Frohe Ostern!

In case you're wondering, that's a chocolate-covered marzipan bunny.

Similar to the U.S. this time of year, for the past several weeks stores have been bringing out various seasonal goodies, most of which fall somewhere into the "chocolate" category. Chocolate Easter eggs here, though, aren't as innocent as those in the States. Many are filled with champagne, rum, or even vodka. You learn quickly to be cautious before biting into one of those little treats; you never know what sort of surprise awaits you otherwise.

Marzipan is a favorite of Germans, and while they sell it all year, at holidays bakers get especially creative. At New Year, for example, marzipan pigs with 4-leaf clovers in their mouths are abundant, as they are thought to bring good luck for the coming year. Easter has brought even more ingenuity. From simple chocolate eggs filled with marzipan to molded marzipan in the shapes of bunnies and chickens sitting on nests of eggs, the almond paste treat is sold in one shape or another by almost every grocer, department store, and confectioner's shop.

When I was growing up, my family spent Easters at my grandparents' house. We would have a big dinner with ham, mashed potatoes, various vegetables, and assorted desserts, including Mamaw's classic strawberry Jello with bananas. After the meal all the grandchildren would be sent to the basement while the dads and uncles hid plastic Easter eggs outside around my grandparents' property. We waited impatiently, eagerly anticipating the ensuing madness of the egg hunt.

At some point during the years, my mom had the idea of having a special egg for each of us that, when found, could only be taken by the person whose name was written on it. I'll never forget the year someone got the idea to hide my sister's brother's egg on the collar of my aunt and uncle's golden retriever, Dreyfus. As can be expected, that egg was the last to be found, and the "hot or cold" game that was needed to help Amanda Jacob discover the egg provided great amusement for all.

However you celebrate Easter today, I hope it's a good one for you. And if you get a chance, eat some jelly beans for me. Germans apparently haven't found room yet for them among all the Easter marzipan.