The Easter Feast

Let’s start by focusing on what I liked about our Easter dinner. I set a very nice table, don’t you think? I love getting out our table linens and china, and making some kind of centerpiece. The side dishes were our standard family favorites: roasted potatoes, carrots, and brussels sprouts, pan-fried asparagus, cherry cola Jell-O, and mini croissants. Nothing terribly fancy, but dependably delicious. And the dessert was great. I tried a new recipe for a lemon curd swirl cheesecake with a homemade strawberry sauce. It took hours to get the whole thing made yesterday, but it looked and tasted great, so it was worth it. Those are all good things about our Easter dinner!

You may have noticed I didn’t mention the lamb. Despite the fact that I followed the recipe exactly (a recipe I have successfully made in the past, for the record), the lamb was way overdone. I don’t care what anybody who was at the dinner table said…it was not good. And since that was supposed to be the star of the meal, that was a huge disappointment to the chef.

Anyway, I’m going to try to focus on what I liked about the meal. And maybe not make lamb again next year.

Blessed Easter!

Every Easter, I take pictures of the children by the baptismal font at our church…either they’re getting taller, or the font is shrinking! I can’t believe how different these pictures look from when I started taking them!

In Our Easter Bonnets

I don’t know how long the girls will continue to enjoy wearing hats on Easter, but for now, I sure do like dressing up in our Easter best with them!

Easter 2017

Blessed Easter!

Our Easter observance really began last night. As we do every year, we made our family Paschal candle:

And took it with us to one of our sister congregations, where we lit it for the first time during the Great Vigil of Easter. This is my favorite service of the church year…I love how it begins with firelight outside at sunset, and ends with the full lights on inside the church as we celebrate the Resurrection!

We were at our church very early in the morning today, for the sunrise service. Bunny, Moose, and Ladybug participated in the outdoor reenactment prior to the service…the rain stayed away, and it was a beautiful morning!

After the first service, and a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy, we took pictures (much to my family’s chagrin), and attended the Easter Divine Service, which is probably my second favorite service of the church year. I love the abundance of Alleluias!

We’ve had a low-key afternoon at home since church, but the big Easter dinner feast is yet to come!

Sartorial…Sunday–Easter Dressing

It’s Sartorial Saturday on a Sunday, because I have a very special outfit to share…my Easter outfit!

This is my first Long Jun skirt from Pinup Girl Clothing, and I love it almost as much as I love my Jennys! The blue floral print is gorgeous, and pairs so well with my Duchess bangles from Splendette. I added my favorite fancy brooch, hoop earrings, and my standard necklace. And of course I had to wear an “Easter bonnet!” This isn’t a new hat, but it’s the first time I’ve worn it on Easter, and it the perfect finishing touch to my Easter outfit!

Tasty Tuesday–Pan-Fried Asparagus

It’s almost Easter!

I almost always serve asparagus with our Easter dinner…this is the best time of year to buy it, and it’s pretty easy to find local asparagus around here at Easter time, which is a bonus. I’ve prepared it different ways in the past, but this is the recipe that I’ve used for the last few years, because it’s my very favorite!

1 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed
1/4 butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
5 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the olive oil.. Cook garlic in butter for a minute, but do not brown. Add asparagus, and cook for about 10 minutes (less if your asparagus is very thin), turning asparagus to ensure even cooking. Season with salt and pepper.

Wordless Wednesday

The 2016 Easter Feast

Of course a holiday means a family feast!

I went with a primarily gold and white table again this year…I think it’s very Easter-y. And as always, our new Paschal candle was the centerpiece:

This year’s menu was a little bit the same as last year’s, and a little bit different. We had roast lamb, a lovely trio of vegetables (asparagus, carrots, and brussels sprouts), roast potatoes, Jell-O “salad” and some mini croissants that were a huge hit!

For dessert, there was a choice of carrot cake or French silk pie…two of my favorites:

We have enough leftover lamb to enjoy gyros for dinner tomorrow…it’s a feast that keeps on giving!

Easter Morning 2016

We had a very joyous Easter morning!

The big four all got to play parts in our church’s annual reenactment outside before the sunrise service. Turkey was the angel, Moose was a guard, and Bunny and Ladybug were the women on their way to the tomb: