Easter & In-Laws?!
Easter & In-Laws?
My in-laws are coming to visit for Easter weekend. I have not cooked dinner for them yet, and I am a bit nervous since they are coming on a Holiday weekend, and there are generally a lot of expectations on what dinner should be.
Do you have any suggestions for me on how best to entertain them and what to make for dinner? I do not eat ham, but I am willing to make one if it's the best option. Please be creative!
Any suggestions are appreciated, from recipes to decor!
Answers:
Congrats on your first Easter dinner with the In-Laws! Here are some thoughts for a menu:
1. Appetizers: deviled eggs, celery stuffed with pineapple cream cheese, mixed olive tray and assorted nuts
2. Main Dish: roasted leg of lamb (since you don't do ham)
Pork roast (in case they don't do lamb)
Prime Rib (in case they don't do lamb or ham)
Stuffed Turkey breast (in case they don't do
red meat)
3. Side Dishes: fresh green beans with almonds
fresh asparagas with lemon butter
Potatoes au gratin
Corn Spoonbread casserole
4. Salads: Ambrosia Salad
Jello salad
5. Breads: Hot rolls with sweet butter
6. Desserts: Strawberry shortcake
Lemon meringue pie
coconut cream pie
Coconut cake
You can't go wrong with fresh flowers for a centerpiece on your table. You might also consider potted plants and flowers combined as well as getting an easter basket and using it as a center piece by filling it with flowers etc.
Keep your selections easy to prepare and plan ahead so that you can also spend time with your new family. Have fun!
make turkey, and crandberry sauce, and salad, with sweet potatoes, and stuffed celary ( cream cheese, and grounded up olives in a celary stick cut up) for desert make bunny shaped cookies and cupcakes, and a cake that says happy easter, for decor add cute paper plates, napkins, and cups, and send them home with little gift bags
Last year to break the same-o same-o Easter dinner, I made cornish game hens. They are really easy and fast everyone had there own bird and really enjoyed it. Look up the recipes on line, there are a million different one out there, pick one that looks good and go for it. (practice with one or two this week before the big meal)...good luck.
PS served with the traditional sides, green bean casserole, corn, mashed potatos, yams and rolls.
to start out with a lite salad with the choices of dressing on the side along with devil eggs and your choice of red wine or punch if not a drinker.. Ham isn't a must but in place try a turkey stuff with dressing... have collard greens, corn bread just gettin done when they get there. or and green beans... potato salad. sliced peaches and yams.... macaroni and cheese... and to top it off for desert lemon cake
I think lamb chops could be a good alternative...quite spring-ish, and always yummy, especially on the grill.
I also enjoy asparagus on the grill...Start by trimming them & marinating them in some olive oil. It doesn't need much, just enough to keep it from sticking, and to add a little flavor. Then, you can put them on bamboo skewers...use two skewers, and run one through near the top of the stem, and one through the bottom of the stem. Then you can stems as necessary, until you have an appropriate serving size, with the stems running parallel to each other. I usually cook these for 5 - 10 minutes per side, until they're tender but not falling off the skewers.
Deviled eggs are a great Easter appetizer, but only if you're not going to send everyone home with another dozen decorated eggs. I also love a simple antipasto plate, with some good prosciutto or coppa, a nice wedge of parmesan, and some smoked or grilled vegetables. Most folks will also not complain about a baked brie and/or roasted garlic for crackers...both are simple and delicious.
As for entertainment, your witty banter should be all that's necessary! Okay, so it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of things ready for those who want more than lively conversation to keep them busy. If you have a lawn, you might consider croquet or badminton...both are easy to play, easy to set up, and best of all, easy to put away when you're done. I also recommend that you find some board games...you never know what the weather is going to be like in early Spring. Just swing by your local Target or Walmart & shop the game aisle...look for things that can incorporate players of all ages, so that the whole family can play together.
Personally, I find it entirely unnecessary to decorate for particular guests. Decorate your home as you would with no one coming...either they'll like it or they won't, but who really cares (after all, do you really have to love each others' couches?)?!
I dont really like ham either but honey baked ham is great.
develed eggs are always a winner.fruit salad,Decor: easter lillies.good luck .........
you can't go wrong with take-out.
LEG OF LAMB WITH ROSEMARY MAKE SURE YOU SEASON THE NIGHT BEFOFE ,,ROASTED POTAOS ITH SALT, PEPPER ,LEMON, AND SOME OLIVE OIL,STEAMED ASPARAGUS.MUSTARD VINEGRETTE,BABY GREENS SALAD, SHERBERT WITH FRESH BERRIES
if you dont like ham like myself i would do a roast beef in the crock pot with some onion soup mix, i would make scalloped or roasted garlic mash potaotes, fresh spring vegetables or salad, buns and for dessert something from jello.com and as for decorations hit a dollar store to get some cute little bunnies or duck candles and cheap colored napkins and stuff.
Crown roast of pork is very impressive and fairly easy to cook. Even grocery stores will have this cut at this time of year. If yours doesn't, ask the butcher at the grocery store and he can cut it for you. They may even have the little booties (called frills) and everything.
You can stuff the crown with dressing or roasted vegetables. I made one for Christmas, 2005 and got lots of oohs and aahs.
Are you living where you can be outside for Dinner?If so BBQ is the way to go.Call the in-laws and ask them to bring a side dish or a dessert.Family time should be fun for everyone.If you are going for the traditional Easter dinner.Ham,augratin potatoes,sweet peas,rolls,large salad,fruit bowl,tea or water.Dull.Do a buffet and set everything out so they can eat ,talk, eat, talk and have a good time with the children.Happy Easter, remember break the tradition and do it your way.To decaorate is easy, set some colored plastic eggs on the fake grass and put some flowers around that.A Easter lily by the table is nice.You do it your way.