Carrots, ham, and Peeps are just a few of my favorite Easter eats! These delicious and kid-friendly recipes are so easy and tasty they may become a regular part of your family and party traditions!

Ham & Cheese Bake

Do you have leftover ham from Easter brunch or dinner? Looking for something besides days of ham sandwiches? Try this yummy ham and cheese bake for a fancy take on the leftovers. 

Ham & Cheese Bake Ingredients:

• 2 Puff Pastry sheets, thawed (NOT phyllo dough)
• ¾ lb. ham, in small chunks
• 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp. water

Mustard Dip Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 3 Tbsp. natural stone-ground mustard

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Roll out one puff pastry sheet onto a greased baking sheet.
3. Top the pastry with an even layer of ham chunks and shredded cheese, leaving 1 inch of space between the filling and the pastry edge.
4. Mix the egg and water to create an egg wash. Brush along the outside edge of pastry.
5. Roll out the second puff pastry sheet and place on top.
6. Pinch/crimp along the edge of the pastry to seal.
7. Brush top of pastry with egg wash and cut 3 slits along center.
8. Bake on center rack for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Mix mustard dip ingredients together and place in bowl.
10. Slice and serve with dip!

Maple Dijon Roasted Carrots

An Easter meal isn’t complete without carrots! These make a beautiful and healthy addition to your Easter or spring table!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. small young carrots, with leaves, scrubbed
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 2 Tbsp. (real) maple syrup
• ½ Tbsp. grainy mustard
• ½ Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• ½ Tbsp. white miso paste (optional)
  ½ Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp. parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a small bowl, mix the oil, maple syrup, mustards, miso, vinegar, soy sauce and garlic. Toss the carrots into half the mixture.
3. On a baking sheet, arrange carrots in a single layer and bake 20-30 minutes until tender and lightly browned.
4. Toss with remaining sauce and sprinkle with chopped parsley

Sunflower Peep Brownie

This fun recipe uses box mix and frosting for a super-easy treat to bake and take along to the neighborhood egg hunt, the classroom party or to your own family room! We’ve got options for you: Use traditional yellow Peeps chicks for a sunflower look, or go for the pink Peeps and white chocolate chip center for a pink flower treat!

Ingredients:

• 1 box brownie mix
• Egg(s) (according to box instructions)
• Oil (according to box instructions)
  Water (according to box instructions)
  1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 container of yellow chick Peeps
• 1 container chocolate frosting (or your favorite homemade recipe)

Directions:

1. Make brownie batter according to box instructions, baking at temperature instructed, in a 9″ round baking pan.
2. Once brownies have baked and cooled, remove whole from pan.
3. Place Peep chicks in a circle around the brownies, leaving the center uncovered. Use the Peep chicks as markers and precut the brownies so each one is topped with a chick.
4. Remove the Peeps and frost the brownies with the canned chocolate or homemade chocolate frosting. Replace the chicks.
5. Gently add chocolate chips to center to resemble sunflower “seeds” with each chip upright.

Note: Use yellow Peeps for a sunflower look, or pink Peeps for a pink flower (and switch out the chocolate chips for a white chocolate chip center).