Le Menu & Easter Blessings!

Tomorrow is Good Friday, or as I like to call it, Great Friday. What AMAZING love that my King would die for me!!! I hope everyone has a phenomenal Great Friday and Easter Sunday. I know my heart will be rejoicing and celebrating! Although the Easter meal is insignificant compared to what we're really celebrating, it's still been heavily on my mind! I want it to be special, and a fun meal that my hubsy and I will enjoy. So, without further ado...

Le Menu

This is definitely not your typical Easter fare, but it is something that both my hubsy and I loveee to eat. I'm from Texas and still crave a good helping of BBQ. We have decided to forego the more traditional lamb and ham, and instead have....BBQ'd Ribs! It is making me hungry just thinking about. My real-life lovie, Michelle, from The Ardent Adventurer told me about a recipe that she tried at a crock-pot cook off (which, by the way, sounds like the BEST idea for a get-together - it's on my list for the summer). There were two key things about this recipe that made me realize I just had to try it ASAP - 1. The meat is fall-off-the-bone tender (and) 2. It is SUPER easy to make. Sign me up!

Coka-Cola Ribs: (not trying to endorse the brand or anything, just relaying the recipe as I heard it)

1. Break your slab of ribs into smaller sections that will fit in your crock-pot (I looked online and found several ways to also make this in the oven or on the grill, but I'll do it the crock-pot way so it can cook while we're at church.) The amount of ribs you get depends on the number you're cooking for and how many left-overs you want!

2. Pour 1 liter of Coke into your crock pot and cook the ribs for about five hours.

3. Drain the Coke from the pot

4. Add any type of BBQ sauce you want to the ribs in the crock-pot (I'm going to use Sweet Baby Ray's and add a few of my own ingredients - I'll let you know what I use) and let it continue cooking/simmering for another 2 hours.

5. Voila! Fall-off-the-bone, tender ribs! Mmmmmm. Apparently you don't taste the Coke, it's just the secret to such tender meat. I don't think it can get any easier than that! And the fact that I can put it in before we leave for church makes me love it even more.

Accompanying our meal will be the following: (pics found on google images, except for the first one which probably looks familiar :o)

Insalata Caprese - (of course).

Twice Baked Potatoes: (if you're wondering what these are, there are SO many variations, but a good recipe can be found here - the pic posted at that site shows a TON of toppings that I will probably skip on and just mix in with the potatoes beforehand.)

Corn on the Cob

Instead of the Twice Baked Potatoes, I may make this Ranch Chicken Macaroni Salad that looks super yummy - and substitute with whole grain macaroni. Which would you choose? The recipe can be found here. Heck, they both look good - maybe we'll splurge and have both!

For dessert, I'm going to attempt a home-made carrot cake. I've never done a carrot cake before, so I'm crossing my fingers! The recipe can be found here.

Now I'm so hungry! What are you having? I love any excuse to make a fun meal! I truly hope each one of you has a blessed weekend no matter where you are or what you do!

and

XOXO,