Hot Cross Buns and Greek Easter Bread come to mind, and Greek Easter Bread is a basic enriched Danish dough with anise flavoring or aniseed, and formed in a braid in a circle. #1. Find out how much the flour capacity is for your bread machine before using a non-bread machine recipe. For instance, my Zojirushi bread machines (V-20 and X-20) have a 5-cup capacity if I'm going to bake in it. The old Zojirushi S-15 had a 4-cup capacity. If I'm only use it to mix/knead the dough, I can use a larger amount of flour for a recipe - BUT - I take the dough out of the bread machine as soon as kneading is complete and proof it in a dough-rising bucket - NOT the bread machine. 2. As chas045 pointed out, check your dough. Check the condition of the dough during the first 5 minutes of kneading and adjust it for hydration at that time by adding more flour or adding more liquid - whatever is necessary - if the dough doesn't form a soft tacky ball. The amount of flour necessary for any bread recipe is just a good (or bad) guess. If the recipe called for high-gluten bread flour, and you used all-purpose flour, it would take more all-purpose flour (or less liquid) because of the lower gluten (protein) content in all-purpose flour. Gluten soaks hydration like a sponge, so you have to adjust to those differences if you switch from one flour type to another. 3. Do a search on-line for a bread machine recipe for "Easter bread" and try to locate one that is similar to what you are wanting to make and one that will work in your bread machine. Have a blessed Easter! -Grainlady

Fruit & Nut Easter Eggs 1/2 cups butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 pounds confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup (4 oz) maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped 1 cup finely chopped pecans 1/2 cup coconut Sweetened condensed milk Extra confectioners' sugar 1 pound dark chocolate candy melts, dark chocolate candy coating, or semi-sweet chocolate chips In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the butter, vanilla and salt. Mix well with an electric mixer. Beat in the confectioners' sugar gradually. Stir in the chopped cherries, pecans and coconut. Add just enough sweetened condensed milk to moisten and hold the mixture together. Knead the mixture until it is well blended. It should be easy to handle and shape, but not sticky. Use the palms of your hands to roll the mixture, a small amount at a time, into egg shapes. (The amount depends on the size and number of eggs you want to make. Use additional confectioners' sugar to prevent it from sticking to your hands.) Place the candy egg shapes on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Melt the chocolate in a microwave oven or in a double boiler. Dip each egg in the melted chocolate to coat, then lay on a waxed paper lined tray and allow the chocolate to harden. Place the eggs in paper candy cups.

Ham and Split Pea Soup from Epicurious : From Cooks Illustrated March 1999. this is a delicious soup but takes a little bit of time to make the broth but it's incredible. You can use a leftover ham bone if you get one of those big hams at the holidays (freeze the bone with a bit of meat) or a ham hock is okay too but can be salty. 1 piece (about 2.5 lbs) smoked bone in picnic 4 bay leaves 1 lb split peas rinsed and picked through 1 tsp dried thyme 2 tbsp olive oil 2 med onions, chopped med 2 med carrots, chopped med 2 med celery stalks, chopped med 1 tbsp butter (optional) 2 med garlic cloves, minced 3 small new potatoes scrubbed and med. diced ground black pepper balsamic vinegar Bring 3 quarts of water, ham, bay leaves to a boil, overd med high heat in large soup kettle. Reduce heat ot low and simmer until meat is tender and pulls away from the bone (2-2.5 hours). Remove ham meat and bone from broth; add split peas and thyme and simmer until peas are tender and dissolved (45 min - 1 hour). Meanwhile, when ham is cooled enough to handle, shred meat into bite sized pieces and set aside. Discard rind and bone. While ham is simmering, heat oil in large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add onions, carrots and celery; saute, stiring frequently until most of the liquid evaporates and veggies begin to brown; 5-6 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add butter, garlic, and sugar. Cook veggies, stirring frequently, until deeply browned; 30-35 min, set aside. Add sauteed veggies, potatoes, and shredded ham to soup; simmer until potatoes are tender and peas dissolve adn thicken soup to the consistency of light cream (about 20 min more). Season with black pepper. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with red onion (optional)and pass vinegar (optional)

Sis, Dad and I just started discussing yesterday... My sister will be hosting, with an assist from DH and I (time to get my little red wagon so we can easily bring our goodies around the corner to Sis' house). -Hor d'oevures... Not sure what we'll be serving for hors d'oeuvres, but already on the menu is: Pizza rustica (I make anywhere from 10-12 depending upon who I feel like giving one to (you have to rate high on my list) -I am thinking of modifying an asparagus dish I saw that calls for wrapping stuff around blanched asparagus (flattened bread, prosciutto, etc) but have to give it more thought as I don't want to compromise the beautiful asparagus I am seeing) We typically have a platter of antipasto, which is really a must have, so perhaps it'll be just that and the pizza rusticas. -First course we were thinking of doing perhaps some fresh ravioli. I saw Giada do a chicken cheese ravioli with a lemon zest sauce, so perhaps we'll play with that, eliminating the chicken. I just got the pasta-roller attachment for my Kitchenaide, which will make prepping the ravioli a breeze. -Second course, perhaps a salad in Parmesan cups. We did this two years ago and it was fantastic. -For dinner, so far we know we are going to make a nice stuffed pork loin. Our local Italian store does a nice job of it, it comes out so moist. Perhaps some simple roasted chicken as a second choice for the kids and whomever doesn't want the pork. I'll make a nice merlot or cabernet-based gravy or perhaps defrost some pork gravy I've been saving and kick it up a bit with some wine and herbs. -Veggies: We agreed on a few veggies, one baked, one roasted, and perhaps a steamed veggie. Will be finalizing that within the next week. -Starch...I'm thinking something potato. Perhaps Ann's Perfect Roasted potatoes will be the way to go. I love, love, love them. (Did I say I love them). -Dessert is left to the experts. One of our guests is master of all things baked and we leave that to her. Dad will want to bring something, so perhaps he'll make a grain pie. That's it so far...not much detail, but it is an iterative process and should be finalized by the end of the week. Sue