As a child, we yearned for a three-foot-tall chocolate Easter rabbit. As a teen, we couldn’t get enough buttercream-filled chocolate Easter eggs.

These days, as a far-more experienced chocolate eater, we want Easter candy with a gourmet touch.

Recchiuti Confections is happy to oblige with this year’s Easter chocolate truffle design, Hopster Bunnies. Eight pieces, four different hipster bunny designs, decorate the dark chocolate shells filled with burnt caramel.

Get yours at Recchiuti.com.

More options include:

Use code HOP at checkout.
 
  

National Black Forest Cake Day is March 28th, but we’re far from cherry season in the U.S.

While you may still be able to find some fresh cherries, shipped from some far-away orchard overseas, consider this modern approach to Black Forest Cake by one of our favorite bloggers, Vicky of Stasty.com.

It includes a garnish of cherries dipped in white chocolate and coated with popping candy. Call it modern Black Forest Cake.

If you’re up for making it, here’s the recipe.

Otherwise, head for our classic Black Forest Cake recipe. If it’s for an audience of adults only, use lots of Kirschwasser (clear cherry brandy—you can substitute regular brandy).

The Black Forest region of southern Germany is known for its sour Morello cherries and for the Kirschwassermade from them. Hence, the inspiration for this old-fashioned classic:

Yummy chocolate cake with cherries and whipped cream.

If you’ve been thinking about a juicy Easter ham gracing your table next week, there’s still time to order the best.

In our opinion, that’s a Kurobuta (koo-row-BOO-tuh) ham from Snake River Farms. We’ve order at least one each year, and we never cease to be very, very happy.

Kurobuta ham has been called the world’s best ham. Made from pure-bred Berkshire pork, it’s also known as the Kobe beef of ham, because of the fine intramuscular marbling that makes the meat melt-in-your-mouth tender.

How good is this ham? Succulent beyond expectation with a perfect smoke and impeccable seasoning, subtle notes of clove and other spices caressing one’s tongue.

And the most celestial aroma! We were truly sad when the last bite was gone.

Our butcher, one of New York’s finest, already carried the Wagyu beef (an American-bred Kobe style) from Snake River Farms, but not the Kurobuta ham. After we shared some of our Kurobuta with him, he became an instant fan and a wholesale client.

All you have to do is head to SnakeRiverFarms.com or phone 877.496.4220.

And if you’re already set for Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up soon! For lovers of fine food, a Kurobuta is a memorable gift.

A final comment: Kurobuta ham isn’t a luxury: It’s a necessity!
 
 
HAM FACTS & FUN