It looks like I am hosting Easter this year. In the past we have done our own thing (Easter egg hunt and steaks on grill) so now I am in need of help in planning an "official Easter celebration".
What should I serve?
I am doing an Easter egg hunt (that I at least have perfected) but am clueless as to what a traditional Easter dinner is?
Would it be OK for me to just do meat trays, vege trays, salads, etc?
I would love to just order everything and not worry about making dinner.
Any/ALL advice appreciated.
thanks!
Yvonne

By Cat on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 08:31 pm:

When I think of a "Traditional" Easter dinner, for some reason ham comes to mind. I'd think if you wanted to have everything premade a spiral sliced ham with rolls for cold sandwiches along with the other things you mentioned would be great. jmho (of course!)

By Texannie on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 08:34 pm:

I usually have Easter here at my house. I cook several briskets (easy recipe), a couple of veggie dishes, fruit, maybe potatoes and then dessert. I have some easy do ahead recipes if you want. I think that if you wanted to order stuff that would be fine too.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 08:46 pm:

What is a typical dessert?

By Texannie on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 08:51 pm:

Is there a typical dessert? LOL I usually let the kids make homemade ice cream sundae's. Put out all sorts of different stuff (different toppings, ice creams, whipped cream) and let them go wild.

By Fionadeassis on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 08:53 pm:

I think the meat trays veggie trays idea sounds cool! Especially if you do something that has ham in it too(my family always does ham)...can you get those precooked hams and just heat it up...serve a bunch of buns and condiments, and get some deli trays?.........

fiona

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 09:05 pm:

OK we have a honeybaked ham store nearby I could go there. I guess you can tell I really want to avoid cooking :o)

By Sue3 on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 09:14 pm:

honeybaked ham is good ! We always have that for Easter.
My Mother has had this cast iron cake mold of a lamb for as long as I can remember
and we have always had a lamb cake for Easter.
She used to make several and give them to the neighbors also.
It was frosted with white coconut frosting and
on the bottom of the tray it was on , she would tint coconut green then
put some jelly beans on top of that.
The lamb`s eyes were 1/2 of a black jelly bean
and a red jelly bean nose with a pink ribbon around the lambs neck.
It looked almost to good to eat,though we always did.

By Coopaveryben on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 09:17 pm:

Ham, lamb, or Brisket is tradional easter. I know around here there are a lot of grocery deli's who prepare the entire meal and you just go pick it up.

We also do an adult Easter egg hunt, it is SO fun!

By Texannie on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 09:18 pm:

Yija..do a honey baked ham, either potato salad or scalloped potatoes, maybe baked beans, I have a really easy mixed veggie recipe that can be made ahead and served either cold or hot if you want and fruit and then let the kids make sundae's...pretty easy and fun. Get fun plates and tablecloths, good wine if you drink and you are set.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 09:39 pm:

Texannie
I would love the veggie recipe. Thanks!
I think I will go with the honeybaked ham idea. Has anyone had it before? Is it good?
Thanks again for all the great advice!
Yvonne

By Texannie on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 09:52 pm:

It's so easy. Chop up whatever your favorite veggies are (zuchinni, squash, mushrooms, asparagus, pepper ect ) with chopped roma tomatoes. Add black pepper, garlic and cajun seasoning. Cover with just enough Wishbone Italian dressing to cover lightly but not soak. Refridgerate overnight. I do this all in a big ziplock bag. My kids and I actually prefer this cold, but you can bake it at 350 for about 20 minutes and it's really good too.
Honeybaked hams are great. They are spiral cut, but you will probably still have to slice them off the bone into bite sized pieces. Get some dollar sized rolls and various kinds of mustards to serve with them.
You could also barbecue a bunch of chicken breasts or even do a pork roast in the crockpot with barbecue sauce and have pulled pork sandwhiches.

By Mommyathome on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 11:49 pm:

Honeybaked hams are wonderful. A little pricey, but well worth it IMO.

Honeybaked Ham
Funeral Potatoes
Swiss cheese/veggie casserole
Jello Salad
Rolls


Growing up we always had an easter bunny cake. Just make a cake mix and pour into a round pan to bake. When cooled, cut in half. Put the 2 halves straight side down on a platter. Frost in between so they will stick together. Frost with white frosting. Color coconut with food coloring. (we usually did pink) Sprinkle/press the colored coconut all over the cake. Add jelly bean eyes and nose. Make paper ears. Make green coconut to put around the bunny (like grass) and put Robin eggs all around it.
I always looked forward to making this each year. But, I haven't ever done it with my own kids. I'll have to do it this year!

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:08 am:

Funeral Potatoes ? What is that?
The cake sounds adorable.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 10:15 am:

If i were coming to your house, i would think meat trays and veggie trays was perfect!

We usually get a honey baked ham (YUM!), there is usually that jell-o stuff with marshmallows in it on the table, German potato salad, and probably that green bean casserole that everyone has on holidays For dessert it's usually some sort of pie from Baker's Square. Last year my sister and I made a Easter basket cake. That was fun for the kids to see. One year we also did that Easter bunny cake.

OH, i just read Robin's post. I guess i could have copied and pasted it here!! LOL

By Amecmom on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 06:04 pm:

I'm doing Easter here. Minimum 20 people. Our traditional dinner includes lasagna, meatballs, bracciole, spare ribs, sausage, leg of lamb, ham and various veggies, including broccoli rape baked in a pie. Some of my relatives are helping by bringing something. We'll start off the meal with some nice antipasto and end with italian pastries, which my relatives will bring.
The key to doing the big day is to prep everything in advance and set up sterno trays so your guests can enjoy the food, and you can enjoy being with your guests.
Ame

By Vicki on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 06:22 pm:

We usually have ham on Easter too, but this year, we are doing a deep fried turkey! LOL Any excuse we can have to make one of those is ok with me!! Honey baked hams are the best. You'll love it!!

By Texannie on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 07:07 pm:

Yum, I would love to do that! Do you have all the equipment?

By Annie2 on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 07:48 pm:

Honey Baked hams are terrific. Pricey but you serve them at room temp so no need to heat. The sides they offer arent' worth it. They are actually just frozen sides you could purchase at the market for less and place into your own serving dishes.
We buy one for Xmas every year and this year for Easter, too. I buy my sides from the market along with crusty rolls for sandwiches for later in the evening or the next day. If you like bean soup, they sell a Ham Bone soup mix....delicious! You can even freeze the bone and make the soup on a colder, rainy day.
The lamb cake sounds like a nice idea for desert or maybe a cheesecake.

By Bobbie on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 08:41 pm:

I think that cold trays sound fine. That is basically what we do. We are all running around all day (Easter Egg hunts, games) we just eat as we go.. And try to make it easy on yourself. A stressed out host is a bad host.