CELEBRATING EASTER WITH REBECCA LANG

***TIPS FOR EASTER EATS & FUN***

“Around the Southern Table” Author Shares Her Super Secrets for Celebrating the Holidays!

The Easter holiday involves many traditions.  Of course, celebrating the religious holiday is at the top of the list, but for many people Easter is a holiday that involves bringing family and friends together. Rebecca Lang, author of “Quick Fix Southern” shared some timely recipes for making memorable meals for Easter.  

Rebecca Lang is a food writer, cooking instructor, and a ninth-generation Southerner.  She is author of Southern Living’s Around the Southern Table, Quick-Fix Southern, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, and Southern Entertaining for a New Generation.  She has appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend, WGN America’s Midday News, and numerous regional and local networks. Rebecca and her cooking have been featured in more than 50 nationally televised Southern Living food segments and in publications such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, FoxNews.com, Glamour and Fitness magazines. She serves as a contributing editor for Southern Living and MyRecipes.com, teaches cooking classes across America, and writes a blog at www.rebeccalangcooks.com that has been featured on the James Beard Foundation Blog, Delights and Prejudices, and noted in Food News Journal’s Best of the Blogs. 

HOW TO MAKE EASTER SPECIAL FOR THE KIDS
PersonalCreations_WordmarkNo Easter egg hunt is complete without the perfect basket, and I believe that a personalized gift is the most thoughtful gift you can give.  On Easter morning, your kids will love finding personalized gift baskets with their Personal Creations All-In-One Easter Basketname. The All-In-One Easter Basket from Personal Creations arrives full to the brim with Easter goodies, and a plush Easter bunny.  What’s great is you have so many options to choose from.  You can customize the liner and personalize with names.  There are lots of sizes:  deluxe, premium or ultimate sizes starting at $24.99 at PersonalCreations.com. There are also a lot of other fun Easter gifts and Easter-themed home décor at Personal Creations.com, and orders can be placed online up until Friday, March 24.

For More Information Visit: www.PersonalCreations.com

SUGGESTIONS FOR EASTER SURPRISES
sweetos-600x800Well it’s really all about making the season special for the whole family. According to a recent survey from the Cheetos brand, a whopping seven-in-ten parents who celebrate Easter have eaten candy out of their child’s Easter basket, so it’s really all about finding something unique for the whole family. One great way to do this is to mix-up your Easter treats with something new this year. A majority of Americans consider the traditional Easter treats to be overrated, and sixty percent (60%) wish there was more variety with Easter treats beyond just candy. That’s why Cheetos is bringing you a delicious alternative for your Easter basket with the return of the popular and delicious Cheetos Sweetos snacks. The cinnamon sugar puffs debuted last Easter season, and were the brand’s first sweet innovation in the U.S. in its nearly 70 year history. Now they’re back for a limited time through the holiday so make sure to stock up.

UNIQUE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR EASTER HOLIDAY MEAL
PBL-Logo_500We grow a lot of peanuts in my home state of Georgia, so peanuts are one of my favorite ingredients.  There are some great recipes on PeanutButterLovers.com.   Add a little spice to your Easter meal with Southwestern Peanut-Cilantro Sauce for dipping. Combine half cup of peanut butter with salsa verde, water, sour cream and sugar in a blender, and process until smooth.  Stir in cilantro and serve with fresh veggies, chips or as a dip for grilled chicken, pork or shrimp.
 
Another recipe you love is the Grilled Fruit Salad with Peanut.  Grill pineapple slices and onion on both sides until caramelized. Set aside. Toss romaine with salad dressing and distribute evenly onto serving plates; top with pineapple, onion, strawberries and orange segments distributing evenly. Garnish with chopped dates and peanuts.  
My friends from the Southern Peanut Growers Association, in celebration of National Peanut Month, are also hosting their seventh annual recipe contest: PB My Way: For Life. You can submit your recipes at PeanutButterLovers.com. Peanut butter delivers a boost of protein and energy to take on life’s adventures, whether it’s an on-the-go snack, fuel for your workout, a reliable family meal, or deliciously decadent dessert. The contest runs through April 15th, and there are five winners.

To Enter the Contest Visit: www.PeanutButterLovers.com

Southwestern Peanut-Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Makes 1 cup (8 servings)

  • Peanut-Cilantro-Dipping-Sauce1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 6 tablespoons mild salsa verde
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Combine the peanut butter, salsa verde, water, sour cream and sugar in a blender. Process until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to bowl and stir in cilantro. Serve with fresh veggies, chips or as a dip for grilled chicken, pork or shrimp.

To store, cover tightly and refrigerate up to three days.

Grilled Fruit Salad

Dressing:

  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 cup melted vanilla ice cream

In a blender, combine peanut butter, mayonnaise and lime juice until smooth. Add ice cream in a steady stream until completely blended. Set aside.

Salad:

  • 8 slices fresh pineapple (rings or slices)
  • 4 red onion slices, cut 1/3 inch thick
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 cup orange segments
  • 2 ounces dried banana chips
  • 4 tablespoons pitted dates, coarsely chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped peanuts

Grill pineapple slices and onion on both sides until caramelized. Set aside. Toss romaine with salad dressing and distribute evenly onto serving plates; top with pineapple, onion, strawberries and orange segments distributing evenly. Garnish with chopped dates and peanuts.