the real kind

Happy Easter.

 

     (left: the handsome boy is my brother, Adam, and right: me and my big sister, Katie)

And that baby there, with the precious cheeks. That's my little sister Tessa. It's funny though, I never think of her that way. She has more height than I could ever dream of, and a boldness, that makes her stand out from all the rest. The last of four, then six, to grow up, but the first to be herself. Anyone that knows her, understands. If you don't really know Tessa, and just briefly caught a glimpse, you may have misjudged her, unaware of what she is capable of. To me, she is daring. She says yes to the unknown.  A week ago, half joking-half serious, I sent her a text asking her to make homemade Cadbury eggs.

And what did she do... 

She made them!

So this post is a special one. We are celebrating Easter. We are celebrating family. And we are celebrating this, with real treats. Not the cr*p you find at the drug store. When you make something homemade, not only do you know what's in it, but you get an experience that is just for you. And sometimes, it makes you feel a little bold, daring. Now, we can only wish that we could experience Tessa's homemade Cadbury eggs. But what an Easter to know that they were made! And by a sister, that I am lucky to have...and Brooklyn, you're lucky too!

When I was that little girl in the hat, Cadbury eggs were my absolute favorite. Now thanks to Tess we can make em' ourselves...

Ingredients:

1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
3 cups powdered sugar
yellow food coloring
red food coloring
1-12 oz bag of milk chocolate chips
2 T. shortening

Method:

Combine corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt in a bowl. Mix with an electric mixer until it looks creamy. Then add sugar by hand, one cup at a time, continue to mix.

Separate filling into 2 or 3 (she made three different colors) different bowls and add  few drops of yellow and red food coloring to one bowl and add just yellow to the other, one drop at a time. Mix together til color is even, then cover and chill in fridge for up to two hours.

When filling is firm, roll a small ball from each bowl and then roll them together to form one egg shaped ball. Lay on shortening brushed sheet pan, and repeat with rest of the filling. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours.

Once firm, combine chocolate chips in glass bowl with 2 T. shortening and microwave on high for 1 minute. Then stir and microwave another minute. Stir again til smooth. Use a fork to dip each "egg center" into the chocolate. Place candy on parchment paper to dry, once dry, dip again.

Ready to chill and ready to eat! What an Easter egg.