Easter Egg Spread Recipes

CHOCOLATE COVERED EASTER EGGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the butter, vanilla, and cream cheese. Stir in confectioners' sugar to make a workable dough. For best results, use your hands for mixing.
• Divide the dough into four parts. Leave one of the parts plain. To the second part, mix in peanut butter. Mix coconut into the third part, and cocoa powder into the last part. Roll each type of dough into egg shapes, and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until hard, at least an hour.
• Melt chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth. If the chocolate seems too thick for coating, stir in a teaspoon of the shortening or oil until it thins to your desired consistency. Dip the chilled candy eggs in chocolate, and return to the waxed paper lined sheet to set. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour to harden.

CREAMY EGG SPREAD

Steps:

• In a blender, combine first five ingredients; process until smooth. Add egg quarters, one at a time, blending well after each addition. Add cream cheese, salt and pepper; process until creamy. Stir in dill if desired.

EASY EGGPLANT SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange eggplant cut side up on a baking sheet. Make slits in eggplant and insert garlic and thyme. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bake until tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven; let stand until cool, about 20 minutes.
• Scoop flesh into a food processor. Add herbs, 2 tablespoons oil, and lemon juice. Puree until smooth. Pulse with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to combine. Serve with crackers or crostini.

DEVILED EGG SPREAD

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and water.
• Bring 6 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil in a deep saucepan over high heat. Add the peeled celery stalk to the boiled water, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the pan, and plunge in the ice bath.
• Remove the outer stringy layer of the celery with a vegetable peeler and discard.
• Add the vinegar to the water, and return to a boil. Add the eggs to the pan, and cook for 8 minutes. Remove the eggs from the pan, and plunge in the ice bath.
• When the eggs are cool enough to handle, peel them and separate the whites from the yolks. Chop the egg whites to equal ½ cup, and reserve for Smoked Oysters on Toast if desired. Reserve the remaining whites for another use.
• Combine the egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon, red wine vinegar, and hot sauce in a medium bowl.
• Dice the celery and fold half into the egg yolk mixture. (Reserve the remaining celery for Smoked Oysters on Toast if desired.) Stir in the chives, black pepper, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt.