Category Archives: Easter

Celebrating the Season

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What is your favorite holiday to celebrate? Is it Christmas, when everything around us is sparkling lights, mistletoe, and evergreen? Or is it New Year, where you get to toast to new beginnings? What about Memorial Day, where everyone is ready for the sun and sand of the summer?

Personally, I’m a Memorial Day and 4th of July kind of girl. Celebrating freedom and spending time remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom. Plus, I’m totally a summer sun person!

Several years ago, I wrote a book called, Tangled in Tinsel. It was a sweet little Christmas romance, and one of my readers told me that she loved the little town of Celebration that it was set in. She said it would be so awesome to have a series there.

I thought that was a great idea too, and thanks to her, Tangled in Tinsel became the first of a thirteen books series!!

Celebration Township is made for family, friends, falling in love, and don’t forget celebrating the holidays. The first twelve books bring two people onto center stage as they overcome odds and figure out what their futures may hold. There is laughter, love, romance, and even suspense when you join these couples as they each find a happily ever after over a holiday. The thirteenth book brings all twelve couples, and even a few special guests, into final focus as the first couple in Tangled in Tinsel prepares for their wedding one year after they met.


Tangled in Tinsel, Book 1 (Christmas) – Download this one for FREE!
Tears to Cheers, Book 2 (New Year’s)
Heathens to Hearts, Book 3 (Valentines)
Rainbows bring Riches, Book 4 (St. Patrick’s Day)
Sweet as Sugar, Book 5 (Easter)
Making Mom Mad, Book 6 (Mother’s Day)
Sparklers or Spankings, Book 7 (Memorial Day)
Raffles to Rattles, Book 8 (Father’s Day)
Flirting with Fireworks, Book 9 (4th of July)
Working with Wheels, Book 10 (Labor Day)
Masquerading at Midnight, Book 11 (Halloween)
Blessings & Beans, Book 12 (Thanksgiving)
Velvet & Vows, Book 13 (Christmas one year later)

Frugal Feasts with Matzo Meal by @Donna_Fasano

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Matzo MealAfter Passover, matzo meal is sold for under a dollar a box, so it’s the perfect way to make frugal feasts. What is matzo meal? Matzo (also known as matzah or matza) is an unleavened flatbread that is part of Jewish cuisine and forms an integral element of the Passover festival. Matzo meal is made by grinding up this flatbread. It can be described as cracker crumbs. Matzo meal can be used to replace cracker crumbs or dried bread crumbs in almost any recipe. Here are two of my favorite recipes where I have incorporated matzo meal.

Salmon Cakes

  • 1 6-ounce can skinless, boneless salmon, drained  salmon cakes
  • 3/4 cup matzo meal, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
  • 1 tablespoon onion, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons celery, finely minced
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil, for frying
  1. To a mixing bowl, add the salmon, 1/2 cup of the matzo meal, egg, mayonnaise, mustard, onion, celery, salt, and lemon pepper. Mix to thoroughly combine. Form into 2 patties.
  2. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of matzo meal onto a plate and coat both sides of the salmon cakes.
  3. Heat the cooking oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the salmon cakes and cook until heated through and golden, approximately 4 to 5 minutes on both sides.
  4. Serve with topping of your choice—tartar sauce, hot sauce, fresh lemon wedge, etc. Makes 2 large cakes. Serves 2.

Zucchini Brunch Casserole

  • 2 medium zucchinis, washed and patted dryzucchini casserole
  • 1/2 cup matzo meal
  • 1/2 onion, finely minced (about 1/2 cup)
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Trim the ends of the zucchinis. Do not peel. Using the large holes on a box grater, grate the zucchinis into a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the matzo meal, onion, salt, pepper, herbs, garlic and onion powders, and cheddar cheese to grated zucchinis. Stir to thoroughly combine.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and the sour cream until combined. Pour egg mixture over zucchini mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
  5. Bake for approximately 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let sit for 5 minutes. Cut into squares.

Notes:

When creating this zucchini casserole recipe, I used a sweet onion. You can substitute any onion you have on hand—yellow, red, white, even scallions would work. For the herbs, I used Herbs De Provence because that’s what I had on hand, but you could substitute any herb or herb mix you prefer. Italian Seasoning would work well. If you like your food on the spicy side, you could also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes or a few shakes of hot sauce.