11 Easy Ideas to Celebrate Easter With Kids This Year

Ingredients

• 8 thin slices prosciutto or deli ham
• 2 cups French or Italian bread pieces (1-inch pieces)
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (see note)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (see note)
• 8 eggs
• Salt
• Coarse ground black pepper
• Minced bell pepper (optional)
• Chopped fresh herbs (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter bottom and sides of four 10 to 12 ounce ramekins or spray with nonstick cooking spray
2. Line each ramekin with 2 slices prosciutto or ham with some extending over sides.
3. In large bowl, toss bread pieces and melted butter together. Stir in cheese and herbs. Divide mixture evenly among ramekins pressing down lightly. Break 2 eggs into each ramekin. Add salt and pepper, as desired. Sprinkle bell pepper around eggs, if desired.
4. Place ramekins on rimmed baking sheet. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until whites are set and yolks begin to firm, or to desired doneness.
5. Garnish with additional herbs, if desired.

Notes: Other cheeses, such as cubed mozzarella or cheddar, may be substituted for goat cheese. One or a combination of herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, chives, or parsley may be used.

Ham, Apple, & Cheddar Crepes

Courtesy National Pork Board

Prep time: 20 minutes • Cook time: 30 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3 cups ham, shredded and warmed
• 1 3/4 cups 2% milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Granny Smith apple, halved, cored and thinly sliced

Cheese Sauce

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped

Directions

1. Pour milk, butter, eggs and salt in blender. Mix until well combined. Add flour. Mix for 15 to 20 seconds or until smooth. Let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Heat an 8-inch crepe pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat well with nonstick cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup batter into pan, swirl to fully cover bottom of pan. Cook for 1 minute or until crepe begins to curl around edges. Carefully flip and cook for an additional 30 seconds or until set. Transfer to plate. Repeat with additional cooking spray and remaining batter. Layer cooked crepes between pieces of wax paper to prevent sticking.
3. Lay a crepe on clean work surface. Arrange few slices of apple on quarter of crepe; top with shredded ham. Fold crepe in half to cover filling and fold in half again to create triangular shape. Repeat with remaining crepes, apple and ham. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and hold in warm oven until ready to serve, or up to 30 minutes.
4. For cheese sauce, melt butter in saucepan set over medium heat. Stir in flour until well coated. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until pale and smooth. Whisk in milk, a splash at a time, until smooth; stir in mustard, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat back of spoon. Remove from heat. Whisk in cheese, a small handful at a time, until melted and smooth.
5. Place filled crepes on each plate. Spoon cheese sauce over each crepe and sprinkle with chives.
6. Serving Suggestion: All the elements of the recipe can be prepared a day in advance and gently warmed before assembling.

Make a Sweet “Cinna-Bunny” Treat.

If you’re looking for a fun treat to make with your kids, try Cinna-Bunny treats: Bake three cinnamon rolls. Stick two together, forming a snowman-like body, and cut the other in half. Place the two halves near one end of the cinnamon roll, making bunny ears, and then use cream cheese frosting to color your bunny white. You can use chocolate chips or blueberries for eyes.

Have a Virtual Egg Hunt!

The pandemic may have paused some community wide Easter egg hunts, but there are tons of ways to still have one around your home, your yard, or even virtually! A virtual egg hunt is a great way to spend time with family or friends that you can’t see in person while also maintaining tradition. Beforehand, the adults can decide where they will hide their plastic eggs filled with treats. The day of the event everyone can log onto Zoom (or whatever your video chat device preference is) and each adult can take turns reading out a clue for the children in their house. The kids will then run around searching for their treasure and whenever they find an egg they can excitedly show it to everyone else on the call. Keep people engaged by ensuring your child is shown on the camera screen (i.e. don’t hide eggs in locations that will be hard for people on the camera to see, or make sure to follow your child on their treasure hunt). This is also a great way for children to get some fresh air and run around outside if you have your own yard to hide eggs in. Don’t forget to give the winner a well-deserved chocolate bunny!

Spend Some Family Time Outside

Easter is often seen as a time for rebirth and a celebration of life. Feel at peace by kicking off Spring with a family hike in the area and use it as an opportunity to get back in touch with nature and all the rebirth of plants happening around you. Use it as a conversation starter for the various things you are all grateful for this season. You can also plant something new as a celebration—either plant something together in your garden or pick up a houseplant from a local shop (did you know they’re good for your family’s health?!).

Dance to some Easter tunes.

Burn off your child’s Easter candy high by dancing to this 27 minute compilation of Easter music and videos on The Kiboomers YouTube channel. The music is appropriate for preschoolers and kindergarteners.