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Celebrate Spring with an Easter Lunch
By: Jennifer Matthews
• Serve a simple simple satisfying meal • Hop outside for some fun
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Easter comes at the perfect time to celebrate our emergence from hibernation. Spring has arrived, and its first holiday provides plenty of opportunity to enjoy the freshness of the season.
Easter symbols
Originally a pagan festival in honor of Eastre, the goddess of spring, Easter is today celebrated by Christians honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and marks the end of a 40-day period of reflection known as Lent.
The eggs we associate with Easter are said to be symbols of fertility and new life, connected with spring. The hare was originally the sacred animal of the goddess Eastre, and the tradition of the rabbit leaving colored eggs for children reportedly originated in Germany, and came with German settlers to North America.
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Non-candy gift ideas for kids If you’re worried about putting the kids into sugar shock, or you want to score points with the parents of young kids, try bringing treats of the non-candy variety. Hula hoops, balls, kites, and bicycle accessories will all help the kids burn off that sugar high. |
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Even hot cross buns, a Lenten and Good Friday tradition for centuries, were not always associated with Christianity. Their origins lie in the pagan spring festival, with the cross representing the four quarters of the moon. During early missionary efforts, the Christian church adopted the buns and re-interpreted the icing cross to represent Christ’s resurrection.
Whether you observe Easter as a religious holiday, a celebration of spring, or a combination of the two, sharing the day with family and friends is a wonderful way to mark it. Just follow our three easy steps.
Step 1: Set a springtime mood
Outdoors
Although spring bulbs may be barely poking up in the garden, you can get a head start in your planters with forced bulbs, which are inexpensive and readily available at this time of year. Empty those urns of their Christmas greenery and create a springtime planter with a selection of colorful potted flowers — read the how-tos here. The bonus: You can plant the bulbs in the garden later to bloom again another year.
Bare tree branches outside look festive with ribboned eggs hanging from them. Use the dollar-store variety for these, though — you may not want to expose your hand-dyed Easter eggs to the elements.
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A great breakfast idea for after the big hunt. APPLE PANCAKES WITH MAPLE APPLE SAUCE »
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Indoors
Inside the house, potted bulbs, including readily available Easter lilies, brighten up any space with their color and scent. And of course, you’ll want the requisite colored eggs: If you’re feeling creative, try Japanese Shibori eggs. If you’re feeling clumsy, try unbreakable but pretty wrapped foam eggs — these are great for younger kids (this year, with my three-year-old, we “decoupaged” foam eggs, using paintbrushes, glue thinned with a little water and small squares of pastel tissue paper).
On your Easter table, stay away from heavily scented flowers and opt instead for small containers of potted or cut tulips. Create fun “place cards” for your guests by placing an egg cup with a dyed egg embellished with the guest’s name or initials. You can hard-boil the eggs or hollow them out (poke a hole in each end of the egg and gently blow out the insides) before decorating them.
Step 2: Serve a simple, satisfying meal
Your Easter lunch doesn’t need to be complicated, particularly if you’re attending a sunrise or church service, or a local Easter egg hunt, in the morning.
Appetizers and cocktails
Start by offering guests a substantial cocktail with a twist — a Cranberry Orange Tea. Add a small cheese platter, complete with some devilled eggs and mixed nuts, and your appetizers are covered.
Main course and wines
While guests enjoy their snacks, tuck the scalloped potatoes you prepared yesterday into the oven to reheat, and take the spiral ham out of the oven to rest for 20 minutes before slicing. Lightly steam some asparagus and set out the Easter breads (purchased at a local bakery, of course) while the potatoes are warming. Uncork your carefully chosen wine (how to choose the perfect wine) and place it on the table.
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Add another spring twist Invite guests to bring perennials from their gardens to exchange with other guests. Provide labels, plastic pots or bags, and make sure each guest goes home with the same amount of plants she arrived with. |
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Dessert and hot tea cocktails
For dessert, think light, tart, springtime flavors like lemon and rhubarb — pies are classic, and can be purchased if you’re pastry-challenged or short on time. If you can’t make it through without something chocolate (and your kids keep a close eye on their Easter baskets), try making these coconut-cream eggs. Wow them with a selection of hot coffee and tea cocktails to accompany dessert.
Step 3: Hop outside for some fun
No Easter celebration would be complete without an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Even if your guests feel too old for the egg relay, there’s always egg bocce. Get the egg game rules at MarthaStewart.com, and be sure to hard-boil and dye lots of eggs — once you get started, you may be surprised at how much everyone wants to join in!
