If you find yourself with slices of uneaten ham after the happy Easter holiday, get excited. You have leftovers to look forward to! Leftovers are an essential part of the "big meal" experience for me. Not only do I love tasting the sweet flavors over again and making the most of meal.. I am hopelessly devoted to sandwiches. Sandwiches, for me, are the crowning glory of the leftover scene. After Thanksgiving, I can't wait to sink my teeth into a roll stuffed with turkey and mayo. After a big roast beef dinner, I want to shred it up, put it on a slice of bread, and drizzle it with barbecue. And of course, after an Easter ham, I hope there is enough left to make hot ham and cheese sandwiches with buttery mustard. One of the best sandwiches ever invented, in my opinion.

So slice up the ham that you had tucked back into the fridge yesterday and give it a big finish!

My apartment has a teeny tiny kitchen and in that kitchen is an even teenier tinier oven. It's a good thing the apartment is small over all because cooking for a crowd is nearly impossible. That's why on special occasions, such as Easter, I have to be very particular about the side dishes I make because if I've got a ham in the oven there is absolutely no room for anything else. So, pretty much anything that needs to be baked in the oven for a long period of time is out of the question.

This means that for years Scalloped Potatoes have not been made in this house, which is rather sad because they have always been my side dish of choice along side baked ham. I finally decided I had, had enough and created my own stove top version. I bring you Cheesy Stove Top Scalloped Potatoes.

Whether you are in the same predicament as me or already have your oven packed full of sides this recipe will help free up some much needed oven space while keeping a "classic" on the table. This recipe serves four but it can easily be doubled and made in a larger skillet.

Celebrate Spring!

Three little tulips have found their way through the hard, grey soil in our front yard. It's lovely to say hello to them every morning. Them, with their bright red buds and merry promise of spring. Though the weather has been cool and windy, our three little tulips promise the sunny days that always herald the coming of Summer. Bring it on, I say. The more sunshine, the better!

With the first signs of spring comes another reminder...Easter is on it's way! Whether you celebrate Easter Sunday as a religious holiday, or as a day to seek the treasures of a generous Easter Bunny, there''s no better way to add an elegant touch to your Easter Sunday menu than with these beautiful little bundt nest cakes. Full of rich, chocolatey pound cake, topped with a drizzle of vanilla bean ice cream and toasted coconut, finished off with toasted coconut...these are a simple, lovely dessert. Plus, they are fun without being over the top. Kids and adults are sure to love these yummy little cakes. And you're going to love how simple they are to make.

Cool Tips:

• Don't have a baby bundt pan? No worries! You can bake these little cakes in muffin tins, ,but will only need to pop them in the oven for about 17-18 minutes. Once baked, invert each cake and use a melon-baller to scoop a small bit from the center of each cake. Drizzle with icing and decorate as you would mini bundts.
• To toast your coconut quick: Place shredded coconut in a small saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook the coconut, stirring constantly until it turns a golden brown. Allow to cool before sprinkling atop your little bundt cake nests!
• There's no need to run to the store if you don't have a vanilla bean! You can use a teaspoon of vanilla to lend great color to your icing without spending the money for expensive vanilla beans.

Wishing You a Wonderful Easter!

Easter is just around the corner! Are you armed with a delicious ham idea yet? Allow me to share a simple, melt-in-your-mouth recipe with you.

As a kid, sometimes you don't pay too much attention to what is on your plate. Or at least, not until dessert. But I have a vivid food memory from my childhood- involving this very ham. We had been invited over to a friend's house after church one Sunday, and our kind hostess served us the sweetest, most perfect baked ham that had ever been in my mouth. I remember wanting the slices of ham to never end. Thank goodness my mom found out what she put in the glaze for her magical ham! (It's all in the glaze.) That ham had been dressed with pineapple, drenched with honey, and spiked with spices. And it's now and forever my favorite way to have baked ham. Enjoy!

Easter is such a fun time for the entire family. I absolutely love getting my kids in the kitchen with me. I have the perfect Easter cupcake that the kids will love to help put together. I use a bag of candy coated chocolate eggs on top of the cupcakes that lay on top of a bed of chocolate shavings.

Enjoy this beautiful Easter weekend with your family!!