Thursday, April 5, 2012

Easter Bunny Bait and Phyllo Nests


I've been busy as a bunny getting ready for Easter this weekend!  The whole family will be together here ♥ This Bunny Bait will appeal to both big and little bunnies alike so if you're looking to attract some bunnies to your table, this will work!


I had seen the idea on Pinterest but it was made with white chocolate.  Since I am not a fan of white chocolate, I made my Bunny Bait with melted, dark chocolate drizzled over the popped corn. I didn't want to make it too sweet, so instead of plain M&Ms, I added the new, pretzel M&Ms to the popcorn. Great combination! This is quick and simple to put together and would make a great hostess gift to bring if you are invited to someone's home for Easter brunch or dinner.


Last year, I made candy nests from chow mein noodles (see my side bar at right).  This year, I used a Martha Stewart recipe for shredded phyllo nests. I prefer these phyllo nests because they aren't quite as sweet as the chow mein nests but, be advised, they do make quite a mess if you try to eat them, so serving them in a small bowl or dish would be a good idea.


The bunny napkins are all folded and in place (tutorial here)...


Martha's Eggs Shell Vases will hold the little blooms from the garden...and a McKenzie-Child herb pot, which was a gift from a sweet friend, Debbie, who shares my love of all things MC, is holding grass for the chocolate eggs to hide inside. The plates, chargers, napkins and egg cups are all from World Market.  The bunny centerpiece came from my favorite grocery store's floral department.


The cute, rooster egg warmers that I started last year are finally finished and are covering plain plastic eggs that I painted on eyes and a beak with fabric paint.  They will be used for a little Easter egg hunt for Mack.

Wishing all of you who celebrate, a very Happy Easter or Passover this weekend!

Bunny Bait

Adapted from many recipes found online
Printable Recipe

4-6 cups popped popcorn - not buttered and very lightly salted (you want the popcorn to be as dry as possible)
1 bag of M&M pretzel candies
Any other hard-coated pastel candies that you like
3-4 ounces of melted chocolate

Pop corn and allow to cool.  Melt chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute, stirring to dissolve.  Melt in additional 10 second intervals until melted, stirring again after each interval. 

Place the popcorn on a large baking sheet.  Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn and allow to set.  I put mine in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to set the chocolate. 

After the chocolate has set, you can add any candies that you choose.

Place in clear plastic treat bags and tie with decorative ribbon.

~~~~~

Shredded Phyllo Bird's Nests

Adapted from Martha Stewart
Printable Recipe

3-4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for tin
8 ounces (1/2 package) kataifi (shredded phyllo), thawed (See Note)
4 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, (optional)
Jordan Almonds or jelly beans to fill the nests

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 12-cup muffin tin with butter. Pull phyllo into 1-inch-thick bundles; cut bundles into 2-inch lengths. Place in a bowl; separate into a loose pile with fingers. Toss with butter, sugar, and cinnamon, if using.
Divide among 12 muffin cups; press into bottom and up sides. Cook until golden and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool; fill with jelly beans.

Note: I found Kataifi at a Greek import store.

63 comments:

  1. Wow, Susan, you have been busy! So many pretty vignettes from your table. The rooster egg warmers are so cute! Never saw anything like them :)

    Thank you for sharing these great ideas and yummy recipes!

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  2. What great ideas in this post, Susan. Your bunny bait sounds perfect to me, and I love the adorable rooster warmers. Have a very happy and blessed weekend with your family. xo

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  3. Easter Bunny Bait? I love it! I'm with you on the white chocolate. I've never tried the M&M pretzels but can imagine the sweet and salty would be good. Your table is beautiful--the place to be at Easter up your way. Have a good day.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  4. thanks for sharing such wonderful ideas!

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  5. Looks like you're all set! Lovin' those cute rooster egg warmers! Wishing you a wonderful Easter Susan-enjoy:@)

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  6. You've been a busy little bunny getting all those treats made. They look so yummy. I really like your centerpiece and the folded bunny napkins.
    Happy Easter!
    Babs

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  7. All your preparations are just darling, Susan! I especially like the idea of "Bunny Bait" LOL I know Ms. C. would get a kick out of that!

    I hope you have a wonderful holiday, surrounded by the family.

    Have a Blessed Holy Week & a Happy Easter!
    fondly,
    Rett

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  8. My goodness, you have been a busy bunny! I LOVE everything! Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  9. Oh you did a fantastic job with the bunny ear napkins. I Visited that same tutorial earlier this week and gave up after a couple of quick tries. Life's too short if things aren't going well. Love the look!

    With the entire family there and a new little somebunny in the family, you're going to have a wonderful Easter celebration. Many blessings...

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  10. Awww what darling egg warmers, Susan!! I love your centerpiece and all the recipes that you shared. I scrolled on down and saw your herb bread....mmmm! Happy Easter!

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  11. Everything looks perfect...love the bunny napkins. The bunny bait sounds yummy.
    Happy Easter to you and yours, Susan.

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  12. The table looks lovely! Love how you did the napkin on the rings! Bunny bait looks good too, I agree, chocolate is better than white not chocolate! :)

    Thanks for linking up to Let's Dish! Have a wonderful Easter with your lovely family. I have 120 eggs to fill for the hunt!

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  13. And your egg cozies are adorable!!

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  14. You have been busy with great results! Lots of great ideas - thanks for sharing. Things will be simple here - lots of good food, but little decor.

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  15. Wow, look at all the fun, creative things for Easter. Have a wonderful Easter, enjoy your family!!!

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  16. Beautiful Susan. You have created some fabulous goodies and I love the roosters. Congratulations on completing them...something to crow about! The pretzel M&Ms,genius!!! Have a wonderful Easter weekend with all of your family.

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  17. Susan, the egg cozies are wonderful! I knew you were making them, and was hoping you would show them. Whenever I see a bunny napkin on someone's blog, I think of you. You taught us :-) Everything is lovely, and bunny bait sounds delicious.

    We have some of the same items on our Easter table :-) The chargers, napkin rings.

    Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  18. Susan~ You have lots at your table to satisfy big & little bunnies! Your bunny bait sounds wonderful~ love the salty & the sweet combo! Your egg warmers are the cutest things I've seen~ Happy Easter to you & your family :)

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  19. I know my grandkids would be thrilled with little treats of bunny bait waiting at their place at the table. I hope you and your family have a blessed and very Happy Easter, Susan.

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  20. I knew this was the place to get the inspiration needed for Easter! Enjoy your family and have a very Happy Easter!

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  21. Susan, you have some really beautiful decos...I love esp. these egg warmers..so adorable.
    Imagine biting into one of these filo nests...o..heavenly!

    I wish you and your family a Happy Easter!

    Angie

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  22. Everything is magazine worthy - just perfect! I hope you have a very blessed Easter.

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  23. Great ideas, everything looks perfect! I love the pretzel M&M's the best :)
    Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter.

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  24. I would love to be at your Easter table! Apart from all the delicacies you have shown us, it sound slike it will be fun...I wish you lovely weather and a wonderful ambiance around your table!
    bises
    Ronelle

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  25. Over the op adorable!! very creative. Your Easter table is going to be memorable.

    Happy Easter to you.

    Velva

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  26. You are so creative! I used to love to make all these decorations for Easter when the boys were growing up. you are giving the urge to try some of your great ideas, Happy Easter to you and your family Susan!

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  27. wow your a star your family are going to have a ball celebrating Easter at your house love the nests and napkins

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  28. What a cheerful table for Easter! Wishing you and your family a wonderful time together! ( love the idea of the bunny bait!)

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  29. Happy Easter Day! Such beautiful deco for this special day. Thanks for sharing & enjoy your weekend.
    Kristy

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  30. You are forever referred to as the Martha Stewart of the blogging world. Such fun ideas.

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  31. Susan, your table is adorable! I had seen some of these creations here and there and thought they looked so cute. You've been a busy bee/bunny and everyone is going to have such fun at your house.
    Your roosters are fabulous!
    Wishing you and your family a wonderful Easter!

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  32. What fun you have been having preparing for Easter. Love the bunny bait, and the napkin ears are just adorable. You would never know those nests were made out of phyllo! Joni

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  33. great ideas Susan, I love nests and napkin ears , wishing you and your family a wonderful Easter!

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  34. I love everything about this post. The bunny napkin fold is so cute.

    Happy Easter!

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  35. I love these ideas to personalize Easter. The phyllo egg nest are so adorable!

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  36. I didn't even know that there were new M&M's with pretzel centers, Susan! I will have to try them soon. The bunny bait is a cute idea as a snack. I also love your bunny fold napkins.

    Have a very Happy and Blessed Easter!

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  37. What a fabulous blog you have here! Loving all the photos!

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  38. Shredded phyllo? That's a new one on me, but I love the little baskets. Are there other uses, and if so, show us more!

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  39. I love your creativity and how beautiful everything looks I could hardly make an easter cake!

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  40. Well, I can tell you for sure that this bait will attract not only bunnies but anyone with a pulse! So good!

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  41. What great ideas! I love those nests. They are adorable! I didn't know you could buy shredded phyllo...I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Could be fun for other things too.

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  42. What a beautiful Easter table you had. I can see you were very busy indeed.

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  43. Awww, these are all so incredibly cute! I think I liked the napkins the best - they're so easy and festive!

    Hope you had a wonderful Easter!

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  44. Oh, so many lovely Easter photos here.

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  45. Wow....you just have the most beautifully decorated Easter table.....

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  46. I love the idea of Easter Bunny Bait- so fun! And everything you do looks so beautiful :)

    Sues

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  47. These are 2 great ideas for next year.....my nieces would love the bunny bait and the phyllo douhg oh super cute, bookmarking for next year!! thanks for sharing!

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  48. Sooo many wonderful ideas (but I think last year's nest are my fav!) Wonderful to have you at Seasonal Sundays this Easter.

    - The Tablescaper

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  49. Wow Susan, love how you have all nicely decorated for Easter...I will save the ideas for our next year Easter...love the popcorn and the nest...oh! And the bunny napkin :)
    Thanks for this nice post and hope you are having a wonderful week!

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  50. I'm so behind in blog reading, but wow, that shredded phyllo dough really make lovely nests - must more delicate looking than chow mein noodles... I'd be with you on the chocolate - not a fan of white at all. And those bunny ear napkins are just too cute!

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  51. Hi,
    You are incredibly creative and talented. I am so glad to have found your blog. The nests look too cute. I loved all the creative things you have done.

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  52. All your creative spirit is presented here Susan. You made beautiful things with your hands. I am sure you all had a wanderful Easter Day!

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  53. All your Easter things are so cute! I love the nests, the bunny napkins, and even those clever plastic eggs you painted faces on. Thank you for dropping by Your Cozy Home Party to share all these delightful things with us!

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  54. What great ideas for Easter, Susan! I am bookmarking this for next year and will be trying a couple, esp. the napkins! Great recipes too! Hope you had a wonderful Easter!

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  55. I love that idea of bunny bait. Your table is absolutely gorgeous - I'm super jealous since my table (we're having Easter late) won't look anywhere near as good

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  56. Oh how I wish I'd seen this before Easter. I'll be stealing some of these ideas next year - especially the phyllo nests. Your table looks beautiful. Hope it was a happy day for you.

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  57. I love all your ideas here and am pinning to save for a 'Spring' themed dinner party;-)

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  58. This is the cutest thing I have seen all day! I happened to stumble upon your blog, and loved everything on it! I am your newest member. :)

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  59. What a fun bunch of recipes and inventive ideas for Easter! Thanks for sharing!

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  60. These are all fantastic ideas. I'm going to book mark it for next year. :) But the bunny bait sounds so delicious that I'm just going to make some for snack. Don't think I can wait til next year. LOL...

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  61. Looks like you had a fun Easter. I really like the idea of adding pretzel M&Ms to chocolate drizzled popcorn.

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