C:
'The Great Easter Feaster'
Easter Brunch Recipes and Festive Decorations
If you keep a yearly calendar, then Easter is your first big family holiday. If you keep a school-year calendar (09-10) then Easter is your last big family holiday; either way, Easter is a really big family holiday if you are of the church going persuasion.
Although there will not be any actual children (my 83 year old father doesn't count) at my 'Great Easter Feaster,' I still go all out on the food and decorations.
I am joyously expecting no less than 15 people this Easter Sunday. Like Thanksgiving, I have several dear orphan friends who will not be able to make it back home for 'The Holiday' who will all participate in preparing 'The Great Easter Feaster' at my house.
Also like Thanksgiving, I get almost all my cherished, fave recipes from my favorite tried-and-true Southern (Southern New Jersey, ha ha ) comfort food cookbook.
Recently, I read a statement Kate Moss said - "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."
Well, I've never had English cooking (which I'm sure has a lot to do with Kate's skinny statement), but I would love to be able to write Kate back and tell her that my 'Great Easter Feaster' is so worth at least 5 lbs.
So, here it goes, The-Extra-5-Pounds-On-Your-Hips-In-One-Seating Easter Feaster Menu.
Please note, no carbs were spared in the planning of this menu.
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"I Just Quit Stirrin' When the Tastin's Good"
Recipes from The Chalfonte Hotel Recipe Collection
CHEESE GRITS
Prepare 1 cup Quick Grits according to package directions.
Add 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (more if desired), 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup milk, large dash of Tabasco, and large dash of garlic salt.
Stir and cook over low heat until cheese is melted.
Add 2 well beaten eggs.
Pour into 2 quart buttered casserole dish, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese on top.
Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.
(Recipe serves 6)
GLAZED CARROTS
Scrape 2 pounds of fresh carrots, halve then split. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain carrots. Place in 9" x 15" x 2" Pyrex dish.
Mix 1 cup fresh orange juice, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1 tbs. brown sugar, and 1 tbs. Karo Syrup (dark or light). Pour over carrots. Dot with butter.
Slice 1 orange and 1 lemon and place over carrots.
Heat in oven at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly.
(Recipe serves 6)
POTATO SALAD
Cook and cube 4 cups of peeled potatoes (approx. 5 medium size potatoes).
Chop 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1/2 cup celery, 1/2 cup onions, and 2 tbs. fresh parsley, and put in bowl.
*In keeping with any (Jewish) Southern recipe, Issac adds plenty of bacon.*
*Issac also chops up some Cornichon pickles and throws them in there too.*
Add 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 tbs. vinegar to bowl and gently mix with chopped veggies.
*Issac adds some spicy mustard, amount to taste.*
Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
Add potatoes, fold, and chill at least 3 hours before serving.
(Recipes serves 6)
BUTTERMILK BISCUITS
Mix 2 cups all purpose flour, 2 tsp. of baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, and a pinch of sugar.
Blend 4 tbs. Crisco into dry mixture until well mixed.
*I add a few chopped green onions.*
Gradually add 3/4 cup buttermilk until dough is manageable. Do not make too sticky.
Roll on floured board until dough is 1/4" thick. Cut out biscuits about the size of a silver dollar.
*I add a sliver of butter (topper) to each biscuit before baking.*
Bake in greased pan (Pam) at 400 degrees until brown on top - approximately 20 minutes.
(Makes 20 biscuits)
CARROT CAKE
In a blender, combine 2 cups sugar, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1 cup corn oil, and 1/4 tsp. salt.
With blender on, add 4 eggs, one at a time.
Next, fold in 3 cups grated carrots and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional).
Pour batter into two 8" round Teflon pans (for a two layer cake).
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.
CARROT CAKE CREAM CHEESE ICING
In a blender, mix 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese, 2 tbs. melted butter, and the juice from 1 large lemon.
Slowly add confectionery sugar, approx. one box, until icing is stiff enough to spread on cake.
Frost lightly between layers of cake, then ice the sides and top.
HONEYBAKED HAM
'The Authentic HoneyBaked Ham,' purchased from The HoneyBaked Ham Co.
And, for those mamby-pamby Easter Sunday infringers, who insist one carb load per meal is enough, I always have a big glass bowl filled with fresh berries (with a bowl of scrumptious creme fraiche strategically placed next to it, tee hee. Less carbs, but more calories. Am I bad?)
Festive Tabletop Decorating Ideas from The Store:
Le Jacquard Lavender Colored Table Runners, Placemats, and Napkins
Purple Butterflies and Paperwhite in terracotta pot, not-exactly-real, wink.
Grass Bunnies, Le Jacquard Table Runners, and more of our Not-Exactly-Real-Flowers
Ranunculus in fun oh-so-bright colors - pink, purple, orange, white, & coral.
and, How Cute Are These Toys For Easter Basket Surprises?!
Feetsie Covers (for a little someone's first Easter) - Saint Street Store
Cute Books - R.O. Blvd. Store
Soft Jellycat Toys Galore - R. O. Blvd. Store
Some Bunny Loves You - Saint Street Store
And, for the Grumpy Teenager who thinks she's too old for stuff animals, ha.
SigiKid Bunny
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Is is a Persian? Is it a Pomeranian? Is it a Hamster?
No, It's Our New Baby Bunny - Macaroon!
Who happens to eat carrots faster than a speeding bullet...
Macaroon lives at our Saint Street Store if you would like to meet him.
And please remember, be a responsible Bunny Giver.
If you are so inclined to give a bunny to someone for Easter (religious holiday, stores may be closed!), please be sure to include with 'bunny gift' a bunny hutch, bunny food, and a book on how-to-take-care-of-a-bunny.
If well taken care of and loved, House Bunnies can easily live to be 6 to 9 years old, and possibly better trained than that Persian or Pomeranian you so adore.
And, if I might add, a whole lot cuddlier than a hamster.
