Happy Easter and Passover from Amy

To celebrate the holidays, here's a piece of trivia and a treat.

Have you ever wondered why a bunny is associated with Easter?  I never gave it much thought.  Recently, I became a bit curious.  As Elmer Fudd would say, what's the story about that "silly wabbit."

Here we go with a brief history of the Easter bunny.

Historians believe the Easter bunny became a holiday icon back in the 1700's brought over by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania.

Why is the Easter bunny a symbol of Easter?  The most popular thought is that rabbits represent fertility and fruitfulness.  In other words, hares represent new life.

We know that rabbits don't lay eggs.  It's chronicled that the immigrant's children made nests so the bunny would have a place to lay colored eggs.

This custom eventually spread across America and became the tradition it is today.

Here's a sweet treat for Passover.

I posted this recipe last year.  It got a great response.   By popular demand  here it is again!

To be honest, this is not my recipe.  My friend, Caroline who runs a tight ship with a smile at my favorite supermarket's courtesy counter, introduced me to this wonderful confection.

Last year Caroline was kind enough offer me a sample of her treat.  All it took was one bite and my taste buds had big smiley faces on them.

Recipe for Candied Matzo

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Line cookie sheets with foil

Separate ten matzos each into four pieces

You will need three sticks of butter

Two cups of brown sugar

One bag of chocolate chips

Your preference..several cups of crushed peanuts,almonds, or Caroline's favorite, pecans.

Melt mixture of butter and sugar until it boils.

Brush on to each piece of matzo

Place coated matzo into oven.

Leave in oven until you see the butter and sugar bubbling on top of the matzo.  This will take 5 to 8 minutes.  Be careful not to burn the topping.

Melt the chocolate in a separate pot.

When matzo comes out of the oven, let it cool.

Drizzle melted chocolate on top of the matzo.

Spread a layer of nuts on top.

Place the candied matzo in fridge for about an hour.

After they've cooled, break into pieces (like peanut brittle or bark) and enjoy!

From my family to yours, have a happy Easter and Passover!