Thought about combining an Easter (this weekend)/ Passover (later in April) thread but perhaps they are too far apart - in time or tradition!
If you are celebrating this upcoming weekend, what is on the menu? Old traditions? New recipes?
I’m hosting. Seems when you get a new home all of a sudden all the family celebrations seem to fall there!
For main dishes I’ll do 2 spatchcocked chickens - one citrus filled, one Mediterranean spices. I’m also doing a healthy version of eggplant parm (2 vegetarians on board). Sister in law always does sausage/kielbasa and kraut.
Many sides, some traditional like mashed potatoes, hot cross buns, asparagus. D2 is making two sides that are newer - a tahni greens salad and something else.
Two desserts: traditional carrot cake and then a chocolate caramel tart/pie.
Realizing someone needs to make some deviled eggs! Used to be my mom’s job. <3
We’re not hosting this year but extended family always ask us to bring a cheesy potato bake casserole. It’s pretty much the following recipe except we omit cornflakes. I’ve also seen potato chips used as a topping but we don’t feel like it’s needed. We mix most of the melted butter into the potato mixture and just reserve a little to distribute over the top.
I’m hosting a small gathering. I’m doing brunch and an early dinner. This is our menu:
Veggie egg casserole, thick cut bacon, fruit salad, cinnamon roles and scones.
Completely traditional for us. Honeybaked ham, asparagus, potato salad, corn pudding, deviled eggs, sweet potatoes, rolls. Broccoli for the littles. Fresh fruit, dessert…not sure yet.
Traditional for us, too, and simple. DH will roast a couple of lamb racks, and I’ll make a Bibb lettuce salad and roasted rosemary baby redskins. We’ll enjoy champagne with a cheese board before dinner and uncork a nice cab to complement the lamb. No candy, dessert, or any form of eggs here.
This year I’m changing it up…seems the kids miss my chicken parm so I agreed to make it for Easter. Sides of pasta and salad. I expect dessert will be fresh fruit and brownies (Ghirardelli mix).
I am hosting because we just remodeled the kitchen, and the family wants to come see it.
Plus, they say it’s my turn, (as the “Best cook” HA!) as I was without a kitchen for two years.
Brunch Menu
Brown-sugared ham
Macaroni Salad
Candied sweet potatoes (although they don’t need much sugar added)
Mashed Potatoes
Large Green Salad
Greek Salad
Mac and Cheese (Original recipe online from “that girl can cook”) A newish family favorite.
Desserts and drinks are on the rest of the family.
My daughter may make “lemon snickerdoodles” which were delicious! She just found the recipe online.
I started doing the prep yesterday. Just a couple things because it makes my time go by so much more efficiently. Finishing the prep later today.
Edited to add deviled eggs. Not a brunch without the eggs.
Off topic: I meant to ask this of anyone on this thread.
We don’t have a lot of “older children” during our celebrations, because, either our children are in their late 20s and early 30s, or those family members are distant, in mileage, and can’t come.
The only family, with children, have four kids of varying ages. (Ages: 19, 16, 11, and age 8.). They will be going to an another family (in laws) dinner at around 4pm, but they are having an Easter egg hunt for their particular family with an age limit.
The 11-year-old girl has been excluded from their hunt because they said she was “too old”. Our Easter egg hunt includes anybody that wants to try to find those eggs because there’s money in them.
I want to get the 11-year-old something special because, although physically, she doesn’t look like a young child, she’s still a girl who plays with Barbies.
No, her parents don’t want me to give her another Barbie, but I’m trying to come up with something that shows that she is included and is special.
I was thinking about Sephora or Ulta beauty gift baskets but that might be too old. Any ideas?
Thank you in advance. I just don’t understand why a family member would be excluded from a “family” hunt.
I am assuming she’s getting an Easter basket that will have candy.
If you’re looking for something fairly inexpensive Ulta had bath bombs and bubble bath type stuff geared for tweens/teens. Maybe just pick up a couple of those?
For many many years, we did a friends Easter with the same family. That 30 year long tradition ended last year…so we have a new one.
DH and I will have a boneless butterflied rolled leg of lamb that we will grill with a garlic/rosemary/thyme rub. Asparagus, and probably roasted red potatoes.
I didn’t know there was an age restriction on being children.
My sister was upset, so she was really glad that we’re still having our hunt regardless of the age of the participants. I may just have all the adults do card stock baskets and have it as a craft before we go out on the hunt
As mentioned in Joy of Cooking - “ “Eternity is a ham and two people”
It’s just me and hubby for Easter this year. We decided to finish up the leftover Christmas ham in the freezer. We’ll serve it with asparagus, potatoes (maybe mashed) and Champagne Dill Carrots (recipe from Frugal Gourmet - cooking with wine).
I decided to try a Honey Baked smoked turkey breast this year. I bought croissants at Costco, I’m roasting green beans & broccoli, and we’ll have salad & GD’s favorite Asiago/parmesan Mac & cheese. D & S have birthdays right around Easter, so I got S’s favorite to celebrate … DQ ice cream cake (GD & I baked D’s favorite cake for her birthday last week).
