Help, please, for Easter menu?

[LoveWDW]

I found out today that I'll be doing Easter dinner. I don't want it to be a repeat of Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner. I think that ham is typical- right? What other foods are customary for Easter?

Recipes are appreciated, too.

 

[sissybells]

My family used to live in Crete Greece, and doing something different for Easterwe like their menu. My Mom makes a leg of Lamb, greek salad, Tzatziki dip with bread. You can do a search and just type in Greek Easter dinner and alot of recipes and menus come up. I always look forward to Easter and it is such a whole different route than Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner. I hope this helps.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Appetizers
Veggies/Dip (I hollow out a sourdough round and put spinich or dill dip inside)
Variety of Cheeses with Crackers
Some Hot apps as well (Sometime a Cheese Fondue, Bacon wrapped water chestnuts, baked Brie, lil smokies, etc)

Main Course
Ham
Scalloped Potatoes
Corn
Another Veggie (green beans in white sauce w/water chestnuts or broccoli wild rice)
Fruit Salad
Rolls
Pickles/Olives

Dessert
Pies (Lemon Meringue, French Silk Turtle)
Egg Cakes (cakes in the shape of eggs)
Cookies

I think that covers it.

 

[lemondog]

We always have ham, cheesy potatoes, deviled eggs, green beans, (asparagus would also be good b/c it's a spring veggie), jello salad, rolls, pickles/olives, and apple pie for dessert. Also, my mom is Italian so she usually makes a calzone (NOTHING like the kind you find in pizza joints), which is a traditional Italian Easter dish.

 

[Kimberle]

We always have lamb. When I think of Easter, I think of "lighter, spring" foods. Fresh veggies that are coming into season, and light colored foods.

Here's an easy receipe for potatos. I like yellow, but white, or most any kind will do. Chop them up into fairly small, bitesize pieces. Put them in a large ziplock bag with olive oil and parsley (if you don't have fresh, I also like the frozen parsley), little salt. No particular measurements, just to taste. Put them on a large cookie sheet, single layer. (I generally line with foil for easier cleaning.) Bake for about 1/2 hour, depending on you potato size. They come out nice and crunchy, but soft in the middle. You can do this up ahead so you just have to pop into the oven when your guests arrive.

If you decide on ham, you can keep it warm in your crock pot. My Mother used to do this. The ham is nice and your oven is free.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Now that you have some great menu ideas here is an idea for your table.

Find a flat tray at your garden center and about 2 weeks before Easter plant some grass seeds. By Easter, you will have a beautiful grass landscape for your Easter eggs. You could also use a circular container and fit it inside of an Easter basket. This is easy, simple and "looks" like you went to a lot of trouble.

Lori

 

[LoveWDW]

Thank you so much! I knew DIS was the right place to ask. Wonderful ideas!

 

[Christine]

Besides ham, we use Easter to "debut" one of our favorite foods--POTATO SALAD!!! Ummmmm, ummmmm, I love my potato salad.

I agree with the poster who said to thing of "spring" type foods.

 

[stinkerbelle]

well - my DH is a turkey freak...when we hosted Easter last year we had
turkey (with stuffing)
ham
mashed pototes
steamed carrots/broccoli
corn
gravy
rolls

hehehe...so basically - thanksgiving dinner - plus ham. Serve/eat what you want/like! doesn't matter! (heck - DH would make himself a big turkey every weekend if he could)

I love to decorate the table with bud vases of tulips...can't get any more 'springy' then that!

 

[clarabelle]

We always have ham, cheesy potatoes, deviled eggs, green beans, (asparagus would also be good b/c it's a spring veggie), jello salad, rolls, pickles/olives, and apple pie for dessert. Also, my mom is Italian so she usually makes a calzone (NOTHING like the kind you find in pizza joints), which is a traditional Italian Easter dish.

Lemondog I love calzone. Tell a southern girl the difference between an "authentic" one and the kind I have at pizza places.

 

[lemondog]

Lemondog I love calzone. Tell a southern girl the difference between an "authentic" one and the kind I have at pizza places.

My mom's is a mixture of different meats, cheeses and eggs. Then you bake it, let it cool to a hardened state, then cut it and eat it like a piece of cheese. It is nothing at all like pizza/calzone and I think it is an acquired taste.

 

[jamzots]

My mom's is a mixture of different meats, cheeses and eggs. Then you bake it, let it cool to a hardened state, then cut it and eat it like a piece of cheese. It is nothing at all like pizza/calzone and I think it is an acquired taste.

I think the Italians call it pizgain <s> it's almost like a quiche but more dense right? My stepfather makes it every year and brings it to my house. We do brunch at my house every year, complete with an egg hunt of course!!
We have quiche, mini bagels, assorted cream cheeses, spinach dip with pumpernickle bread and veggies, fruit platters with strawberries and pineapple, I have also done belgian waffles. I think this year I may try to make crepes ahead of time and fill them with assorted fillings, and I may include a ham as well. We also must have deviled eggs, and lemon meringue pie for desert. Tradition!

 

[clarabelle]

My mom's is a mixture of different meats, cheeses and eggs. Then you bake it, let it cool to a hardened state, then cut it and eat it like a piece of cheese. It is nothing at all like pizza/calzone and I think it is an acquired taste.

Thanks! sounds interesting. I am always fasinated between the differences of authentic foods and "americanized" ones.

 

[missypie]

Ham, or a stuffed pork tenderloinn. Ask before you make lamb...people tend to love it or hate it. New potatoes. Asparagus. The kids' baby sitter used to always make one of those "dream pies" where you mix cool whip and jello. Not sophisiticated, I know, but no matter what flavor of jello you choose, it turns out to be a very pretty pastel color.

 

[Kimberle]

well - my DH is a turkey freak...when we hosted Easter last year we had
turkey (with stuffing)
ham
mashed pototes
steamed carrots/broccoli
corn
gravy
rolls

hehehe...so basically - thanksgiving dinner - plus ham. Serve/eat what you want/like! doesn't matter! (heck - DH would make himself a big turkey every weekend if he could)

I love to decorate the table with bud vases of tulips...can't get any more 'springy' then that!

Sounds good to me! I love turkey, anytime, anywhere!

 

[lemondog]

I think the Italians call it pizgain <s> it's almost like a quiche but more dense right?

That's it! Very dense, like the consistency of a hard, dry cheese. And my mom's is always shaped like a loaf...rectangular. When we slice off a piece it's just like cutting a piece off a block of cheese. However, I have never heard it called that. My Papau was from Italy and he (and the whole family) always call(ed) it calzone.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

If you decide on ham, you can keep it warm in your crock pot. My Mother used to do this. The ham is nice and your oven is free.

That is a great tip!

I think I'm going to bake a ham this weekend. All of this Easter talk is making me crave it.


Lori

 

[LoveWDW]

I'd be interested in some more information about ham in the crockpot. Does it mean to cook the ham in the crockpot or to cook it in the oven and transfer it to the crockpot?

If cook it in the crockpot, would someone please give details?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I believe she meant to keep it warm.

 

[LoveWDW]

Ah! Thank you. I'll consider doing this. I have two warming trays that I use to keep casseroles and other foods warm, so if more room is needed then the crockpot is a possibility.