How there can only be a week until Easter is beyond me. I’m still trying to figure out what to get for my Valentine. And quickly following Easter is Mother’s Day, both opportunities to celebrate with family and friends over a special meal.

While I’ll be planning my dinner for my Valentine, many of you have Easter and Mother’s Day menus already in the works. Good planning certainly makes a special day more enjoyable for all the cooks out there to be able to relax a little more in the kitchen, leaving more time to enjoy your company. Anything that can make things flow more easily without compromising quality and detracting from the special meal time is something I welcome with open arms.

Just last week Pepperidge Farm contacted me about coming up with some tips to help families enjoy, and elevate the dining experience when gathering for special occasions. I’ll be sharing my tips in a follow-up post later this week in time to maybe try a few for Easter Sunday.

Pepperidge Farm also let me know about their new Stone Baked Artisan Rolls, so I grabbed a couple of bags to try out yesterday for Sunday lunch. They were on the table after only nine minutes in the oven, straight from the freezer, with no thawing involved. We tried both the French and Multi-grain varieties. Both disappeared quickly, and were met with smiles from my kids.

Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. The rolls are made with natural, high quality ingredients, hand-scored and baked on traditional baking stones, then frozen for quick warming in your home. I’m always a tad bit worried when a company contacts me about trying a new product, but just like other Pepperidge Farm products, these get a definite thumbs up here. I’ll be clearing a regular spot for them in the freezer. Check for them in your local grocers freezer. But hurry. I think these are gonna be real popular.

I’d love to hear your tips for making special meals extra special, but not harried feeling. What tips and tricks can you share for making family gatherings even more special?

Happy Easter y’all!

(Pepperidge Farm will be compensating me for my time and materials for this post, but honest to goodness, they’re some good rolls.)