I have been dealing with some medical issue, and almost missed updating you on the beautiful spring flowers all over my garden, and my daughter’s garden.

My apologies… but better late than never.  I am doing well now, thank you.

If Spring has not really sprung in your neck of the woods yet, this should reassure you that it is on its way.

So be patient, and before you know it, you will be admiring the beauty of your own garden as well.

Today I will share few pictures of the spring flowers still blooming in our gardens.

My daughter loves tending to her flower and veggie plants, and here are some pics of her spring flowers.

Nice clusters of Hyacinths, Daffodils and Tulips.

My little granddaughter is amazed by the beauty of these flowers, since she was not thinking of such colorful final results, while helping her mom with bulb planting last Fall.

These are some of the flowers that still are in full bloom in my garden.  Here are Grape Hyacinths and Johhny Jump-Up (Viola Corunta).

Most of my perennial plants have certain sentimental value to me, because they traveled with us from our previous residences, and have been shared with our family and friends, adoring their gardens as well.

Pink Phlox and Star of Bethlehem, as well as a budding Pink Azalea bush.

Periwinkle (Barvinok – in Ukrainian) is a very traditional plant for Ukrainian gardeners, since it is used to weave Wedding Wreaths for Newlyweds, to be used during a Ukrainian Wedding Church Ceremony.

It is also used to decorate the Easter Baskets filled with special and symbolic Ukrainian Easter Sunday brunch foods, before being blessed at the church.

Enjoy these, and stay tuned to more of my future gardening posts.

The past week has been kind of gloomy for me, so as a pick me up, I decided to share something little more humorous.

At least I think it’s humorous, and hope you will to.

This insert has been forwarded to me by a friend, hence unknown author or origin.

There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his
money.

He was a real miser when it came to his money.

Just before he died, he said to his wife…’When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me.’

And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put all of the money into the casket with him.

Well, he died. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife  came over with the box and put it in the casket.

Her friends politely asked her if she was foolish enough to put all that money in there with her husband.

The loyal wife replied: 

‘Listen, I’m a Christian; I cannot go back on my word.

“I sure did!

I got it all together

Put it into my account.

Wrote him a check….

If he can cash it……then he can spend it.”

Well ladies, there is a good lesson to learn from this one, so please pass it on….

Chicken is known for being one of our healthier meat choices, and there are myriad of ways of preparing it.

I prefer chicken meat over turkey, as you already know from my previous posts, and am always searching for new recipes to try.

A friend shared this recipe, so I am not sure of its origin, but you will LOVE it…it’s so moist on the inside, yet crispy and crunchy on the outside.

Ingredients:

• 4 large chicken breasts, boneless, cut in half
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 cups Panco crumbs
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. black pepper, ground
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tbs. parsley, dried
• cooking spray

Directions:

1. Get three medium bowls, and fill one with milk, one with cheddar cheese, and one with Panco crumbs.
2. Line a baking sheet (I used a glass one 10 x 13 inches) with aluminum foil, and coat it with cooking spray.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Dip each piece of chicken breasts (8 pieces in all) in milk, then pat it on all sides with cheddar cheese, then dip it in Panco crumbs.
5. Arrange coated chicken breasts in the baking pan.
6. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and parsley flakes.
7. Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven.
9. Let it rest in the pan for few minutes before serving.
10. For best results and crispness, serve it soon after cooking.

Enjoy!

Few weeks ago I baked my first bread in the Dutch Oven, but used all-purpose unbleached white flour, mixed with some whole wheat flour.  The bread was very tasty, and spongy.

Today, I tried the same recipe, but with bread flour, and the results were amazing.

The bread dough was rising much more rapidly than my first one.  It was very spongy, and light, and the bread turned out even better than my first loaf.

I can’t believe there is such an easy way to make homemade bread.

Since I used the same recipe and same directions, I will not repeat them here, but you can check out my previous post, if you are ready to make some fresh bread for your family.

I am definitely going to invest in a Dutch Oven of my own (waiting for a good sale), as this one is borrowed from my daughter.

Can you believe this loaf of bread costs only 81 cents….and that includes all the ingredient, and cost of the energy used to bake it.

Easter is just around the corner, so Ukrainians, as well other Eastern European bakers are scurrying around, looking for recipes to make that special Paska (Babka) bread, to be blessed and served for Easter Sunday brunch.

Everyone has their special recipe, or decorating method, for their Easter Bread.

Here are some of the posts I already prepared previously for your reading pleasure, as well as my favorite Paska recipe.

Here is my favorite recipe for Ukrainian Easter Bread – Paska.

This link will take you to the recipe and technique of decorating Paska.

So, you have the Paska recipe, all ready to bake, but not sure about the pans to use for this project.

No worries.  This post will show you several different types of bakeware suitable for Paska baking.  Click on the link and you will see a larger selection of bakeware.

OK. Now you ask – How to you get this Paska ready for blessing?

Very easy…I  have a post which tells you all about the Ukrainian Traditional Foods you need to include in your basket to be blessed, and then consumed at your Easter Brunch.  Here again click on the highlighted link to read all about it.

So, your Paska is ready, but you want some of those gorgeous Ukrainian Easter Eggs in your basket.  No problem.

These are the 12 steps that turn a plain white egg into a piece of art – Ukrainian Easter Egg.

Click on the link above, to visit that post, and learn how to make them.  You will be delightfully surprised at your own hidden talent. Not kidding!

You can take up this project on your own, or engage your whole family.  The above Pysanky were made by my children in their teenage years.  Sure, your young children can do it as well (with your supervision of course, as lit candles are used for heating the stylus filled with bee wax).

Also, I would suggest to use a hard-boiled egg for children under 6, to prevent losing the finished project to a “Humpty Dumpty” experience, and face the long-lasting disappointment.  Believe me, I have been there…very heart breaking.

Are you thinking why would anyone invest so much time in decorating an egg?

These eggs here are close to 90 years old now.  They were decorated by my great-aunt (and her children) who was our first family member to come to the US.

If it interests you, please click on the link above, and read the rest of the story.

I have wrapped the whole Ukrainian Easter Tradition in a nut shell, in this one post.

I hope you enjoyed it, enriched your knowledge, and will share it with others.

Happy Easter!!

Khystos Voskes!  Voistynu Voskres

Christ is Risen. Indeed He is Risen.