Easter's On Its Way

By Christy Rost, April 2004

To the delight of the children on our block, my 4-foot tall, soft-sculptured rabbit reappeared on our front porch two weeks ago. Wearing blue overalls, a bright yellow shirt, and pink and yellow bow tie, Mr. Easter Bunny sports big pink ears, a huge smile, and an Easter basket on one arm. He greets all our visitors ­ friends, neighbors, the postman, and little children (with parents in tow) who clamber up the steps just to give the bunny a hug.

Mr. Easter Bunny is a sure sign Easter is on its way. Other indicators are the flower beds filled with blooming azaleas, bridal's wreath, and freshly-planted white and pastel annuals. Before long, these plants will provide hiding spots for colorful Easter eggs.

Inside, I've created a new floral arrangement for the upper ledge of the dry sink in our breakfast room. Silk spring blooms, flowering cabbages, pastel eggs, bunnies, and pale violet hydrangeas from last year's garden are intertwined with tiny white lights into a base of silk greenery. During the day, this indoor silk garden is a colorful, whimsical holiday feast for the eyes, but at night the glowing white lights and soft colors soothe my senses. My collection of rabbits, handmade panorama sugar eggs, and other Easter novelties decorate the rest of our home and provide a warm and welcoming holiday atmosphere.

My deliciously whimsical approach to Easter continues with one of this month's recipe. Meringue Bird's Nests with Sorbet is light and refreshing, and with a few simple garnishes, this tasty dessert looks like an Easter basket on a plate. The meringue nests may be made a 2-3 days before serving, though it's important they be made on a day with low humidity so they dry properly in the oven and don't become sticky. If your oven has a convection setting, this will make the job easier, but standard ovens work just fine. When serving, I place each nest on a bed of pale green coconut Easter ³grass², garnished with jelly beans. It's the ideal Easter dessert for the kid in all of us, so look for it on my website's homepage.