I’m back in bunny basket business, y’all!  Because two of my precious grandbabies—Matthew and Henry—are celebrating their very first Easter this year, I just had to get back to my roots and put together some wonderful Easter baskets for them.  Besides, I just love doing it.  Putting them together is like an art form to me.  I like to select something special, like an adorable stuffed bunny to sit front and center, and then I tuck little treats and goodies in all around it.  I add some greenery and tie a big, bright bow around the basket.

Making a beautiful Easter basket is something that my dear Aunt Peggy taught me how to do years ago.  Back home she had the Toy House, and they ended up making a basket for nearly every child in town, so you could say she’s a bit of an expert.  I took a page out of her book this year and put together some wonderful things for my grandsons.  But the one I’m most proud of is the basket I made for Jack.  I went to Habersham Antiques here in Savannah and found him the neatest vintage rabbit to place in the center of his basket.  And the funny thing is, he won’t be impressed by it at all.  Y’all, the rabbit is brown and old and you know how kids like things bright and shiny.  But I have a plan; I think the bunny will be just spectacular in his daddy’s library.  Jamie’s library has so many interesting things in it—stuff he’s collected over the years.  So after Jack tosses that rabbit aside and digs into the chocolate bunnies, I’m going to suggest that Jamie put it in his library.

I used to do baskets all the time for Jamie and Bobby, even well after they were grown.  Regardless of how embarrassed they acted, I knew how much they loved them.  But once the grandchildren came along, you could say poor Jamie and Bobby fell to the wayside.  Not that they’re complaining.  I’m sure they’re happy that their momma isn’t embarrassing them by saying, “I think the bunny was here!” and going through the routine of having them search the house for their baskets.  I still try to find a way to make their Easter special, but now it’s through their stomachs.  After catching the beautiful sunrise service out at Tybee Island, I’ll serve everyone up a comforting dish of my fried green tomato and egg hollandaise that tastes like it was delivered straight from Heaven.  Then, for supper, the whole family will sit down to a big Easter feast.  Of course I’ll have to go all out with a cornbread stuffed crown roast of pork or a stunning minted lamb, both of which pair perfectly with a crustless spinach quiche. It’s what I call “celebration food.”

Y’all can’t go wrong with celebration food like this, so take some time to make something outstanding to warm the hearts and fill the tummies of your loved ones.  And for the little ones, well, you can delight them too—I just recommend doing it with a basket, a bunny and a bow.