How To Create An Eggs-traordinary Easter Feast

Tips from McCormick for bringing vibrant flavor and dazzling decor to your Easter table

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Mar 10, 2015, 11:14 ET

HUNT VALLEY, Md., March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Brighten up your Easter feast with unique ideas from McCormick, the maker of America's favorite spices and food colors. Try flavor twists to refresh a traditional dish, like ham, and use food color to create vibrant centerpieces using eggs dyed in the hottest seasonal shades.

"We've developed easy tips to freshen up your table, from the ham to the place cards," said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. "Glazes like cherry bourbon and apricot chipotle bring new flavor to the classic ham, while food color can be used to make a variety of spring-inspired egg dyes to feature in Easter table decor."

Easy, Tasty Ham Glazes

A baked ham is the quintessential centerpiece of any Easter celebration. This year, change it up with a simple glaze that can be made in just minutes. Pair spices like ginger or mustard with fruity jams and preserves to balance out the saltiness of the ham. Try these four glazes: Orange, Cherry Bourbon, Apricot Pineapple Chipotle or Lemon Ginger.

Eggs: Every Which Way

Deviled eggs are an Easter menu must-have and a snap to customize by adding different flavors to a base of egg yolks. Try: Dill Mustard, Southwest , Smoky, Avocado, Tarragon Caper and Buffalo Ranch.

Dye your Easter eggs a custom color you won't find in a kit. The McCormick kitchens have created unique food color combinations to bring seasonal hues, inspired by the Pantone^®Spring "Fashion Color Report," from the runway to your Easter basket. It's as simple as adding food color to 1/2 cup boiling water and one teaspoon of vinegar.

Marsala – 20 drops red, 4 drops blue, 10 drops green
Aquamarine – 5 drops blue
Scuba Blue –15 drops blue, 15 drops neon blue
Lucite Green – 10 drops green, 2 drops blue
Strawberry Ice – 20 drops red, 1 drop blue, 1 drop green
Tangerine – 5 drops red, 24 drops yellow, 1 drop green
Lavender Herb – 2 drops blue, 1 drop red, 1 drop green

Simple Egg Decor Tips

Make a Fashionable Easter Centerpiece: Place a small vase filled with flowers inside a larger vase, fill open space with dyed eggs.
Personalize Place Settings: Simply use a lettered sticker on your colored egg or customize your eggs before dyeing by using a light-colored crayon to write your guests' name or initials.

Wow-worthy Desserts

Create spring desserts that are as much fun to make as they are to eat. Try: Easy Lemon Daisy Cupcakes, Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Bars, Easter Egg Cake Bites, or Easter Egg Surprise Inside Cake.

To create a memorable Easter feast, reference McCormick's "Age of Spice" infographic to ensure your herbs, spices and extracts are bursting with flavor. For more Easter dinner and egg dyeing tips and recipes, visit www.McCormick.com and check us out on Pinterest and Facebook.

About McCormick

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. With $4.2 billion in annual sales, the company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry – retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. McCormick Brings Passion to Flavor™. For more information, visit www.mccormickcorporation.com.

SOURCE McCormick & Company, Incorporated