't give up his Percy, the green engine. "Look, Max, look! It's the Easter Bunny, Max! He'll be coming to our house real soon and bring us some yummy baskets!"
I was marvelling over my son's enthusiasm. His little brother stood with his mouth wide open and his eyes like Little Orphan Annie's--amazed and dazed and a little unsteady on his toddler feet as he gazed up at this holiday giant. His big brother was educating him on the finer points of the sweet holiday just before us.
Ben's thrill was obvious. "Oh, it's the Easter Bunny! The Easter Bunny!" He drew close to my legs and looked at me with a smile full of enthusiam and childlike pure joy.
"Mommy, it's the Easter Bunny."
"I see that, Honey."
He jumped around a bit. Then he waved his long arms in the air and asked, "Mommy, who's in the costume?"
Out of the mouths of babes. Somehow I managed to do what any mother of sound mind would do: I looked at him and put my finger over my lips to convey to him the secrecy of the moment. Shh. Don't give it away.
Oh to see the joy of the Easter Bunny--inside and out!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Letter from the Easter Bunny
I have been saving this for years--an adorable letter written in script and signed by the author in ink. When our boys were small, they asked lots of questions about the Easter Bunny. As they anticipated receiving a basket filled with sweets, books, and toys, they couldn't help but wonder and ask about this generous being.
So, I gave them a little advice: Why don't you leave a letter for him and ask him to tell you about himself? And so they did.
On Easter morning, they found two beautiful baskets and this letter, sealed with his pawprint. Our cat, Honey Bun, and I thought it looked an awful lot like a cat's pawprint.
Easter Sunday
Dearest Ben,
Wow! What a question. Thank you for asking about me.
You see, I am very old. Long before Jesus was born, Pagans held festivals to celebrate the beginning of the Spring season. The cold sleep of winter was over, and the plans of planting a crop and enjoying fresh food made everyone happy. They noticed that new life was everywhere around them: birds were hatching chicks, lambs were being born, flowers were blooming, and fruit trees were budding. And rabbits--bunnies, like me--were having lots and lots of brand new babies! So, the Pagans made me the symbol of new life.
That was my beginning. Once the Pagans learned about Jesus and His Resurrection, of course, they didn't celebrate their Spring festivals for pagan gods. They turned all their traditions into a celebration for Jesus! Even the Easter egg is for Jesus. It is also a symbol of new life, like me!
I hope this answers your question. I have been all over the world and have seen many, many children celebrate the Resurrection. It is a wonderful time of year. Enjoy yourself today. I hope you like what I picked out for you. I am very happy to know you and Max.
Love,
The Easter Bunny
May your Holy Week be blessed as you await the Resurrection of Our Loving Savior. God bless!
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