I always love going back to work after a holiday!  This morning my room was full of chatter and excitement as my students shared with each other their Easter adventures!  Here are a few conversations that I was a part of or overheard:

Conversation 1
Child 1: "He hid my Easter basket in the dirty laundry."
Child 2:  "Oh you must have been really naughty."

Conversation 2
Child 1:  "Do you ever wonder how the Easter bunny carries the baskets?"
Child 2:  "He seems pretty cleaver."
Child 3:  "He's also pretty tall.  He hide my egg above the door."

Conversation 3
Child 1:  "The Easter bunny left money in my eggs.  I found $3."
Me:  "Wow.  That's a lot of money."
Child 2:  "Yep, he left me money too. Everyone I know got money, he must be rich."

I quietly laughed to myself, recalling how much I enjoyed searching for my Easter basket as a kid, hunting for eggs, and wearing a new outfit to church.  As I listen to my kiddos it made me realize how much work their parents went through to make there holiday special and it also makes me appreciate my parents, knowing that they did the exact same thing for my sister and I when we were kids!

On that note, I prepared a fun spring meal tonight!  I am so tired of rain and cold that I wanted to create something that would help lift our spirits despite the weather!  I made a balsamic marinated pork chop, topped with fresh fruit salsa and homemade smashed sweet potatoes.  This meal was so yummy that I actually was upset that I didn't make enough chops for seconds!

Fresh Fruit Salsa and Pork Chops

Ingredients
1 mango(chucked)
1 kiwi (sliced)
6 strawberries (sliced)
1 jalapeno sliced(optional)
Handful of cilantro
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tbsp. splenda or sugar
1 tbsp. fruit preserves( I used sugar-free raspberry)
2 pork chops

Preparation
1. In food processor, combine all ingredients (except pork chops) and pulse a few times.  Pour into dish and refrigerate.
2. Bake Pork Chops in oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.  I used my homemade balsamic  
    dressing to marinade the chops, but you could also use store bought.
3. Warm salsa in microwave for 30 seconds and spoon over pork chops.
4. Enjoy.

Microwave Mashed Sweet Potatoes
1.  Place potatoes in microwave safe dish.
2. Microwave on high for 10 minutes or until soft all the way through.
3. Let cool a few minutes and peel off skin.
4.  Mash potatoes with masher and add in 1 tbsp butter and brown sugar to potatoes.