easter Archives - Community Food Co-op

The Perfect Easter Basket

With Easter just around the corner, many of us are preparing baskets for our loved ones or enjoying a chocolate bunny of our own. Curate a basket by choosing one or two items from each section of this list for a well-rounded Easter gift.

The Basket

We are proud to carry authentic African mini market baskets from Alaffia. These baskets are handwoven, feature bright spring colors, and help Alaffia provide care for women and children in West Africa.

You can read more about their mission on their website.

Spring Items

A wonderful part of Easter is celebrating the spring season!

Someone holds an Easter basket out, filled with candy, lip balm, toys, and chocolate.

Card

Include a card with a handwritten note to wish your loved one a Happy Easter! We recommend a card that features spring flowers to add bright color to your basket.

Flowers

Including a small bundle of flowers, a flower start, or a potted plant in your basket helps your loved one brighten their home for spring! At the Co-op we’re especially rich in daffodils, tulips, and ranunculus this time of year.

Featured is a “sprinkles series” ranunculus from Van Wingerden Greenhouses in Blaine.

A potted rununculas plant sits on a wooden table with three eggs.

Spring fruit

Enjoy the end of citrus season or include a Washington spring apple to add a fresh taste to your Easter goodies.

Knick-knacks

Stuffed animals

Whether your spring mascot of choice is a chick, a bunny, a pig, or another fuzzy friend, we have the perfect, lovable stuffed animal for your basket.

Toys

Small toys such as yo-yos, cup and ball games, spinning tops, and others can be found on our shelves. We also carry art sets such as watercolors. Including a toy gives the kids something to play with throughout the day.

Games for any age

We carry games for all ages! Dominoes, decks of cards, and wilderness games such as forager’s cards to help you identify wildlife are particularly popular.

An Easter basket filled with toys, stuffed animals, and chocolate.

These games are classics and add interaction to your basket. And when the egg hunt is over, the family will still have something to do together!

Beauty products

Pick out a local, brightly colored lip balm, hand lotion, lipstick, or nail polish. Not only will it add color to your basket, but also variety in the products you include!

Juice glasses

One of our favorite parts of spring is enjoying fresh juice or lemonade as the weather warms up! Include a juice glass in your basket with a fun design such as bumble bees, flowers, or trees. This is especially exciting in a basket if it is stuffed with candy!

Sweets

Gummies

YumEarth has done it again! Delicious gummy fruit snacks can be found in a bag of 10 individually-wrapped packs. Shaped like bunnies and free of common allergens, these small snacks are the perfect basket filler for a loved one with food allergies.

Chocolates

Your favorite brands are back with spring specials. Whether you prefer a chocolate bar, a filled egg, or a classic chocolate bunny, we’ve got you covered.

For more advanced palettes, Theo’s Chocolate created lemon and coconut almond chocolate bars! Looking for something more classic? Ocho and Tony’s Chocolonely carry many varieties of chocolate eggs.

Local chocolate

If you prefer to shop local, look no further than Chocolate Necessities! Featuring both dark and milk chocolate varieties, you can find bunnies, hens, eggs, chocolate bars, and so many more fun shapes to liven up your basket.

If you make a Co-op Easter basket, take a picture! Make sure to post it and tag us @communityfoodcoop on Instagram or Facebook to be featured on our stories. We can’t wait to see what you create.

An easter basket filled with eggs, chocolate, and a stuffed animal.

Spring Asparagus Salad

by Selva Wohlgemuth, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

asparagus salad with hard-boiled eggs and onions in bowl next to egg shells

Every spring the appearance of fresh, seasonal asparagus coincides with the popularity of eggs during the Easter season. These two seasonal favorites combine in this delicious vegetarian recipe.

Spring Asparagus Salad

Makes 2–4 servings (serve as an entree or a side)

INGREDIENTS

For the Olive Oil Vinaigrette:

1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced

For the Salad:

2 pasture-raised fresh eggs
1 bunch asparagus
fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
2 lettuce leaves (garnish)

METHOD

Mix together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, and sea salt until the salt is dissolved.
Add the thinly sliced red onion and mix well. Allow the onions to marinate in the
dressing for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, fill a small saucepan with fresh water and bring to a boil. Gently pierce the “butt” ends of the egg with a push pin or small needle. You want to make sure not to push in too far, just enough to pierce a hole in the shell. Gently add the eggs to the boiling water and reduce the heat to medium. Allow the eggs to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes are up, quickly rinse the eggs under cold water and set aside on a dry towel to cool further.
While the eggs are boiling, place a steamer basket into a large pot and fill with water just so the water is under the basket. Gently bend each asparagus spear at the bottom end until it naturally snaps. Discard the ends in the compost or save for a future asparagus soup. Place the asparagus into the steamer basket, cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Cook for about 3–5 minutes or until the asparagus is bright green and tender. Be careful not to overcook the asparagus, otherwise it will turn green-brown. Once the asparagus has reached optimal color and tenderness, quickly rinse the asparagus in cold, running water for about 30 seconds to stop the cooking process.
Salad Assembly: Place the lettuce leaves in a serving dish and top with steamed asparagus. Evenly pour the vinaigrette with the marinated onions over the asparagus and top with the sliced hard-boiled eggs. Sprinkle the eggs with chopped cilantro or parsley, freshly ground pepper, and a bit of sea salt. Serve immediately.

Current Health Studies on Eggs

See Selva's story from the April 2017 issue of the Co-op News to learn about the current dietary recommendations regarding egg consumption.

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The Basket

Spring Items

Knick-knacks

Sweets

by Selva Wohlgemuth, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

Spring Asparagus Salad

Makes 2–4 servings (serve as an entree or a side)

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Current Health Studies on Eggs

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