surprises

Easter Fools

By Steph Hung

On April 1st treat your loved ones to a simple homemade breakfast.  There is nothing like a soft-boiled egg with a few pieces of bread to dip in the yolk.

Only this time there’s something a little special about the eggs:

Looks like the Easter Bunny decided to make an early delivery.

Materials you will need:  Eggs, powdered gelatin, egg cups (look for opaque cups or else the gig may be up), spoon, bowls, and a measuring cup.

Step 1:  Use the spoon to crack the bottom of the egg.

Step 2:  Carefully remove a small part of the shell, and empty contents into a bowl*.  Place the shell immediately into a bowl of hot soapy water.   After all the eggs are empty, thoroughly rinse the shells.

Step 3:  Prepare the gelatin – Mix each 85g box with just 1/2 cup of boiling water so the jelly will hold up when the eggshells are peeled.  Each box will fill 3-4 extra large eggs.

Step 4:  Allow jelly to set in the fridge for a few hours.  Take eggs out 20 minutes before serving so the temperature doesn’t give them away.

(*Make a quiche with the leftover eggs and you’ll REALLY impress your guests)

Happy April Fools Day!

Fortune Balloon Garland

by Steph Hung

Wondering what the new year will bring?  Look to the balloons! Monday marked the beginning of Chinese New Year, and I always love seeing the strings of lanterns that line the streets of Chinatown.  The holiday is surrounded by myths about luck and prosperity, so I wanted to make something that might inspire good fortunes too.

Just pop a balloon to see what the future has in store:

Advice, encouragement, warnings, and recommendations – let the balloons give their two cents’ worth.

Materials you will need:  water balloons, pump, string, paper, pen, and scissors.

Step 1:  Cut paper into 1/4″ wide strips and write your fortunes.

Step 2:  Roll up fortunes and slip one in each balloon.  Blow up balloon and tie with a knot.

Step 3:  Tie balloons onto a length of string.  If you cinch the string tightly below the knot (i.e. between the knot and the balloon), this will help prevent air from leaking out.

Step 4:  Hang your garland and let the divining begin.

Party in a Box

I’m loving these very cool Party-in-a-Box treats created by our very own contributor Amanda Jane Jones. See all the details right over here on her site!

all photos by Amanda Jane Jones

Treats Day 5: Whoopie Pies

For the last day of thank you treats we sent over a big box of Whoopie Pies to Mark. I love me a good whoopie pie and Susie Cakes makes excellent ones. Mark said they were well received, “I almost lost an arm in a frenzy of developers when I opened the SusieCakes box.” I haven’t missed very many American foods but I sure could go for a Whoopie Pie about now.

You can see the other treats for Mark right here: Day 1, Day 2 + 3, Day 4

All photos by Alexis Birkmeyer for Oh Happy Day

Treats Day 4: Dynamo Donuts

On the fourth day we sent a box of Dynamo Donuts to my friend Mark. (See Day 1, and Day 2 and 3 over here.) Dynamo Donuts is a specialty donut shop in San Francisco that makes really hearty donuts (they weigh a ton!) in really interesting flavors. For example here is their menu list from yesterday: Vanilla, Bacon, Caramel, Passionfruit, Chocolate Spice, Chocolate Rose, Chocolate Almond, Rosemary, Lemon Thyme, Apricot Cardamom, MonteCristo, and Lemon. They get very experimental with their flavors!

photos by Alexis Birkmeyer for Oh Happy Day