Easter Menu?

#1hoosierfan

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Mar 27, 2010
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Are you hosting or going to an Easter brunch, lunch or dinner? If so, what is on the menu?

We will go to church Saturday evening and then have brunch at my house.

It’s a pitch- in.

Me:
Honey baked ham
Homemade cinnamon rolls (only make these twice a year)
Mimosas

Sister:
Quiche
Fruit salad
Easter bunny cake

Mom:
Potato casserole
Deviled eggs

There is only 9 of us. Very casual.
 
7 of us.....our little immediate family.
And for the last 15 years it has been tea. Foods change, but a lot are consistent.
Always 2 kinds of scones....one plain and one gluten free chocolate chip.
Always chocolate covered strawberries.
Always turkey roll-ups and cucumber tea sandwiches (the third one changes, this year egg salad).
Always brownies....the other 2 change. This year lemon mini cakes and glazed doughnut holes.
Several kinds of tea and at everyone's place at the table is a chocolate "table" bunny.
 
Easter has never been a holiday for a special meal in my family.
Growing up Easter was strictly a religious holiday, so extra church services (Sunrise Services are popular here). Of course Easter Egg hunts when I was a kid.
My wife is not religious so nothing before we had kids from a religious standpoint or even Easter Egg hunts. Easter Egg hunts when we had kids, but that was it. As our kids hit middle school. Easter week is the week they were on break from classes, but their schools had optional special trips that week. Both kids went to Yosemite for the week in 7th grade, and Washington D.C in 8th grade. In High School our son played Baseball and Easter Baseball Tournaments were the norm. One year, to Las Vegas. Easter Sunday that year he and I (me as a chaperone) spent 10 hours on a bus making the 500 mile way home.
 
We're only having 20 people over this year. The menu stays pretty simple--ham, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, green beans, fruit salad, broccoli salad, yeast rolls, veggie tray, cheese with crackers and carrot cake. There will be an egg hunt after the meal for the kids. If any one asks if they can bring something I usually request a dessert or an appetizer. I've learned some family members are not reliable contributors.
 
Eight people this year. Ham, leg of lamb, baked beans, Greek lemon potatoes, balsamic carrots, asparagus, lemon orzo w/spinach and pineapple casserole. Plus a birthday cake for my niece.

The easter egg hunt for the little ones was last weekend. That was about 18 people and we ordered Chinese and it was the best decision because everyone left full and I didn't have to cook! :)
 
1st brunch ever here b/c someone is working the evening. This is for 7. And kids requested no eggs b/c we'll eat them for dinner next week with roasted sweet potatoes and veg. This is shop heavy vs cook heavy, but that's what happens when you plan 2 days out:).

Dairy/tree nut/mango free for me - vinegar/heavy sulfate free for another.

Trader Joe's and Aldi's were great...

1/2 Huge Fresh Fruit and Cookie Tray (Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Golden Berries Pineapple, Banana, Apples, Shredded Coconut, Animal Crackers, Trader Joe's lemon filled short bread cookies) with 2 uses:
- To top frozen acai bowls (which also have TJ's berry granola for topping)
- To dip in a homemade strawberry lemonade dip (1 coco whip mixed with 1/3 bag strawberry jello, 1 5oz strawberry coconut yogurt, one lemon zest, and 1 half lemon juice)

3 Trader Joe's Hashbrowns patties topped with TJ's smoked salmon pieces, chopped chives and green onions, and greek plain yogurt (those with dairy) or TJ's mashed avocado (those who can;t)

4 Aldi's microwave bacon

5. Pillsbury Crescent rolls filled with Jif PB and Chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa sugar

6. Non-alcoholic cocktail - TJ's tangerine juice mixed with no sugar Ocean Spray Cran juice and topped with TJ's plain sparkling water or ginger ale. I'm going to probably rim the glasses with honey dipped in sugar to get the sweetness up...or just make a simple syrup.

It seems like a lot, but I want leftovers for my missing dinner guest - and it has a lot of produce to make sure he eats okay. I think it's a good mix of sweet and savory and "special" things (we ate a ham this week over 3 days, so no desire for that, either)...and not TOO grain heavy (REALLY have to watch that with brunch)...
 
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:goodvibes We're hosting; 8 people in total. We're feasting on Saturday this year, at suppertime. Our immediate household will go out for brunch after church on Sunday.

Menu: Glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, turkey breast and stuffing casserole, turnips, yams, brussels sprouts, broccoli salad, green jello salad, hot cross buns, black forest cake, lemon chiffon pie, tropical fruit crisp with vanilla ice cream.
 
Just DH and me. I'm making a bacon/gruyere quiche, fruit salad, and key lime pie.

Was thinking of going out to brunch, but the prices just didn't seem worth it. Yep. I'm getting old.
 
From the time I was born Easter was church and then a huge family gathering at my great aunt's house. She had 50+ people crammed into a very tiny row house where my uncles made eggnog in the kitchen while arguing politics, and an easter egg hunt in her postage stamp sized yard for the little ones. We all learned at a very early age not to try and eat the eggs because they were always almost raw.

When she passed away my mom took over the tradition for our family and has hosted it for 38 years. This year she has finally relinquished control because my dad has been very ill, thankfully getting better but pretty much housebound. Easter will be a joint celebration of the holiday and my dad's 89th birthday.

The menu will be a ham, turkey meatballs, Jewish Apple Cake and Jell-O eggs (a must as we all love them) made by my mom and brother

I am making potato salad, pasta salad, Pineapple Upside Down Cake and a strawberry cake (iced with Cool Whip and topped with fresh strawberries)

My daughter is bringing my grandson's macaroni and cheese without the $27 worth of fancy cheese. And yes he has been known to buy very expensive cheese

My adopted daughter is bringing something Mexican - mild and not sure what.

I know other guests will be bringing things too. I think I will be taking over for mom in a few years as it is getting to be too much for her.
 
I still have my spiral ham from ShopRite from Christmas in the freezer. The only one who really likes ham is away at college so we aren’t having it. Making manicotti (crepe version) chicken parm and Caesar salad and bread (with gluten free manicotti/chicken parm for my celiac daughter), ordered tiramisu and pignoli cookies for pickup tomorrow morning. Will make deviled eggs after our hunt (5 kids in their 20’s) and some charcuterie. Cookies are $22 a pound but so good and my daughter can eat them.
 
Tomorrow’s guests?



cup of purée of pea
Mini crust less asparagus quiche
Lamb chops w/ gremolata and a green salad
Lemon tart
 
We don't do any traditional Easter foods. We LOVE a big turkey dinner and once year at Thanksgiving just isn't enough for us. So the past couple years, we've done it for Easter weekend as well. That's the plan again.
 
Church is tonight. A cousin is joining our church tonight, and he had asked Tom and me to sponsor him. We are very happy for him.

Only 4 of us for dinner tomorrow.
Ham
Asparagus
Sweet potatoes
Corn pudding

Assorted ice cream flavors for dessert with coconut cake

Hard boiled eggs that are decorated on the side as snacks.
 
I'm not hosting this year, so I'm taking spinach salad, fruit salad, and key lime cheesecake.
 
Our tradition is to go to my mums every year for dinner, sadly there's now only 3 of us. We tend to swerve the UK tradition of having a roast dinner on a Sunday (sacrilege I know!), so this year we've having cheese & onion pie, followed by my homemade sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
 
I’m not a fan of ham, but this year I’m making my southern born husband happy with a honey baked ham. Small crowd. A few friends and family members.

Honey Baked Ham
Spiced apples
Scalloped potatoes
Green salad
Parker rolls

Sprinkles cupcakes for dessert
 












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