Happy Easter! 
(I’ll address the life-sized Elmo doll in a minute… 
)
Since my family and I went to Easter service last night (where I finally saw Shawn Johnson! I was beginning to think I was the last person in town to spot her!!) we were free to trickle into my parents house this morning. Of course my saintly Mom had an amazing brunch spread prepared for us when we got there, including crock pot egg casserole,
hand-cut fresh fruit,
and a cream-filled chocolate-drizzled butter braid!
I had a little of each. 
Ok, it was definitely more than a little pineapple and I think I nibbled on 1,000,000 chunks throughout the day. Fresh pineapple is my kryptonite!
After brunch, Finn, my 1 1/2 year old nephew, got to open his Easter basket which included a Finn-sized huggable Elmo doll!
The Easter Bunny, aka my Mom and Dad, know that Finn is crazy for Elmo…
and indeed – he went CRAZY FOR ELMO!!!! Look at that face!!!
This post has a lot of photos of my nephew, btw. He’s so dang cute!
The family enjoyed mimosas, bloody mary’s and a rousing game of hearts (which I totally blew) before we decided to head outside to get some fresh air.
After weeks of cold, wind, rain and clouds – the sun was finally out today!
Finn brought Elmo out to enjoy the nice weather too.
Papa dutifully followed him around and blew bubbles with his new bubble gun,
while Grammy was on hand to supply hugs, when needed.
My little brother played Elmo butler. Super thrilled about it too. Just kidding, he actually was.
We are all smitten with our little man. We’d do anything for him!
Later, after Finn went down for a nap, we had ourselves a little…vodka tasting competition. Because nothing says Easter like vodka, right?
Totally kidding. Ok, so my brother claims he can absolutely tell the difference between cheap and expensive vodkas, so my Dad put him to the test. Three vodkas – one top, middle and bottom shelf – one sip each.
Sniff…taste…
and guess…
He got it wrong!! All wrong!
The one he thought was the tastiest and most expensive, ended up being the cheapest – Phillips – and the one he thought was the cheapest and least tasty ended up being the most expensive – Kettle One! Bahahaha!
Yeah, Easter got a little crazy this year…
We all finally settled down for a beautiful Easter lunch.
My Mom laid out the china and put Easter baskets at each of our places.
Filled with all of our favorites!
Mini Oreos, Trail Mix, Sour Patch Kids, Gummy Bears, Almond Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. Go Mom!
That was for dessert though. Up first was the main event – our traditional Easter meal.
Fresh green beans sautéed with bacon, onions and toasted almonds,
cheesy party potatoes with a buttery cornflake crust,
salty Amana ham,
and my personal favorite – Grandmas Holiday Salad.
I’ve shown you Grandma’s Holiday Salad at least 20 times over the past two years, as we have it for every holiday meal, and I think it’s high time I share the recipe with you!
Grandma’s Holiday Salad
Ingredients:
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 small can pineapple tidbits, juice reserved
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups whipped cream
4 bananas
3/4 cup mini marshmallows
red seedless grapes
Directions:
Bring to a boil, then lower heat until thickened stirring constantly: eggs, sugar, and cornstarch dissolved in some pineapple juice. Stir in salt. Let mixture cool, then fold in 2 cups (or more) whipped cream, bananas, marshmallows, pineapple tidbits and grapes.
Best. Thing. Ever. I promise you this!
The whole meal was perfection as usual. Way to go, Mom!
Well, stuffed and sleepy, Ben and I are back at home resting and preparing to go back to work. I can’t believe it’s been 10 days since we were last there! Yep, it’s back to reality – but I can’t think of a better way to end our break than with a wonderful, family-filled weekend!
And because I can’t help myself – here’s another adorable picture of my nephew.
Have a great night and an even better Monday!
~~~~~
Do you have any special dishes you have every holiday?
What’s your favorite Easter candy? Least favorite?
I LOVE gummy bears at Easter, but I can never pass up a Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg! I loathe Cadbury’s!
cadberry eggs and jelly beans =)
your easter looks fabulous!
i seriously need an intervention for my addiction to cadbury eggs…
That’s funny about the vodkas. My grandpa told me today that he had bought an expensive case of local Jones Cabin Run wine… and when he ran out, he bought cheap wine at the grocery store and filled the JCR bottles with it, and nobody knew the difference.
(I would have known the difference)
I love Reese’s PB eggs…they are the best!
Looks like you guys had a great day!
Your mom is a sweetie! I hope to always have a basket for my Dear Daughter too!
I love Springy pastel colored M&Ms, they are just so pretty. Put them in the microwave and melt the insides! MMmmmm!!! Really fun!
Adorable! I actually saw your mom purchasing your Easter Basket goodies last week. I wanted to scream, “You’re Iowa MOM eats!” But I refrained.
Awwww!!!!! Love her so much!
oh boy, i would have SO loved to compete in the vodka tasting challenge!!! I love Kettel One vodka! did he nibble anything as a palate cleanser in between? he should have if he didn’t. i’d like to think i could tell the difference, wonder if i really could! i know the Kettel is WAY better than the cheap Hawkeye crap they have at my local dive bar, altho they did get me some Kettel for the shelf! =)) AND, as far as candy goes, Reeses Eggs! or a Russell Stover marshmallow bunny! we didn’t have much money growing up but mom always liked the
“better” chocolate, so our baskets would have a few of the good normal cheaper favorites, and a couple yummy Stover things too!
Sounds like a great Easter! I haven’t spotted Shawn Johnson around DSM yet either, so you aren’t the last one.
Would love the crockpot egg casserole recipe too. Love egg casserole and something in a crockpot is always delicious!
What a great day with your family!
I love Finn’s giant Elmo, kids make holidays so much fun!
Looks like a perfect Easter! Love the Easter baskets.
Ditto on the Reese’s PB Egg!
We went to the same service. My wife said she saw Shawn there, but I didn’t. I’m going to put Justin up to a beer tasting contest next time we hang out. I’m bummed that I didn’t see any cinnamon rolls on the brunch menu
I enjoyed a couple for you though.
I love Phillips vodka! It’s triple distilled – smooooooth. My favorite Easter candy…Cadbury mini eggs. Pure evil.
Your Easter brunch and lunch is making me hungry all over again even though I should still be full from my HUGE Easter food filled day! I’m craving a Reese egg like woah right about now. Anddd your younger brother is oh so handsome…is he single?
Glad you had a wonderful day!
I love your family! And you can NEVER post too many pictures of Finn! That is one cute kid!
The vodka tasting competition sounds like something that might go on at my house . . . dangerous!
I love a Reese’s Egg and Cadbury Cream Eggs still have a special place in my heart once a year! Looks like you had a great day!
All I can say is your Mom is a saint!! Baskets for everyone!! There is no one like my MAC. I’m grateful on this day that she is my best friend.
Kidd
Wish you were here with the family to share the day with us!!! I’d even have basket for you:)
I make Green Rice and Sweet Potato Casserole every Easter and Christmas. My family looks forward to it and it would not be a holiday meal without it. Both are so rich twice are year is enough for anyone’s arteries
LOVE that salad! It is a family favorite of ours too!!!! Looks like your Easter was great!
best Easter candy…starburst jelly beans & mini cadbury eggs…i can never resist!!
That kind of salad is one of my family’s favorites too! My mom is the one that makes it, so unique but the flavors work well together, as you know
My favorite Easter candy is good old peanut butter eggs. How can you go wrong with the classic peanut butter/chocolate combo and the eggs always have more peanut butter…a simple yum
Oh and I can never resist fresh pineapple chunks either! Well all fruit for that matter…. we had a fruit salad for part of our Easter lunch and I could not stop going back to refill my bowl! Oh well, there could be worse things ha!
looks so great!!! your family is so sweet! love your mom! ..is your little bro married?
Reeses and dark chocolate have my heart! But I agree, Cadburys, blahhhhh. And Jelly beans are a no-go
My favorite Easter candy is the homemade peanut butter eggs my friend/neighbor makes.
My least favorite Easter candy is every other kind.
Great competition Justin … who cares if you were right or wrong, that’s one cool Easter event. Will it become an annual event?
What a fun Easter! When you mentioned playing hearts I totally had to open up Microsoft hearts and play a game. It’s been a while.
Happy Easter to you and your fam! Looks like you had a blast. Do you go to Hope? I work on JC Pkwy and a lot of my co-workers go to Hope and they’ve mentioned her too.
My family makes Baked Corn for EVERY holiday.
Grease 1 quart casserole dish. Break in 3 eggs and beat. Add 1/4 tsp. salt, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 can cream style corn. Fill corn can about 1/3 full of milk and add to mixture. Mix all together and bake about 1 hour at 350* uncovered. So Good!!
(and I agree about the Cadbury Eggs)
What a fun Easter you had! I love that Elmo. Who can resisted a Reese’s peanut butter egg? Seriously, they are THE best.
How can you hate Cadbury mini eggs?! Its the only good thing about easter candy!!
Cadbury Creme Eggs are foul. Cadbury Mini Eggs I could eat by the truckload, but Reese’s Eggs will always be my favorite! And can I just say, I want to steal your nephew–He’s SO cute!!
Wow, your mom sure puts on a good party! I’m impressed with all that food!
And, yeah, Finn is ADORABLE!
We also hit up the saturday evening service! And I totally saw all the local celebs, Shawn Johnson, Ed Wilson, aaaand, Iowa Girl Eats! yep! Don’t know if you noticed the woman with the little baby girl crawling on the floor behind you… But that was me, and I looked up and also had to refrain from being like..”HEY!!!…I know you…but you don’t know me”
Good Times 
Happy Easter!
Any chance you could blog about your mom’s crock pot egg dish?? Would love to know more…Thanks!!!
Ditto!
I agree! Love your blog! I’m addicted to it!
Sure! I’ll ask her for it!
Reeses PB Eggs are my favorite! This year my son got a Butterfinger chocolate bunny in his Easter basket that looked so good… but of course he wouldn’t share! The Easter bunny (cough, me) should have bought two! Scalloped corn and cheesy potatoes are my favorite foods we usually have at every family gathering. Your nephew is adorable!
your nephew is ADORABLE
I love gummy bears! I like to put them in the freezer so that I can gnaw on them hahaha and they last longer!
[...] I failed a blind vodka taste taste. [...]
Looks like like a lot of fun! Love the vodka taste test
haha that’s funny about the vodka tasting!! We always have ham-it’s my absolute favorite. & we also always do a casserole (either green bean or brussel sprouts..!) yum!
[...] made up Julie’s Easter, as well as her excitement at being able to consumer sweets again. Kristin’s Easter recap included mouth-watering dishes, Easter egg baskets, Elmo AND a vodka tasting competition. Finally, [...]
What? No Hawkeye Vodka, the most delicious, tasty vodka in all the land.
I mean, when it is that cheap it must taste incredible right?
Those Easter baskets are amazing! I really need to talk to my folks about the lack of Easter baskets after the age of eighteen, its just wrong.
I had these houseguests awhile back, it wasn’t my idea to invite them because they are such transparent poseurs and bores that I want to garrotte both of them after about five minutes, every time. They brought some of their favorite Grey Goose vodka, the same brand I had to endure their glowing comments about how much better it is than any other vodka the last few times I regretably had to spend any amount of time with them. I took their bottle and said I’d return with the drinks while they chatted with the person who’d invited them in the first place. In the kitchen, I dumped the Grey Goose into an empty bottle, aided by a handy, pre-placed funnel. I then dumped good old Smirnoff into the Goose bottle, wiped the drips and set up the glasses, into which I poured the Smirnoff. I carried the glasses and bottle into the living room. The next two hours involved them again explaining their love for this fine, fine top-shelf liquor that is really only fully appreciated by individuals such as themselves with a highly-refined palate. Oh, they swished it, sniffed it, gargled it, did everything but choke on it, to my great dissatisfaction. Finally they left. I spilled the beans on the whole charade later that evening. After enduring projectile verbal abuse for five minutes I explained I really wasn’t interested in entertaining these folks ever again and the next time she should go out with them herself as a third wheel while I do something enjoyable such as cleaning out the sump pit. Moral of the story: for ten bucks, a bottle of Smirnoff is as good as vodka ever needs to be. Ditto for Gordon’s gin at about the same price. Put your money into something that matters, such as an annuity.
Hahaha. You are a genius!
I love Cadbury eggs – they are my total Easter weakness. Your nephew is too cute! My son got bubbles in his basket too and was put in charge of blowing while he ran around catching. Next year – bubble gun!
hilarious—we spent Easter brunch with friends and the boys started making bacon-infused bourbon drinks. Crazy as well
LOVE jellybeans (esp starburst tropical & the sweet tart ones!)..and never liked Cadbury but have you tried the mini eggs? They’re a whole ‘nother story!
I have had home-made bacon vodka that tasted good alone and fantastic in a bloody mary. Not sure which vodka was used.
Your nephew is the cutest
And the vodka test is the best, I would fail a test like that surely! I mean, vodka…yuck. Maybe I would do better with rum though
your family is too adorable!
and i loooved the vodka taste test and the outcome! hilarious!!!
favorite easter treat: cadberry mini eggs (not the ones w/the creme filling)
How cute is your Mom?! And Finn! So glad you guys had such a nice Easter!
My favorite easter candy is definitely Reese’s peanut butter eggs! And the chocolate butter braid looks amazing!
Ha, I, too, have conducted a few blind vodka tastings with friends. We sampled Grey Goose, Kirkland (Costco) Brand, Ketel One, and Belvedere. And you know what I buy now? Costco FTW! If you like your vodka straight up, it’s no Grey Goose, but if you’re mixing, you can’t tell a difference! http://thebestofmindy.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/vodka-showdown-results-finally/
I’ve been making dairy-free doughnuts for my son- thanks to the ideas on your website. He’s 3 and had his very first doughnut… glee!
we go so many different places, we have no set holiday meal, but my Father-in-law ALWAYS shakes me a rum gimlet when we’re at his house.
I’d love it if you shared the crock pot breakfast casserole! We do Friday breakfasts at work, and that would be perfect!