Spring Holidays

Take the Expense out of Your Easter Celebration -- The Easter celebration can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some ideas to help you simplify and replace the commercial aspects of the holiday with activities that are more in keeping with the spirit of the season.

Make Father's Day Ladies Day at the Grill -- Guys usually operate the grill, although tending the fire has recently become a girl thing, too. This Father’s Day, why not give Dad a rest by taking over the grilling duties while he watches the game or does something active.
**Article includes recipe for Jerk Chicken.

A Day Not Like Any Other -- Mother's Day just rolls around every May, and it seems that the stores and shoppes fill up with frilly, pinky, lacy tokens of appreciation and love. Not really - these are trinkets that someone else made, a factory mass-produced, or a country far away shipped over in crates, boxes, and on ships.

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Easy Fabric-Covered Photo Album -- While trying to come up with an easy, inexpensive Mother's Day present this year, I decided to make mini cloth-covered photo albums for my mother and mother-in-law. These instructions apply to any size photo album--you just have to measure the album to get an idea how much fabric you're going to need.

Father's Day Gift Ideas -- Stumped on what to get Dad for his special day? Here are a few fun and creative ways to show him just how loved he really is.

Father's Day Gift Baskets -- Baskets of goodies are the best kinds of gifts because they are simple to make, fun to give, and even more fun to receive! And the best part is, Dad is guaranteed to love his gift because it's filled with all of his favorite things!

Beyond the Egg: Easter Recipes -- Traditionally, lamb is served at Easter. If not lamb, it’s ham. It’s usually ham in Appalachia, a much more common meat.
**Article includes recipes for Ham Glaze, Ham Loaf, Sweet Potato Casserole and Cranberry Ribbon Pie.

Easter Place Settings -- Most of us have a large dinner of some sorts when the Easter holidays arrive. With these pretty placemats and matching napkins, everyone will feel just a little more special seated at your table.

Mothers Day Tea-Cup Candles -- Making a tea cup candle is a fun gift for Mothers Day as well as a useful nostalgic decoration. Not only are tea cup candles an easy craft to make but they are a unique way to recycle china cups!

Greek Spring Lamb -- Lamb has been associated with spring since before Biblical times. Today, lamb and spring still come together every time we mark the Easter and Passover holidays.
**Article includes a recipe for Greek Spring Lamb Stew.

Breakfast Fit for a King or Queen -- For the native islanders of Hawaii, Lei Day and King Kamahameha Day bring much more than typical springtime festivities. They celebrate a central element in Hawaiian culture -- family, or as they call it, ohana.
**Article includes recipes for Baked French Toast with Berry Compote, Scalloped Apples and Sausage Strata, King's Hawaiian Benedict and Pull Apart Loaf.

Treat Dad to the Ultimate Father's Day Feast -- The days of loud ties and boxes of golf balls are over. This year give Dad a memorable treat the whole family will enjoy. Father’s Day signals the beginning of summer, and that means it’s time to break out the grill. For this Father’s Day, treat Dad to a special meal with premium beef cuts he just can’t find in the store and a gift he will be raving about until next Father’s Day.
**Article includes recipe for Cooking the Perfect Steak.