Happy Sunday – and happy Easter! 
I’ve been on a technology break since Friday afternoon. It’s hard to get back into the swing of things after you get back from vacation, you know?!
Since we last spoke, Ben tried his first Green Monster! We went on a 4+ mile walk on a greenbelt trail near our home yesterday, and came home wanting something light, yet really refreshing. I suggested we whip up a batch of GMs, and he agreed – whee! The verdict? He loved it! Could not taste the spinach at all. 
I was talking to my father and brother-in-law last night (during my FIL’s birthday dinner – whoop!) and we all make our Green Monsters differently. I blend all the ingredients, except the frozen banana, until it’s super smooth. Then I add in the banana, hit the “ice crusher” button a few times to get it broken down a little, then blend until smooth again. Works every time!
I also got my hair cut since the last time we chatted! I went in for a trim and came out with the shortest haircut I’ve ever gotten…! Still not sure how it happened, but I’m digging it more and more everyday. It’s good for summer, you know? Today Ben and I went to early Easter service, then headed over to my parents house for breakfast and lunch. I brought stuff for a salad!
Ben brought himself and an ATF hat. Straight THUG.
My Mom had a gorgeous spread of fresh fruit,
and bagels from Panera to munch on while our Easter ham cooked away in the oven.
Oh, she also had my Easter candy kryptonite out… Starburst Jelly Beans. I literally cannot control myself around these delicious, delicious jewels and ate about a million. D’OH!
Soooo, here’s the thing. My brothers and I are all in our mid-late twenties…but we still require Easter baskets! Like our Christmas stockings, we still have the same ones we’ve had since we were little.
This year my parents totally hooked us up. Starburst Jelly Beans, Peanut M&Ms, Reese’s Eggs, Turtle Chex Mix and Black Forest Gummy Bears. Awesome!!
Ben got a basket too.
He was pumped!!
Finally, the ham was ready, the sides were hot and we were ready to eat. Here’s the woman behind the magic.
Let’s see, what have we got here…
Party Potatoes
Amana Ham (cooked in a paper bag)
Spinach, Strawberry, Feta & Toasted Almond Salad (my contribution)
Grandma’s Holiday Salad
Green Beans with Bacon & Onion
What a spread!
I got a little bit of everything…
The salty, Amana Ham is truly the star of the plate. The Amana Colonies were founded by German immigrents in Eastern Iowa, in the 1850s, and the area still produces specialty foods, art & furniture. Bomb.
I made a simple Balsamic Vinaigrette for my salad, by combining:
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Honey
- Agave Nectar
- Salt & pepper
If you don’t have agave nectar, just add a little bit of white sugar. I didn’t measure anything so I don’t have a recipe, but it’s approximately 1 part vinegar to 4 parts oil + the honey/agave and seasonings to taste!
Party Potatoes are perhaps my most beloved holiday side dish. We have them every Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving! Creamy, cheesy potatoes with a crunchy, buttery corn flake crust. What’s not to love?!
For sweets we had the other must-have holiday side dish in our family – Grandma’s Holiday Salad, which combines fresh fruit and cool whip with an egg/sugar/pineapple juice custard. I’ll get the recipe for you guys – it is DYNAMITE!!! My sister-in-law also brought some sticky buns. Oh. Yum!
I had seconds of Grandma’s Holiday Salad & Party Potatoes, natch.
Then…the piece de resistance…Peanut Butter Pie!!!!
I actually made this when I was over at my parent’s house yesterday, starting with a homemade oreo crust – which is so easy! Just crush 20 Oreos (with the cream) in a food processor, stir in 3 Tablespoons melted butter. Press into a pie pan and bake @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes!
It was super chocolaty and crunchy. And so easy! Who knew?!
The filling was wickedly, sinfully good!
Peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar and cool whip.
Top with hot fudge sauce and cool whip. THEN drizzle more hot fudge and caramel sauce on top. O.M.G.!!!!!!!!!!! Rich. Decadent. Only need a sliver. You’ll melt.
We were all very pleased.
Happy Easter from the IGE family!!!
~~~~~
Did you have any Easter traditions when you were little?
My parents always hid eggs filled with M&Ms and jelly beans all around the house. We color coded them, so I always knew to look for the pink and purple colored plastic eggs. My older brother got blue and orange and my younger brother got green and yellow. Our Easter baskets were always hid somewhere SUPER hard to find (or so it seemed) like in the dryer or under the sink! 
Wow!! What a great meal- and I love the haircut! Happy Easter, beautiful!
Mmmmm Peanut butter pie!
My mouth is watering from the Peanut Butter Pie! I would have died and gone to heaven I think.
Happy Easter!
I want a slice of that pie!!
Love the new haircut! Super cute!!
We still get Easter baskets, too (mine comes in a USPS flat rate shipping box now, since I live far away from home!). My parents asked if we wanted to stop once we were both in college and we said NO! I love it. Also, your dinner looks totally amazing…I couldn’t stop ooh-ing and aah-ing. We had party potatoes today, too, except we top them with crushed potato chips, not cornflakes.
Wow girl, you have the most amazing family of cooks – what a spread! One very jealous girl here
I once had some for every meal, til it got to the end of the day, when I ate 8 kiwis in a row cos I was so sick of chocolate 
Aaah to be young….
We used to always have Easter Eggs when we were little – not hidden or anything, but a MASSIVE pile of them! I used to just eat chocolate on Easter
Sounds like you had a great day with your family!! Did you cut your hair??It looks shorter. Also, can we get the recipe for holiday potatoes and the Grandma’s Holiday Salad, they both look great!!
We have the exact same baskets! They must have been standard in the 80′s haha. And we color-coded our eggs too. Your family is so adorable! and that PIE!!!! drool !
love the family photo!!! happy easter.
Holy yum! Can we get a recipe for that dessert? AND, I love your sweater and scarf combo! WHere did you get the sweater. Sometimes, I come out with a shorter than preferred haircut, this past week included, but I usually like it anyway. I agree, your hair looks cute and will be nice and easy for summer!
Happy Easter! I agree, you are never too old for Easter baskets
My family always used to dye Easter eggs and then have a contest called “eppering” where once person would tap their egg on the top of the other and see whose would crack first. I have a very competitive family 
Your hair looks fantastic! The short bob definitely suits you well.
I loveeee party potatoes! I think everyone calls them something different. My fam calls them cheese hashbrowns. and my bf’s family calls them “Minnesota Cheesey Potoates” because they got the recipe from someone when they were visiting up here. but they are for sure a favorite
Glad you had a great easter!
xo-Molly
http://www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com
What a cute family you have!!! Adorable hair cut girl!!!!
Mmmm your meal sounds fantastic! Would you share the entire recipe for the pie?
Cute scarf, love the fab color on you!
I super jealous that you still get an Easter Basket!
Do you have a fav Starburst jellybean color? Mine is red
OMG Kristin your hair is adorable!!!!!! I love it!
Wow, this is the best Easter dinner ever!!!! OMG, everything looks amazing, the salad, the potatoes, the beens…but that pie. No words!
Girl, I am so happy you had such a wonderful weekend. You and your family always look so happy and seriously have some of the best dinner’s I could ever imagine.
Happy Easter!!
happy easter to you and the gorgeous IGE family!
p.s. i want that pie. NOW.
Look like a wonderful day!
We always had an Easter egg hunt around my grandmother’s house. And then got a basket. Now, I get to watch my baby girl do the egg hunts and the older kids (nieces/nephews) have a scavenger hunt for their baskets. And of course, church!
We always “knock eggs”- it’s an old Cajun tradition.
Dinner looks great! We went to my boyfriend’s parents for Easter dinner tonight and I also brough a salad — topped with strawberries, onions, candied pecans and bleu cheese plus a homemade PomWonderful vinaigrette — so random, but maybe food bloggers just think alike
Everything looks amazing! My mom still makes us Easter baskets too! She asked once if she should stop…my sisters and I said absolutely not! AND…I need to make that pie!
I always got a new dress and got those super sugary butter creame eggs at church. And it was always ham dinner at my grandmothers when we were in the states.
Haha, my sister is 24 and I’m 20 and my mom got us baskets this year! It was awesome. We got LipSmackers and toys and awesome kid stuff. Yay for pretending not to be a grownup!
Easter as a kid meant matching dresses for me and the sis, easter egg hunt (either with cousins or just the li’l fam) and the subsequent candy and egg gorge. Also, we always had an “easter tree” which was usually our little white magnolia tree in the front yard, which blooms around now, decorated with easter eggs and maybe ribbon. Also– my gramma always had Hawaiian sweet bread. Yum.
You seem like you got a great haul! Awesome stuff!
Glad you had a great time!
Your new haircut is darling! I’m getting one this week. And you gotta post some of those recipes, because those dishes look ravishing~
Kristen, Love your Blog!! I tell all of my clients about it (I’m a hairdresser and yes, love your cut!). Actually one of my clients told me about it! I’m going to check out the Amanda ham, looks good. Love your Moms dishes! My daughter brought Baked Potato casserole, suspiciously looks like Party Potatoes! Loved your blog about New Orleans, never been there. My husband went for a food show there in January, he works for a food distributor that supplies specialty foods to grocers. His only account is Jungle Jims in Fairfield Ohio. We were sent 2 cases of Zapps, every flavor to try! My kids and grandkids love them! It tickled me to see them on your blog. Check out Jungles online (JungleJims.com?), its amazing! We’re really lucky to have it in our area! Anyway, Happy Easter to you and your’se! Keep Blogging!!
I’ve been reading your blog for a long time but never commented. That pie looks amazing!
I had to comment on what a small world it is – your dad hired me for my first position with the company I still work for today! Definitely a small world!
Mmmm…pb pie! looks delicious!
when i was a kid it was just the typical egg/basket hunt in the morning…then another in the afternoon with either my mom or dad’s side of the family.
Love the hair! Its super cute! I also have straight hair but usually get long layers to add body. I’ve been wanting to get a straight bob cut for spring/summer. How do you add volume to your hair like that?
The PB looks soOo good. To.die.for.
Great fam foto! I’m engaged, I know, but your brothers are studs!
I’m with the commenter up there ^^. Can we get some more pics of your brothers??
Delicious spread at your mom’s, like always. We can see where you get your skills from!
Cute hair! Starbusts jelly beans are the best things ever…and I’m not even a fan of jelly beans. I love your Sunday lunches with family. It’s like I’m living vicariously through you! Glad you had a good Easter.
I want the recipe for the party potatoes, and the green beans, it all looks so good!
Another request for the party potatoes recipe! They look delicious…
Hey girl! I dont comment often, but I read your blog ALL the TIME! You and Ben are sooo cute!! And your family is precious!! Kudos to Mom–I always look foward to what shes fixing for lunch! hahaha But Im glad you had a great Easter!! Keep up the good work!!
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