Inspiration for an Easter Tablescape

Yum

Easter is one of my favorite holidays, and since I love setting a pretty table for any occasion I took the time to put together a wonderful tablescape for Easter.

I hope that this provides you with some inspiration to decorate your table this year!

I enjoy runners as a base for my table.  Since Easter is all about the outdoors I chose a runner made of linen that is cream colored with a tan border to represent natural fibers.

As a center piece I choose an arrangement of green hydrangeas with a pop of color and whimsy by adding a berry spray in the middle that shoots up and droops wonderfully.  This bring the colors of spring flowers indoors.

Next up are the place settings.  I love layers.  I start with a round charger made from natural fibers to again bring out the nature aspect.  White dishes are a workhorse in my tablescapes.  You can use them everyday or dress them up for more formal settings.  In this display I layered white dinner plates and white salad plates.  In between I added a wonderful cabbage green dinner plate.  Cabbage screams Spring and pulls this together well.  On top I set a wonderful white footed bowl.

Small cabbage bowls are set to the side and can be used to hold Easter treats, or a small side dish.  I've put a wicker nest filled with green wood grass and a decoupage egg at each place setting this year.  It lends a touch of elegance and whimsy. 

Attention to small details will also help pull this together.  I've pair some sweet lace edged light green napkins with a big yellow flower napkin holder.  Again with the spring theme these colors compliment the whole table.

What's Easter without bunnies?  I love bunnies and would not have a table without them.  Here they are depicted in a wonderful platter, and a sweet little teapot!  Pull out all your bunnies and scatter them around.

 Last but certainly not least I've taken a little time this year to decoupage some eggs.  Using blown eggs and a couple of napkins you can create these treasures that will elevate your table to the next level and add that extra special touch.  I was so happy with how these turned out and they are more vibrant than show in the pictures.  These will keep for years, and I can't wait to make more!

I hope you found some inspiration to decorate your table this year. 

Happy Easter!

Sour Cream Carrot Cake Muffins

Yum

Easter is about a week away.  It's one of my favorite holidays!  I have such great memories from my childhood of getting an Easter dress, some white patent leather shoes, having parties, hunting Easter eggs, and of course the food!!

Now that I'm older I still love a good dress, and I have to decorate my house with colored eggs, and pretty spring flowers and bunnies, and I've been known to have an Easter egg hunt or too!  But to me Easter if a day to spend outdoors in the pretty spring weather and after a particularly wet winter we are ready to be outside again. 

This year calls for a nice brunch out in Descanso Gardens.  One of our favorite gardens to visit.  They have a forest of camellia trees you can walk through along with a Japanese garden (swooning over the apple blossom trees, among every spring flower you can think of.  My personal favorite is the tulips.  Just gorgeous!  This year lunch will be held in the rose garden which is surrounded by arbors with climbing roses.  I can't wait to spend the day in a garden!

Descanso Gardens

SOUR CREAM CARROT CAKE MUFFINS

Today I'm bringing you a recipe for Sour Cream Carrot Cake Muffins.  What Easter without Carrot Cake?  You gotta have a bite of carrot cake and these muffins do the trick.  This is a lower carb version as well, so they are delicate, moist, and not overly sweet.  These are the BEST carrot cake muffins around.  The sour cream adds a layer of moistness and the carrots become tender and sweet.

The addition of raisins, walnuts, and spices give it a warmness you'll swoon for and a crunchy sweetness to every bite.  Oh boy these are good!  Perfect to make Easter morning, to take on the go, or to serve at a sweet and savory Brunch.  We adore these muffins and you will too!

Enjoy your Easter, and check out my other post, Host a Festive Easter Brunch, for more menu ideas, or use the search word "Easter" in the search box on the side. 

Sour Cream Carrot Cake Muffins

make 6 muffins

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons Splenda Bake
1 large eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup carrots, shredded
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a 6 well muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl add flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, salt, and Splenda Bake.  Mix to combine.  Add the egg, oil, sour cream, and vanilla.  Stir until just incorporated. 

Fold in the carrots, raisins, and walnuts.  Scoop batter into the muffin tin.  Bake for 18-20 minutes until toothpick comes our clean and tops are golden brown.  Cool and serve.

Host a Festive Easter Brunch

Yum

There is no better way to celebrate Easter, and the wonderful days of Spring, than with a scrumptious midday meal!  This one is filled with a wonderful array of dishes from Pork Loin, spring Strawberry salad, and luscious carrots.

Check out the menu with recipes below.

2017 Easter Brunch Menu

Pear Sparklers

Plum and Marscapone Crostini

Fresh Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Hot Cross Buns

Ginger and Herb Roasted Pork Loin

Classic Mashed Potatoes

Steamed Carrots in a Garlic Ginger Sauce

Individual Strawberry White Chocolate Trifles

Menu

Start the holiday right by offering Pear Sparklers in fancy goblets.  This light and refreshing drink is non-alcoholic but the addition of vodka would turn this into an adult cocktail.

Set out a platter of Plum and Marscapone Crostini for family and guests to nibble on while you put the finishing touches to the rest of the meal.

Spring salads can be a delight.  Present them with this Fresh Strawberry Salad that is bursting with in season strawberries, pecans, spinach, and feta.

Strawberry Hot Cross Buns are a holiday tradition.  The addition of strawberries just elevates it up a notch and screams spring.

Make this year's main entrée a beautiful and delicate Pork Loin.  Roasting this  Ginger and Herb Roasted Pork Loin  caramelizes the outside and produces a tender and juicy cut of meat. 

Potatoes are a traditional side dish at most holidays.  These Classic Mashed Potatoes will make the whole meal warm and comforting.

Spring carrots make an excellent side dish.  Serve my Steamed Carrots in a Garlic Ginger Sauce which compliment the pork loin perfectly.

Move over carrot cake, there's a new favorite in town! Individual Strawberry White Chocolate Trifles  make a dazzling individualized dessert that your guests will love.



For more Easter inspiration use the search word "Easter" in the search bar to the side.