Getting ready for Easter

Just in case you don't know me very well....I must prepare for anything I do atleast do so mentally. This is not something I shout to the masses, because they might think I'm not spontaneous. Ok it's time to be honest...I'm not spontaneous. Can I be? Sure- but only if I want to be. (and if the pay off feels really good!)

With this said....I've been thinking for weeks in the back of my head what I wanted to make and take over to the family for Easter. Can you imagine this is something that pops up in my head driving down the road? What am I Betty Crocker? I've been considering what to make, before I had confirmation we were all getting together this year.

I have outsmarted my Aunt this family gathering. Ever time I call and ask my aunt "what should I bring" or "what is everyone bring" she begs me to bring the same damn thing I made last time. I made a "special" orange jello dish one year...and guess what...I'm making it for the following years. I was sick of it! I'm glad my dish is popular...but orange jello ??? (ok it's got serbert and manderan oranges also) The past few family gathers I compromised- Ill bring a "jello something". Now I've made a layer jello ring....a jello "jeweled" mold.... individual jellos ...etc. No fucking jello this time. Yes, it's fun. Yes, it jiggles. But...good gawd...I'm tired of it.

Like I said, I outsmarted my Aunt. I'm not asking what to bring. I'm just bring what I want. If we have duplicates fine with me as long as it's not jello. Just recently I was at a baby shower and someone made this wonderful fancy strawberry salad. It was appealing to the eye. It tasted good. It was sweet! I might bring a second dish, but I haven't contimplated that second dish long enough to make a decision. We can talk about my indecisivness another blog.

Here's the recipe if you need another option for your Easter Sunday celebration....

Strawberry Salad

2 heads red leaf lettuce
1 cup strawberries sliced
1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter

Dressing

1 cup veg. oil
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. red onion chopped

Heat oven to 350. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and almonds together and spread thin on a cookie sheet. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until roasted. (It's like making a brittle you need to watch it so it does not burn). Let cool completely then break into pieces. Mix all of the dressing ingredients together and refrigerate overnight. To assemble add the sliced strawberries and coated almonds to the lettuce then right before serving pour in the dressing and mix.

Ok so how's this for a real blog topic? I'm learning!!!!

Happy Easter! Happy Spring! It's all a'blooming here...and I'm loving every minute of Spring. New Life- New Hopes- Maybe a spring time fling?? Hmm gonna work on that.