Are you planning a big Easter meal?

[Janna]

If so, what are you serving?

It's just our family this year. Usually we are with my parents and we either go out to eat or we have a big Easter dinner at home. But since they are making the trek to us to visit the new baby whenever he decides to arrive, they are not coming this year for Easter and it's too far for me to comfortably travel at this point too. So I'm trying to determine if I want to even do anything special as a meal or not. My dh and dc love deviled eggs and I haven't made them in a very long time, so maybe I'll do some of those. But as a main dish, I don't know. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, you know?

What are you guys having?

[OnTheBrink]

If so, what are you serving?

It's just our family this year. Usually we are with my parents and we either go out to eat or we have a big Easter dinner at home. But since they are making the trek to us to visit the new baby whenever he decides to arrive, they are not coming this year for Easter and it's too far for me to comfortably travel at this point too. So I'm trying to determine if I want to even do anything special as a meal or not. My dh and dc love deviled eggs and I haven't made them in a very long time, so maybe I'll do some of those. But as a main dish, I don't know. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, you know?

What are you guys having?

It's just me and the kids. We're having orange roughy, roasted red potatoes and sauteed green beans. I guess I should come up with something for dessert. Maybe a lemon cake or something.

[Jennifer in MI]

You know, in your case, I'd just go with something simple! Cook your favorite foods - provided they're easy. You're pregnant! Take is easy! Or do something totally different and fun and serve ice cream as the main dish.

As for us, we're going out to eat!! We do this every Easter and I LOVE not having to cook and clean on such a busy day. (Dh is an Episcopal priest.)

[JFS in IL]

where she will have the usual overcooked leg of lamb, tepid and crunchy veggies, a butter lamb, a lamb cake covered with nasty coconut...etc. i will bring my usual cheesecake with lemon curd (I amke a double batch of curd and leave some at home for us - Grandpa is known to just gobble up the curd w/o cheesecake. hey - can't blame him - lemon curd is tasty!)

[strider]

I am making The Meal. We are having ham with apricot sauce (just jelly warmed up with some lemon juice), mashed potato casserole, veggie, salad, rolls, and a homemade lamb cake for dessert. My mil helps with the salad and veggie, and dh makes the rolls. The kids always do the cake and decorate it themselves--it's always wobbly and interesting-looking. ;) Dh helps them--I have nothing to do with it at all.

HOWEVER I am also making The Meal for my side of the family the day before. With nine children under the age of 11, one pregnant (highly nauseous) sister, and one senile grandma, this is NOT a crowd to go fancy for. I am making stew, fruit salad, and lamb cupcakes for the kids to decorate. The stew is getting made today.

Do what is simplest and most pleasant for you. Read a story book or two about Easter as a family, and play some board games or whatever feeds your souls.

[JudoMom]

about 30 minutes ago :001_huh:.

I don't want to do ham, because we just had one. I don't want to do turkey, because I just did a turkey breast and anything beyond that is reserved for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I'm think I'll start a new family tradition of steak. It's typically warm enough to grill (or at least not usually snowing). The boys love steak and we usually only get it once a year for Father's Day because of cost.

Some potato thing for a side, a good salad, and some yummy bread. I'll have to think about whether or not to make a dessert. I saw strawberries on sale, so maybe we'll just have those.

[CookieMonster]

No, I am not planning a big meal. We are having hot ham sandwiches from the crock pot, smashed taters on the side, and corn-on-the-cob. It's just us. I am not a very good cook. I have two young children. And dh and I aren't crazy about ham.

[Janna]

That's funny. I was thinking something similar. Grilling is so easy and yummy, but it's only supposed to be in the low 40's that day. Warm enough, but still...not typical grilling weather, kwim?

Btw, I had a dream about you last night. I have no recollection now what it was, but you were definitely in it. :)

[Sugarfoot]

We'll have a big crowd, and I'm determined to keep it simple.:) I'm baking a turkey, making a few side dish casseroles, baking rolls (frozen Rhodes), & doubling a couple of pie recipes and putting them in rectangular dishes. The kids will have a big candy hunt in the yard. We'll attend our church's Easter Vigil on Saturday night, so I'll have time on Sunday morning to put things in the oven/warming drawers.

Last year at this time, I was pregnant, and my youngest was 8 months old. I was sooo tired. We basically had the same meal with roast beef in the crock pot instead of turkey. I also did it all in disposable pans so there was virtually nothing to clean up.

If it was just us, I'd do meat in the crock pot, a couple of easy veggies, Rhodes rolls, and a dessert--maybe even store-bought. Make it easy and enjoy a laid-back day with your family!

[Beth in Central TX]

We almost always do Easter alone at our house. I'll probably make a turkey roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, cottage cheese, fresh pineapple or cantalope, a salad, deviled eggs, and crescent rolls. I know it sounds like a lot for just one family, but I have 3 boys who eat constantly; we hardly ever have leftovers.

[Remudamom]

We're having a dinner on Saturday. We're having a smoked turkey, mashed potatoes and green beans. Cresent rolls, salad, desserts. This dinner will be a breeze because the turkey's already smoked.

[JudoMom]

Grilling is so easy and yummy, but it's only supposed to be in the low 40's that day. Warm enough, but still...not typical grilling weather, kwim?

Btw, I had a dream about you last night. I have no recollection now what it was, but you were definitely in it. :)

That's funny! I wonder what I was doing :laugh:.

I think we're supposed to be in the low 50s, so I'll be pretending it's really Spring-like weather :001_huh:.

[Janet in Toronto]

We'll be 9 for dinner (4 of us, one adult niece, plus DHs cousin, his wife, and two (more) teens.)

I'm planning on roasting a leg of lamb, mashed potato casserole (a la Ree at PW), a couple of veggies (depending on what I get in my organic veg delivery this week), salad, and a trifle for dessert (traditional, with pound cake, sherry, bananas, strawberries, custard, and whipped cream with toasted almonds). Another chocolate dessert, TBD (maybe brownies). Haven't figured out the appetizer or wines yet either.

My family has given up desserts for Lent and my niece has given up chocolate, so we will enjoy both of those as we break our fast.

[chickenpatty]

where she will have the usual overcooked leg of lamb, tepid and crunchy veggies, a butter lamb, a lamb cake covered with nasty coconut...etc.

Lol, sounds delicious! :001_smile:

I haven't thought about it yet. We've got a stomach virus going on and two extra kids this week. 8 kids, one stomach virus = :ack2:

I'm just thankful I there are frozen pizzas in the freezer.:tongue_smilie: