Easter Candy

The most popular candies given at Easter are, of course in the shape of an egg, rabbit, or chick.

Here are some of the most common:

• Chocolate eggs covered in brightly colored tinfoil, either solid chocolate, hollow, or with a surprise inside (like a Kinder Surprise or Kinder Egg), or filled with 'yolk and egg white' creme filling (Cadbury eggs), coconut (Almond Joy), malt, nougat, caramel, marshmallow, peanut butter, or whipped creme filling.
• Chocolate rabbits or "Easter bunnies" - solid chocolate or hollow, usually covered with colorful tinfoil.
• Jelly beans.
• Candy eggs or 'jelly eggs' (jellybean-like candy Easter eggs made from sugar-coated pectin candy).
• Marshmallow Peeps (shaped like chicks), Bunnies, and Eggs (and other animals) - small marshmallow candies made from marshmallow, sugar, gelatin and carnauba.
• Peek-a-boo candy eggs.
• Hollow plastic eggs filled with small candy such as jelly beans (or stickers, coins or small toys).

Jelly Bean "Egg" Nests

1 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups corn flakes, lightly crushed
2 1/2 cups chow mein noodles
55 - 70 jelly beans

In large microwave-safe bowl, mix together butterscotch chips, corn syrup, peanut butter and sugar. Heat in microwave 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on high until melted. Stop microwave and stir every 30 seconds. Mixture should be smooth when done.

Add corn flakes and noodles and stir until coated evenly. Working quickly, take about 1/4 cup at a time and shape into balls, then make an indentation in the middle to form a nest. Place on waxed paper and allow to set.

Fill with jellybeans (about 3-4 should fit in each). Makes approximately 1 1/2 dozen nests.