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Easter Fun Facts!

partysugar — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:11:53 -0700

I hope that nobody minds my tiny obsession with useless knowledge concerning statistics and facts about food and holidays. I happen to think that knowing a plethora of nonsensical information is an incredibly fun conversation starter, especially in awkward or uncomfortable moments. Although DearSugar may not approve, I'm all for avoiding horrid questions by quickly changing the subject. I mean how else do you deal when you're at your family's Easter brunch and your uncle asks you how your job is going and you were fired the week before? Well instead of bursting into tears or bashing your former employer say: hey did you know that 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year? Or that the world's largest jelly bean weighs over 6000 pounds?? I'm telling you read through my Easter fun facts and you'll have something interesting to say when you are at a loss for words. To find out what part of a chocolate bunny gets eaten first and just how many marshmallow Peeps get consumed each year read more

When taking a bite into a chocolate bunny, 76% of Americans prefer to bite off the ears first. 5% eat the feet first and 4% eat the tail first.
During the Easter season, Americans buy more than 700 million Peeps - making Peeps the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
Adults prefer milk chocolate (65%) over dark chocolate (27%).
86% would prefer having chocolate bunnies instead of a live rabbit.
Each day throughout the year, 5 million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are produced in preparation for Easter.
16 billion jelly beans are made specifically for Easter which is enough to fill a plastic egg the size of a 9-story building.

Kids prefer red jelly beans and 75% are willing to do extra chores for more Easter candy.
57% of kids get up super early on Easter to see what the Easter bunny has brought them.
80% of parents carry on the tradition of the Easter bunny by preparing a surprise Easter basket filled with goodies for their children and 90% of adults hope for their own Easter treat.
The first chocolate eggs were made in Germany in the 19th century and remain one of the most popular Easter candies today.

Solid chocolate bunnies are favored, followed closely by hollow chocolate bunnies, marshmallow filled bunnies, and other Easter bunny candy.

In the old days pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.
The exchange of eggs for Easter dates back to a springtime custom older than Easter itself in which eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.

The Easter egg roll on the White House lawn has been a tradition since 1878.
After Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy consuming holiday.

Got a fun Easter food fact? Please share it with me, I'm dying to know more!

Source

Yum Market Finds: Easter Basket Chocolates

partysugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:59:16 -0700

Easter is this weekend and if you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off looking for goodies to fill your loved one's Easter baskets why not consider a few cool chocolate treats? Aren't these the cutest chocolate bunnies you've ever seen? I found and saved them in the Yum Market on TeamSugar.

Two more chic chocolates that you found so read more

Got little boys who aren't really into chocolate bunnies? Bet they would go crazy for these chocolate eggs filled with chocolate dinosaurs. Equally adorable, eruntale discovered these edible black and white treats.

For a more grown up Easter chocolate indulgence, give these champagne truffles that swwonder saved. Any box that is wrapped in a beautiful satin ribbon has my vote.

Thanks for finding these fabulous chocolates ladies! Keep on submitting stuff to the Yum Market to share with all of us!

Come Party With Me: Easter - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:15:13 -0700

It's easy to create an elegant, inviting look for an Easter brunch or dinner. Start with a sunny yellow tablecloth. From there, throw in simple white plates, crisp cotton napkins, and vintage-looking utensils.

Champagne flutes are a must to enjoy the sparkling signature cocktail. Glitter eggs are delicately pretty, while a white tabletop candelabra is a stunning focal point.

Don't forget at least one beautiful bouquet of pastel-colored Spring flowers. Chocolate bunnies are a delightful party favor.

Source

Last Chance to Win: The Ultimate Easter Baking Giveaway Ends Today!

partysugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:50:30 -0700

Looks like the cupcake craze isn't over yet: we were so excited about the overwhelming response to our last giveaway, we decided to offer another lucky reader the chance to win the ultimate baking package. This time, we've partnered with Williams-Sonoma to provide everything you'll need for an Easter baking extravaganza. We're giving away a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and all of the necessary tools for baking the best cupcakes. Yellow melamine mixing bowls? Check. Yellow silicone spatulas in three sizes? Of course. Yellow apron to ensure that your clothes don't get dirty? Done. If you're not the most sophisticated baker, don't fret; we're including four (chocolate, red velvet, vanilla, and banana) Sprinkles cupcakes mixes and a set of 12 Silicups. To help you channel your inner ace of cakes, we're also giving away beautifully colored decorating sugars.

No prize package is complete without pretty platters; you can place the cakes on vintage bunny band plates or a cupcake stand. Finally, you'll be able to take your baked goods on the go with the ingenious cupcake courier. All of these prizes combine to make a total package worth over $500!

To enter to win this incredible prize, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct; completing the quiz once you are logged in makes you eligible to win. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member before taking the quiz. If you're not already a member, register here for an account. One quiz entry per person, all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Wednesday, April 8, at 12:00 noon, PDT. Click here for official rules. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Chocolate Billboard Disappears Fast

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:14:37 -0700

Yesterday, Thorntons (a British chocolate company) unveiled an 860 pound (390kg) pure chocolate billboard in London. Actually, make that the the world's first chocolate billboard. The billboard was 14.5 ft by 9.5 ft and was made from 10 chocolate bunnies, 72 giant chocolate eggs and 128 chocolate panels. During assembly, one of the panels fell off and five bunnies were broken (luckily there were spares).

Once unveiled, Thorntons invited shoppers to jump in and grab a bite. However you had to act fast, the billboard didn't last long. Three hours, that's all it took for folks to devour the billboard that took three months, 10 people and 300 hours to assemble.

"There was something for everyone from giant bunnies to hazelnut eggs," said chocolatier Barry Colenso.

As the billboard was unveiled, 50 girls from the Brownies turned up on a chocolate finding mission.

"Their jaws dropped as they asked, 'Is it real chocolate?'" Mr Colenso [ said.

I suppose since it was gone almost immediately I would have eaten some, but could you imagine if it just sat there for days and days?

To check out images of the billboard during assembly and destruction, read more

View 7 Photos ›

Source: BBC News
Main Image Source
Gallery Image Source

Blessed Be Thy Chocolate

YumSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:28:31 -0700

Quick, what comes to mind when you think Easter? I bet some of you said Chocolate Bunnies and some of you probably said Jesus, but did any of you say Chocolate Jesus??

Artist Cosimo Cavallaro has created a confectionary Christ made from more than 200 pounds of chocolate (entitled "My Sweet Lord"). The folks at Esquire have even broken down the nutrition facts for the anatomically correct chocolate Jesus. The sculpture will be revealed to the public on April 1st (which, by the way, made me think it was a joke when I first read it) at the Lab gallery in the Roger Smith Hotel in New York. The creative director of the gallery, Matt Semler, says, "The sign of any great artist is how their work affects the observer."

So how are you affected by it?

Update: Due to the large number of protests, it looks like the Chocolate Jesus won't be shown afterall.

Source: Esquire

Come Party With Me: Easter - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:51:32 -0700

Easter is this Sunday and naturally I am busy as a bunny prepping for a feast with my family. Easter is a wonderful holiday because you get to celebrate the refreshing beauty that is spring. Symbols of rebirth - crisp greens, sunny yellows, fresh herbs, blooming flowers, round eggs - will be the underlying theme of this weekend's party. Dainty Easter eggs inspired the invitations and I've come up with 2(!) delicious menus for a fabulous meal. Unlike Thanksgiving when everyone celebrates with a dinner, Easter is a holiday that is either celebrated with a brunch or a dinner - so in an attempt to really help each and every one of my readers, I've planned both. In PartySugarLand you can't have any sort of gathering without specialty cocktails so I've come up with drinks to pair with each of the menus as well. To take a virtual sip, read more

For the brunch: If you have access to an espresso machine, use it! Offer guests cappuccinos, americanos, or espressos. Fresh squeezed orange juice is another must, if you don't have a juicer get a nicer quality pulpy OJ such as Odwalla. Water, sparkling and still, is a must. Mimosas are a classic brunch cocktail but Blood Orange Bellinis are an elegant alternative especially if you make them with fresh squeezed blood orange juice. Harvey Wallbangers are a more festive choice than the regular old screwdriver. However if you want to make a new, unique cocktail specifically for the brunch try a sparkling combination of white wine and chambord in the form of a chambord spritzer.

Chambord Spritzer
From Gourmet magazine

1 ounce Chambord (black raspberry-flavored liqueur)
1 1/2 ounces white wine
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Chilled seltzer or club soda
A twist of lemon peel for garnish

In a tall glass combine the Chambord, the wine, the lemon juice, and 4 ice cubes.
Fill the glass with the seltzer and stir the drink. Garnish it with the lemon peel.

Serves 1.

Print recipe with images | without images

For the dinner: At Easter dinner you must offer several bottles of wine. A rosé will complement the rosy pinkness of the ham because it has the refreshing crispness of a white wine, as well as the medium body of a dry red wine. For those whose hearts are set on pouring a red choose a cru Beaujolais, a varietal that I've heard a lot about lately whose rich complexity will pair nicely with the ginger ale glazed ham. Other options include Pinot Noir or Burgundy or a Chenin Blanc if you are looking for a white wine. Water, both sparkling and still, should flow freely from large pitchers strategically placed around the dining table. Fresh grapefruit juice mixed with your favorite lemon lime soda and a splash of lime juice makes a nice non-alcoholic option. Offer one specialty cocktail as an after dinner dessert drink. An Easter Bunny is a tasty vodka-chocolate-cherry combination that will be the finish to a wonderful evening.

Easter Bunny
From Drinks Mixer

1 1/2 oz dark creme de cacao
1/2 oz vodka
1 tsp chocolate syrup
1 tsp cherry brandy

Shake creme de cacao and vodka with ice.
Strain over ice in an old-fashioned glass.
Float chocolate syrup and cherry brandy.

Serves 1.

Print recipe with images | without images

What will you be pouring at your Easter celebration? Let me know your amazing ideas below!

Keep Your Cool - Fun Ice Cube Trays

YumSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:01:39 -0700

Some of you might use filtered water, flavored water or even coffee, but do you ever think about the shape of your ice cubes? Why stick with boring squares when you can get cats, dogs, bunnies, stars, apples, jewels, and more. These cat and dog ice cube trays are $6.99 a piece or $12.99 for both. They'd make cute cubes for your summer punch, or alternatively, use the molds to make your own chocolates! They're guaranteed to be purr-fect! To check out some other great ice cube trays, scroll through the list below.

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How To Boil Eggs

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:58:19 -0700

Growing up my favorite part of Easter was decorating the eggs (okay, actually, it may have been the chocolate bunnies, but eggs were right up there). Even now that we're grown up, whenever my family has the opportunity to be together for Easter, we always end up boiling up a batch and dying them. Just in case I'm not the only one who's into dying eggs, I thought I'd give you a few tips on how to boil eggs.

Place eggs in a saucepan with enough water to cover the eggs by 1 inch.
On high heat, bring to a boil.
Cover pan, remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes (3-4 for soft-boiled and 5-6 for medium-boiled).
While eggs are sitting, fill a medium bowl with ice and water.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer eggs from pan to ice bath. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Remove from ice bath and enjoy!