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Mother’s Day: get ready with our gift ideas
This year Mother’s Day falls on Sunday May 12, so now is the time to make sure that you have picked up a great gift. As always, we’ve worked to put together a list of ways that we can help you here at Shisler’s Cheese House.
Our favorite way to show her how much you appreciate all she has done for you is our delicious Mother’s Day Gift Basket!
Our Mother’s Day Gift Basket Includes:
- Havarti Cheese
- Assorted Heggy’s Milk Chocolates
- Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Fudge
- Strawberry Caramel Creams
- Yogurt Covered Cranberries
We think you’ll agree that this is a rather incredible selection but in case you need convincing, we have put together some information about everything included. We’re also going to give you some other gift ideas, in case there’s something in there that your Mom doesn’t like! Read on to find out more.
Havarti Cheese
Havarti Cheese is a semi-soft Danish cow’s milk cheese that can be sliced, grilled, or melted. It has a buttery, semi-sweet taste with some acidity. It’s perfect for making grilled cheese, but it would also be great with a fruit platter after a meal.
Assorted Heggy’s Milk Chocolates
Heggy’s Candy Company has built a rich tradition of premium handcrafted chocolates and candies throughout the United States for over 9 decades. Founded by Ben Heggy in 1923, Heggy’s Chocolates remains one of the premiere candy companies in America. Over the years, Heggy’s Chocolates has remained a family owned and operated business and today they maintain a high level of commitment to their customers and the community.
We know that these are great gifts, so we had to include them here!
Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Fudge
If you’ve never tried this, you have got to hope that your Mom feels like sharing! This is a fudge unlike any you will have had before.
Strawberry Caramel Creams
The perfect taste of summer strawberries wrapped up in smooth caramel.
Yogurt Covered Cranberries
A delicious treat and something a little refreshing after all the sweets and cheese.
Order your Mother’s Day gift basket today or pop into the store. Be sure to check our delivery times if you are ordering online so that your gift isn’t late.
Even more gift ideas
We have a whole selection of different gift baskets to cater for every taste. Whether your Mom is a cheese lover, a bologna fan, or wants to try a little bit of everything, we’ve carefully curated our favorite products to make them smile. We even have a basket for those who love hot and spicy foods! If you’d like to, we can help you build your own gift basket with all of your Mom’s favorite things.
If you want to let Mom pick her own selection of treats, we can provide an e-gift certificate. We send you a code immediately, so this is a great option if you’re not able to see your Mom in person (or if you’re a little forgetful and have left things til the last minute!).
We want to wish all of you Moms a very happy Mother’s Day this Sunday. Enjoy your day; you deserve it!
Ways to Use Up Leftover Chocolate
With Easter celebrations this week filling our houses with chocolate and delicious treats, we thought it might be useful to share some ways to use up leftover chocolate. That’s if there is any left, of course!
Hot Chocolate
Using real chocolate is one of the ultimate ways to make a luxurious hot chocolate. You only need a little bit to make a brilliant drink, so this is an ideal way to finish your Easter celebrations. Check out our blog post with 6 ways to make a great hot chocolate to make it extra special.
Smores
Layer up graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate for this fireside treat. It’s a quick dessert that is fun to make with the whole family.
Brownies
We can’t mention chocolate recipes without mentioning brownies! You might have a favorite family recipe, but you can make it even more delicious by melting some extra chocolate to drizzle on the top once they are baked. If you have leftover candies, crush them up and add them on top as well for a colorful post-Easter bake.
Chocolate Croissants
Take some crescent rolls and roll them up with pieces of chocolate inside. Bake in the oven until the rolls are golden brown and the chocolate is melted. These make a great breakfast that will surprise your family on Monday morning.
Pancakes
Instead of the usual chocolate chips, try pieces of Easter chocolate to add sweetness to your pancakes. Our top tip is to fry one side of your pancake, then add the chocolate pieces into the batter before flipping over. This way the chocolate is well distributed, instead of being lost in the pancake batter. Stack up your pancakes with whipped cream and sprinkles for extra fun.
Ice Cream
If you have an ice cream maker, you can use up leftover chocolate to create your own chocolate flavor. Either use it melted to create a chocolate swirl or add it in chunks to create texture. For an even more simple recipe, you can make a quick sauce for store-bought ice cream by melting chocolate with a little bit of milk.
Chocolate Bark
This is probably the easiest way to use up any leftover chocolate or candy. Melt the chocolate and pour it onto a prepared tray that is lined with parchment paper. You are looking for a thin layer of chocolate. If you have milk, white, and dark chocolate, swirl them together. Then add any candies or crushed up chocolates into the melted chocolate. Let this set and then break it up into pieces.
Garnish
Chocolate can be grated to make a very quick and simple garnish for any dessert. It’s easy to do but looks stunning and will impress your guests. Use a fine grater to create a dusting or use a peeler to create chocolate shavings for a more striking look.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our ideas for using up your leftover chocolate. What do your family do with their Easter treats? Let us know your ideas in the comments below!
Butterscotch Caramels: Baking Ideas
Today we’ve put together a selection of brilliant baking ideas for you to try out with Heggy’s Butterscotch Caramels.
Shisler’s Cheese House has been in existence for over fifty years and we spent thirty of them trying to get local distribution rights for Heggy’s Chocolates. They are one of the few candy companies that match our tradition of excellence, and because of that they have always had a strict distribution strategy. We had to wait until a local competitor retired to get the distribution rights in our area and in the ten-year partnership we have built, we have become their second largest distributor. Now we are, of course, aiming for number one. We absolutely love their quality candies and we know that you will too.
Butterscotch Caramels: Cookies
We like to make a simple oatmeal cookie dough and then pop a butterscotch caramel in the middle of each cookie before they go into the oven. This allows the caramels to melt and create an incredible flavor along with a chewy texture that it sure to have you going back for more. You can even add broken up pretzel pieces for extra crunch and a fabulous sweet and salty contrast.
If you want to make something really visually impressive, make a simple cookie dough and cut out your chosen shape. Place the cookies on baking paper and cut out a shape from the middle of the cookie. Put a caramel in the hole and bake the cookies. The caramel will melt and create a window!
Butterscotch Caramels: Blondies
You might love brownies, but do you ever make blondies? Blondies have less cocoa than a brownie and instead focus on brown sugar to create a fudgey baked treat. We like to push butterscotch caramels into the pan before baking so that they create pockets of caramel for you to find in the blondies.
Butterscotch Caramels as a sauce
Melting down butterscotch caramels is a quick and easy way to make a delicious butterscotch sauce when you don’t have time to make one from scratch. This is a great way to create a quick and simple dessert. Simply drizzle over ice cream, fresh fruit, or even cake for a perfect caramel finish.
Of course, you can still always enjoy your butterscotch caramels straight from the wrapper. We certainly won’t judge you for it; they are delicious! How do you like to eat them? Let us know in the comments!
Halloween Recipes for a Spooky Feast
We love creating spooky dishes for Halloween, so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorites for you to try at your parties!
Ghostly Mini Pizzas
Top mini pizza bases or even bagels with tomato sauce. Cut ghosts out of mozzarella and put them in the middle of the base. Bake until the cheese has slightly melted. Add small pieces of black olive for eyes. Make lots of these as they’re sure to be eaten up quickly!
Witch’s Hats
Cut puff pastry or pre-made crescent rolls into the shape of witch’s hats. Decorate with a strip of Colby cheese as a ribbon. You could even use sweet or savory filling to make them into pies. Try pumpkin, cream cheese or melted chocolate for fun seasonal flavors.
Hot Dog Mummies
Cook your hot dogs as per the instructions, then wrap them in strips of crescent rolls. Add dots of mustard for eyes. Bake in a hot oven for around 10 minutes, until the pastry is golden and flaky. Serve with more mustard and ketchup on the side for dipping.
Snake Infested Jelly
Make your favorite jelly according to its instructions. When it is around a quarter of the way to being set, push gummy snakes into the jelly. This way they will be suspended throughout the jelly ready for your party! You can try this with other candy too – let your imagination run wild!
Spider Cookies
This recipe is lots of fun to make. Get the whole family involved to create a fantastic treat. Use your favorite cookie recipe or even pre-bought dough to make a big batch of cookies. Melt white chocolate and use it to pipe a web onto the cookies. The easiest way to do this is to pipe on concentric circles and then use a cocktail stick to pull the circles into a web shape. Leave this to set. Then melt milk chocolate and pipe on your creepy spiders. You could even add icing eyes or create your own using candy.
Pumpkin soup with Ghoulish Shapes
Cut a 2lb pumpkin into small chunks. In a large pan, gently cook a diced onion in olive oil, then add in your pumpkin and cook for around 10 minutes. Pour in 25 fl oz of vegetable or chicken stock. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the pumpkin is thoroughly cooked through and soft. Blend the soup and add 5fl oz cream to create a perfectly smooth texture.
Keep the soup warm and make some toast to have alongside it. Using cookie cutters or a small knife, cut the toast into Halloween shapes like ghosts, pumpkins or bats. See what shapes you can come up with!
What do you like to make for your Halloween feasts? Let us know your favorite recipes in the comments!
Halloween Decoration Ideas For a Spooky Home
With Halloween fast approaching, we have put together some decoration ideas to help you make your house as spooky as possible!
Carved Pumpkins
Of course, pumpkin carving is the classic decoration for Halloween. Make sure that you don’t waste the actual pumpkin flesh. It’s delicious roasted as a side dish or cooked into a warming soup for cold evenings. You can even roast the seeds with different flavors for a quick crunchy snack.
Traditional faces are easy to carve, but there are so many online tutorials that can help you to create intricate designs that are sure to impress trick or treaters!
Remember to be careful of any open flames when the pumpkins are lit.
Ghostly Lanterns
It’s easy to create ghostly lanterns out of old milk jugs. Simply draw on ghost faces and pop some battery powered fairy lights inside. Line them along your paths to create a spooky entrance way!
An Autumnal Wreath
If you’re looking for something to brighten your door rather than terrify your visitors then a lovely wreath is a great choice. They’re not just for Christmas! Create one with foliage from your yard or buy some fake leaves from a craft store. You can create a base from bendy branches but it is sometimes easier to buy them ready-made. Keep in mind whether your wreath will be exposed to the weather and choose your materials accordingly.
Rock Creatures
For a simple project that the whole family can take part in, collect some large rocks and paint them with monstrous faces. Googly eyes will add to the spooky feel. You could even hide them amongst other rocks in your garden to create a fun surprise!
A Halloween Tree
You can now find artificial Christmas trees in a huge range of colors, including black and white. Pick one of these up and decorate it as a Halloween tree. There are lots of spooky ornaments available in the shops and online. Add some cobwebs, skulls, and spiders for a truly creepy tree. You can even get orange tinsel or pull out any dark colored Christmas decorations to add some extra sparkle.
Candy Corn Banner
It’s easy to create candy corn bunting from some cardboard, paint, and string. You could even cut up paper plates to make the banner even more quickly. Hang it in your windows or over a mantelpiece for a fun, festive look. Make sure you have some candy corn to hand so that you don’t get hungry whilst looking at it!
Floating Witch’s Hats
Use fishing line to hang witch’s hats in your porch for a fun decoration that can be seen by your neighbors. You could even use battery powered fairy lights or glow sticks to make them light up so that they can be seen at night. Make sure that they are hung up high so that no-one walks into them!
How will you be decorating your home this Halloween? Let us know your spookiest tips and tricks in the comments!
Mother’s Day is this Sunday! Grab a gift now
Mother’s day is fast approaching, but as always we have the perfect gifts for you here at Shisler’s Cheese House.
Don’t give your Mom the same tired bouquet or cheap box of chocolates this year. Show her how much you appreciate all she has done for you with our delicious Mother’s Day Gift Basket!
Our Mother’s Day Gift Basket Includes:
- Havarti Cheese
- Assorted Heggy’s Milk Chocolates
- Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Fudge
- Strawberry Caramel Creams
- Yogurt Covered Cranberries
We think you’ll agree that this is a rather incredible selection but in case you need convincing, we have put together some information about everything included. We’re also going to give you some other gift ideas, in case there’s something in there that your Mom doesn’t like! Read on to find out more.
Havarti Cheese
Havarti Cheese is a semi-soft Danish cow’s milk cheese that can be sliced, grilled, or melted. It has a buttery, semi-sweet taste with some acidity. It’s perfect for making grilled cheese, but it would also be great with a fruit platter after a meal.
Assorted Heggy’s Milk Chocolates
Heggy’s Candy Company has built a rich tradition of premium handcrafted chocolates and candies throughout the United States for over 9 decades. Founded by Ben Heggy in 1923, Heggy’s Chocolates remains one of the premiere candy companies in America. Over the years, Heggy’s Chocolates has remained a family owned and operated business and today they maintain a high level of commitment to their customers and the community.
We know that these are great gifts, so we had to include them here!
Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Fudge
If you’ve never tried this, you have got to hope that your Mom feels like sharing! This is a fudge unlike any you will have had before.
Strawberry Caramel Creams
The perfect taste of summer strawberries wrapped up in smooth caramel.
Yogurt Covered Cranberries
A delicious treat and something a little refreshing after all the sweets and cheese.
Order your Mother’s Day gift basket today or pop into the store. Be sure to check our delivery times if you are ordering online so that your gift isn’t late.
Even more gifts
If you’re looking for more ideas, we are still the perfect place.
We have a whole selection of different gift baskets to cater for every taste. Whether your Mom is a cheese lover, a bologna fan, or wants to try a little bit of everything, we’ve carefully curated our favorite products to make them smile. We even have a basket for those who love hot and spicy foods!
If you want to let Mom pick her own selection of treats, we can provide an e-gift certificate. We send you a code immediately so this is a great option if you’re not able to see your Mom in person (or if you’re a little forgetful and have left things til the last minute!).
We want to wish all of you Moms a very happy Mother’s Day this Sunday. Enjoy your day; you deserve it!
Create A Cheese Board Perfect For Fall
Let’s be honest… it isn’t a party until there’s a cheese board included. This season is one of the best for warm cozy nights followed by a bottle of wine with a delicious cheese board amongst friends.
The most important part of a Fall cheese board is white cheese, but let’s begin with all of the other festive components of our board that is needed before assembling.
The first component is honey. At Shisler’s Cheese House we stock Pure Clover Honey Comb which is perfect for this board. It pairs well with many different kinds of cheese, especially goat cheese.
Fresh fruit definitely gives a fall vibe and flavor. Using a fresh mix of figs and grapes give that whole harvest feel and they go well with cheese.
Nuts is another important component of our board. There are no specific nuts advised, it is all based on your personal preference. Personally, we like to add some Marcona almonds and candied walnuts to our cheese board. The almonds give off a savory flavor whereas the walnuts have notes of sweetness to them from the candying process. This makes them a match made in cheese board heaven.
We always need something a little brim on our board, Olives add that perfect effect. Castelvetrano Olives, in particular, tend to be a good pick.
Finally, crackers and breadsticks. Can’t go wrong with cheese and crackers. Going back to childhood, cheese and crackers were always a delicious snack- nothing changes! Pick out a few different types of crackers in all shapes, flavors, and sizes to give the board some personality.
Now to get into the cheese! Each board needs a variety of cheese.
Firstly, aged cheese. An aged White Cheddar from our website is a delicious addition to our Fall cheese board. The little crystals that develop within the cheese during the aging process give the cheese an extra crunch, which complements the next cheese in particular, really well.
Next, we need a soft cheese. Goat cheese is ideal for this. You need to absolutely try this cheese with the honey, it will change your life!
What is a cheese board without a Blue Cheese? Exactly. Any blue will work for this addition, but at Shisler’s we recommend our Danish Blue. The flavor isn’t completely overwhelming and makes a perfect contrast to go with the other cheeses.
The last cheese needed for a cheese board is, of course, a firm one. A particular favorite to use is our Smoked Cheddar. The flavor is sharp and pungent with a firm texture. Not only that, it adds some Fall color to the board, which is perfect as it is a Fall board after all!
Now that you have all you need, you can get started assembling your board! Get yourself a big board and start arranging it how you like. It’s important to keep the presentation simple and bountiful. Tuck the cheeses into each other and then add your fresh fruit when you need to add some color. Your board is then ready for all of your Fall entertainment!
Pumpkin Rolls Will Leave You “Fall”ing For More
As we begin turning the page on the final week of October, we are surely at the heart and splendor of Fall. With Fall, especially as we head through the last week of October and the great, mysterious and trick-filled holiday, that is Halloween, come pumpkins, scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, trick-or-treat, Halloween parties, hayrides and many other festivities representative of the holiday also known as “All Hallow’s Eve”.
Before we delve into a fantastic and delicious holiday recipe I’ll share with you, I wanted to take a moment to divulge some of the lesser known history of Halloween. or as it originally was termed, “All Hallow’s Eve”. As we all know, Halloween has become holiday where people of all ages dress up in costume, go around their neighborhoods, and ring the doorbell of any house whose porch light is on and say “trick-or-treat”. The door would then open (hopefully) and the trick-or-treater would be greeted with candy or chocolate or any other kind of Halloween treat. People of all ages would do this on Halloween night until their hearts were content with the amount of Halloween goodies that had aggregated over the entirety of the night. Because of this tradition of going from house-to-house, saying trick-or-treat, and receiving treats on Halloween night, this night also became known as “Beggers’ Night”.
Now for the untold story of Halloween, and while many are versed in this story or are familiar with bits and pieces of the story, allow me to divulge the history of Halloween, in a nutshell, of course. Halloween was original called, “All Hallow’s Eve” and had more religious and spiritual meaning than it does today, as commercialism has taken over the holiday, as it does with most. The original intent of “All Hallow’s Eve” which still is observed today, for the most part, was to wear costumes and masks to disguise oneself in order to thwart off and frighten the evil or “malignant” spirits that, according to legend, roamed the world of the living for one night, “All Hallow’s Eve”. This night had a connection to the Christian Holy Day of “All Saints Day” which falls the day after Halloween. So, for all intents and purposes, All Hallow’s Eve was a night in which people dressed up to disguise themselves in mask and garb in order to scare off any evil spirits that may “stain” the purity of the Holy Day of All Saints Day. Through the years and centuries to come, as you can see, All Hallow’s Eve garnered much attention, especially through commercialism and transpired into what is known today as Halloween.
To celebrate the spirit of the holiday, here is a famous recipe for Pumpkin Rolls. A recipe that will have you begging for more!
Photo: http://foodnetwork.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2012/11/19/1/YW0202H_pumpkin-roll-recipe_s4x3.jpg
What You’ll Need:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, divided
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
What To Do:
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Coat a rimmed 10″ x 15″ baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice.
- Stir in pumpkin and eggs. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet, spreading evenly.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and invert onto a clean kitchen towel that has been sprinkled with 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar.
- While cake is still hot, roll it up in the towel jelly roll-style from the narrow end; cool on a wire rack.
- When cool, unroll cake and remove towel.
- In a small bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and remaining confectioners’ sugar.
- Spread onto cooled cake and immediately re-roll (without towel).
- Place on serving platter and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into slices just before serving.
- To give this the final touch, sprinkle on some confectioners’ sugar just before serving.
Recipe Source: http://www.mrfood.com/Cakes/Pumpkin-Spice-Roll
Shisler’s Fine Line of Products can help you bring in Fall and Winter
As we delve further into the heart of Fall, with Winter to follow, moods get dull and that spice of life seems to dissipate over the course of time through the year’s last few months and the through the handful of months to start a new year. This is what we sometimes call the Fall and Winter Blues. But, it does not have to be this way. We can always enjoy the finer things Fall and Winter has to offer. For example, waking up on a Fall morning to a nice cup of coffee or tea, throwing on a hoodie and hiking the open trails painted with Fall colors, or, waking up on a winter morning with nowhere to go and wrapping that extra blanket around you for just another hour of sleep. While Fall and Winter can bring out the blues in many a number, I prefer to think the spice of life can still be found over these two seasons, if we just try to look hard enough.
Speaking of the spice of life, Shisler’s can help you bring out the best of Fall and Winter with our line of products that can add that extra zest to any blues-infested mood.
Who doesn’t love a good piece of cheese, complimented with a glass of fine wine. To see our line of fine, aged (or not aged) imported and domestic cheeses, please visit HERE.
Source: https://douglasgreen.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/wine-and-cheese.jpg
Chocolates are amazing anytime of the year. However, they become increasingly desirable and irresistible as the seasons change, especially as colder weather becomes the trend. Shisler’s is well-known for the chocolates we carry, and we are proud to carry signature chocolates from Heggy’s and Stefanelli’s. Our selection of Heggy’s Chocolates is a vast one featuring everything from assorted milk chocolates to maple walnut creams. With such a vast selection to choose from, there is an option for almost everyone. Our selection of Stefanelli’s includes their signature “Sponge Candy” which a combination of sea-foam toffee covered in chocolate. From experience, let me tell you this… once you have one, it is essentially game over as you’ve fallen victim to the domino effect. Once you have one, that turns to two, two turns to three… and so on. Trust me when I tell you this, the effect is real. To see our selection of chocolates, please visit HERE.
Source: http://www.laurascandy.com/images/chocolate.jpg
Finally, if all this were not enough to cure the Fall and Winter blues, let our selection of gourmet foods help rejuvenate, not only your mood, but your taste buds. Wake up on a cold Winter morning to a buttered roll, and instead of using “Land O’ Lakes” butter, try some of our locally, homemade Rolled Amish Butter. If you’re in an undeniable mood for pancakes or waffles, choose from our selection of locally, homemade maple syrups and try them in our wide selection of flavors including: Blackberry Pecan, Blueberry, Cinnamon Sticky Bun, Lavender, Red Raspberry and Shagbark Hickory. With such a selection of incredible flavors, you really cannot go wrong. And, if you are up for a delicious, hot cup of tea, we some fantastic honey that will compliment any cup of tea. To see our selection of specialty foods, please visit HERE.
Photo Credit: Stephen Hamilton
Easter: History, Traditions and Foods
Easter, the day in which Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, is Christianity’s most important holiday or the “highest feast” of the year. It has been called a movable feast because it does not fall on a set date every year, as most holidays do. Instead, Christian churches in the Western Rite celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the Vernal Equinox, that is, the first day of astronomical Spring. Because of this, Easter is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to determine on what date Easter will fall and typically celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western Rite celebrates Easter as the Western Rite follows the Gregorian calendar.
Origins of Easter
The exact origins of the name “Easter” aren’t entirely known, although there is plenty of speculation on it. Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. While other sources trace Easter to the Latin term hebdomada alba, or white week, an ancient Latin reference to Easter week and the white clothing worn by those baptized during that time frame. It wasn’t until a translation error, that the term later appeared as esostarum in Old High German, which eventually came to be known as Easter in present-day English. In Spanish, Easter is known as Pascua; in French, Paques. These words are derived from the Greek and Latin Pascha or Pasch, meaning Passover. Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection occurred after he went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, the Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt from slavery. Pascha eventually came to mean Easter.
In addition to Easter’s religious significance, it also has a commercial side, as evidenced by the mounds of jelly beans and marshmallow chicks that appear in stores each spring. As with Christmas, over the centuries various folk customs and pagan traditions, including Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets and candy, have become a standard part of this holy holiday.
Traditions
EASTER BUNNY
While the Bible makes no mention of a long-eared, short and bushy-tailed creature who hops on its hind legs to deliver decorated eggs to well-behaved children on Easter Sunday, the Easter bunny has become an iconic symbol of the Easter holiday. The exact origins of the Easter Bunny are, again, unclear, but rabbits, known to be procreators, are an ancient symbol of both fertility and new life, quite fitting for the meaning of this great holiday. According to some sources, the Easter bunny made its first appearance in America in the 1700s with German immigrants in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called Osterhase. The children would make nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. This custom eventually made its way all the U.S. The Easter Bunny has been known deliver chocolates and other types of candy and gifts, while the original nests advanced into beautifully decorated baskets. As tradition has it, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his deliveries.
EASTER EGGS
The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to symbolize Jesus’ resurrection, his emergence from the tomb. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back circa the 13th century, as source claim. One theory for the painting of eggs at Easter is that eggs were normally a food that was frowned upon during the Lenten season, therefore, people would decorate these eggs to signify the end of the period of penance and fasting and the beginning of the Easter celebration and new life.
Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular Easter traditions. In the U.S., the White House Easter Egg Roll is an annual event held the Monday after Easter. The first official White House egg roll occurred in 1878 under President Rutherford B. Hayes.
EASTER CANDY
Among the most popular sweet treats associated with this day are chocolate eggs, which date back to early 19th century Europe. Eggs have long been associated with Easter as a symbol of new life and Jesus’ resurrection. Another Easter candy, the jelly bean, became associated with Easter around the 1930s. According to the National Confectioners Association, over 16 billion jelly beans are made in the U.S. each year for Easter!
Other favorite Easter candies include: Chocolate Bunnies, Chocolate Crosses, Filled Chocolate Eggs and other Chocolate assortmentments.
Shisler’s Cheese House carries a wide assortment of foods to bring a taste of Easter to your home! Be sure to stop in and find out how we can help!
EASTER PARADE
In New York City, the Easter Parade tradition dates back to around the mid-1800s, when the upper tier of society attended Easter services acrossvarious church along Fifth Avenue, then stroll outside afterward, showing off their new spring outfits and hats. Average citizens started showing up along Fifth Avenue to check out the action as time wore on. The tradition reached its peak by the mid-20th century.
Today, the Easter Parade tradition lives on in Manhattan, with Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street being closed to vehicular traffic. Participants often sport elaborately decorated Easter apparel. The event has no religious significance, but sources note that Easter processions have been a part of Christianity since its earliest days. Today, other cities across America also have their own parades.
From Shisler’s Cheese House to your house, wishing you and your loved ones a safe, happy and blessed Easter!
