COOKING IN THE DARK WITH COCHRAN & CHRISTIE

We have such a deliciously fast recipe today - it's called Rolo Pretzel Turtles.  Now, there's nothing fast about turtles, but this recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare and only four minutes to bake!  Hey, Christie, there aren't any turtles in this candy, are there?  Just kidding - she's over there wagging her antennae at me now!!  This recipe is from our friend, Jeanne, who always makes delicious treats.  We call her Beanie-Weenie Jeanne, because she can make really good beanie-weenies, too.  Thanks, Jeanne!



ROLO PRETZEL TURTLES

30 mini pretzels

30 Rolo pieces (half a bag)

30 pecan halves

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil or parchment paper.  Place one Rolo candy on top of each pretzel.  (These shift around easily on the baking sheet when you're carrying them, so be careful they don't slide around too much.)  Cook for 4 minutes.  Take out of the oven and press a pecan on top of each candy-covered pretzel.  Let cool completely before storing.  (You can also toast the pecans on a plate in the microwave for 1 minute., stirring halfway) *Of course, you can easily double the recipe and use the whole bag of Rolos!

 ENJOY!

FIAMMA'S FUN FACTS FRIDAY



Here's Bugs!

I am so excited to introduce you to some "harey"friends of mine.  Bugs Bunny is an old friend, who introduced me to the Easter Bunny.  He left me this beautiful egg in my tree this year!  I caught the Easter Bunny trying to hide it, but I'm actually in my tree, at the very top on the right.  Gray Hare is another friend of mine, but to others it's a reminder for another "dye" job this Easter!

Look at the Easter Bunny!

I love  Gray Hare!

  

Have a great Easter, but don't eat too much candy!  I wonder how long it will take me to eat my egg?  I might need Caesar's help...... Now, here are some fun facts for you! 

• Kids first grab for chocolate bunnies (76 percent) when checking out their Easter baskets, followed by marshmallow treats (18 percent), malted milk balls/eggs (17 percent) ,and jelly beans (16 percent).
• The world’s largest jar of jelly beans weighed 6,050 pounds.
• 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year.

WHAT'S MAJOR TOM THINKING ABOUT TODAY?

I'm thinking about eggs - hard-boiled eggs.  I don't think I've ever had one, unless it's been a tuna and egg mixture in a can.  I'm going to try one tonight, but I wonder if I can even sniff it before Caesar comes in through his dog door and takes it away from me and eats it!  I can barely stand to watch it, but you can watch the video to see what happens:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MuoVA0uJfw.  Well, let's see who's laughing now (look at Caesar in his "bonnet" a couple of months ago).  Don't worry, he really didn't mind it; in fact, he just got more attention for it!  I think I need to get this bad taste out of my mouth now!

 Okay, now, a few questions for you:  See the answers below.

1. In the song, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," he's got colored eggs for who?
2. How long will a boiled egg keep in the refrigerator?
3. A female rabbit is called a what?
4. Purple is a common color for Easter.  In the ancient world, the purple dye came from where?
5. In the song, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," he's got jelly beans for who?

Answers:

1. He's got colored eggs for Sue!
2. They store for one week, but always keep them in the fridge.
3. A female rabbit is called a doe.
4. The purple dye came from crushed shellfish from the Mediterranean Sea.
5. He's got jelly beans for Tommy!

TROTTIN' ABOUT TOWN WITH HAIRY TROTTER

I had such a great day today taking pictures at the Cooper Clinic.  You can definitely tell spring is here by the baby ducks (ducklings) and baby geese (goslings).  A goose has laid her eggs and a few have hatched beneath her!







        

HAMMIN' IT UP WITH BLOG HOG HAMILTON

I've got a "spring" in my step with all these great jokes I have today.  Hope you find them "eggstra" funny!

Q: What branch of the military do bunnies like best?
A: The Hare Force!


Q: What does a bunny use to keep its ears perky?
A: Hare-spray!


Q: Why did the chicks cross the basketball court?
A: They heard the coach yelling FOWL!


Q: What's big and purple and hugs Easter baskets?
A: The Easter Barney!


Q: How does the Easter Bunny stay in shape?
A: Hare-robics!


Our friend Howard has sent us a funny video.  It's hare-larious!  Thanks, Howard!  http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066018_2066006,00.html?hpt=T2

DEAR TABBY

DEAR TABBY:  I have a question and a request!  My friend and I were talking about Peter Cottontail, and we have a bet going - I said that Peter is a rabbit, and my friend said he is a hare.  Can you tell us if Peter is a rabbit or a hare and what the difference is between the two?  Also, could you please find the video for Snoopy and the Dancing Bunnies?  It is so cute!  SPLITTING HARES IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.

DEAR SPLITTING HARES:  That is a "hare-raising" question, and I would be delighted to give you and your friend the answer and tell you how the the rabbit and hare are different and alike.  First, to answer your question, Peter is indeed a rabbit. 

Hares are generally larger and faster than rabbits.  Hares have longer ears and larger feet than rabbits, and they have black markings on their fur. 

Both rabbits and hares molt and grow new hair in the spring and in the fall.  The rabbits' brown summer fur is replaced with fur that is more gray, while the hares' fur (especially those living in cold, snowy regions) turns white in the winter!  Both rabbits and hares have short tails.

 I hope you liked those facts and now here's the video: http://youtu.be/jRwsTyUPIYE

Guess who this is?

LYRICS TO PETER COTTONTAIL 

Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity hoppity,
Easter's on its way

Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy
A basketful of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter
Bright and gay

He's got jelly beans for Tommy
Colored eggs for sister Sue
There's an orchid for your mommy
And an Easter bonnet too. Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day

Look at him hop and listen to him say,
"Try to do the things you should"
Maybe if you're extra good
He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way

You'll wake up on Easter morning
And you'll know that he was there
When you find those choc'late bunnies
That he's hiding everywhere, Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG by Blog Dog Dan

Beautiful butterfly!

Bunnies, butterflies, bees, birds, and bears (No, no bears, at least not where we were!) - signs that spring is definitely here!  I had such a great weekend playing out in the yard and going to the park!  Did you go to the park this weekend, too?  Look at the pictures my owners took while walking on the nature trails, at the park, and in our yard!  

Next Sunday, April 24, is Easter - I know you're excited about the Easter Bunny and hunting for those pretty eggs!  Send me some pictures of all the eggs in your basket and I'll put them on my post next week! 

 

That's a male cardinal!

 

Can you find the grasshopper?



    

 

A snake in the grass!

  

Three ducks in a row!



Turtles love a log!



Can you find the bee?



 



 

Look who's hungry!



What a handsome pair!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy this video to one of my favorite songs!

http://youtu.be/X1HZLQUUlik

 

Now, here's some cooking tips for boiled eggs for your parents:  Did you know that “hard boiled” eggs should not actually be boiled?  Boiling the eggs makes them rubbery.  Instead, you should boil the water, take the pot off the heat, and leave the eggs in the hot boiled water for the length of time it takes to get them to the stage you like, soft (1-4 mins.) or hard-boiled (15-17 mins).  It’s also best to use older eggs and pierce them with a needle prior to cooking to make them easier to peel.  Once they’re finished cooking (or after they’ve been dyed or decorated) simply peel, sprinkle with a bit of salt & pepper, and enjoy.