Easter Menu

[lyndalou]

I am trying to plan a buffet for Easter. There will be 10 of us, and I have very limited space.
Can you give me some suggestions for dishes that can be prepared early? We will all be going to Church and I won't get home until 1p.m. or so and will be having people over at 3pm.

Any help will be appreciated.

Lyndalou

 

[JamesS]

Easter is probably the best of the big holiday dinners for making ahead of time. We're having guests this year as well, so I'm going with turkey and spiral cut ham for the entrees. Normally it would be one or the other. In any event, both can be done ahead.

Beyond that, there's dressing (I don't do stuffing..ick), candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad, cloverleaf rolls, creamed peas, deviled eggs, Harvard beets, cole slaw, cranberries and assorted garnishes. Everything except cooking the turkey, the mashed potatoes and peas will be done ahead of time. Setting the table will take longer on Easter day than preparing the food.

I still haven't figured out dessert yet, but that part's always easy. Probably pies and home made ice cream.

 

[Andy M.]

I'm at a loss. SO doesn't want turkey. One daughter doesn't want ham. One daughter suggested chicken marsala, but SIL doesn't like mushrooms or onions.

I guess I could do a roast beef.

 

[JamesS]

How many people are you feeding Andy?

 

[Painless Cooking]

You can prepare everything ahead of time. Ham is the traditional meat for Easter. You can buy this precooked or cook yourself ahead. Arrange ham slices on an oven proof platter ahead of time and put in refrigerator. Then it will be ready to go directly to oven.

You can also have scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes (by adding cream cheese they stay creamyHow to cook potatoes, How to cook Cabbage, Eggplant recipes) or sweet potatoes or all. These can all be made ahead of time, refrigerated ready for microwave or oven.

You can have one or more vegetables cooked and ready to go in oven, on top of stove or microwave; maybe a green bean or broccoli casserole or simple bowls of cooked vegetables.

You must have a green salad. This can be cleaned, cut, drained and placed in a plastic bag to store in refrigerator the day before. It will be crispy and nice to serve. Note: Use romaine or head lettuce for crispness.

Have a Great Easter!

 

[Andy M.]

How many people are you feeding Andy?

Five adults and a 3 year-old.

 

[JamesS]

Five adults and a 3 year-old.

My mother, who's Scottish but thoroughly believes she's Italian would be the first to suggest a nice big pan of lasagna.

 

[Andy M.]

Thanks for the idea but I don't care for it.

 

[JohnL]

I haven't made one in quite a few years, but I think I may stuff a fresh ham with greens this year.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Plans incomplete....but will include fresh asparagus, and strawberry shortcake!

 

[CharlieD]

I'd say buy a pork, what is it part called, the one that is from rear leg? Season it a night before, stuff it with som ecloves of garlic, and in the morning put it in the oven before going to church. Cooke it covered at about 325-350.
Make mashed potato ahead of time, takes only few minutes to worm it up in the oven. If you put mushrooms on the botom of the pork, bu the time you come home you'll have an awesome gravy for mashed potatoe with mushrooms. It will be supper yummy.

 

[PattY1]

I haven't made one in quite a few years, but I think I may stuff a fresh ham with greens this year.

Are you talking about "Southern Maryland Stuffed Ham"?
Corned Ham stuffed with cabbage, kale, onions and spices?

 

[JohnL]

Hi Patty, No not a true Southern Md corned ham, just a fresh ham prepared the same way with kale, collards, mustard greens ect....
I would like to try it one day though. I think that I may be able to order one from the grocery store if I give them enough notice.

 

[PattY1]

Hi Patty, No not a true Southern Md corned ham, just a fresh ham prepared the same way with kale, collards, mustard greens ect....
I would like to try it one day though. I think that I may be able to order one from the grocery store if I give them enough notice.

I accidently stuffed a fresh ham once. Really they are just a pork roast. It diffently not the same. Just take a ride down to St. Mary's County and pick one up. You probably can get one in Charles County also.

 

[PattY1]

I am trying to plan a buffet for Easter. There will be 10 of us, and I have very limited space.
Can you give me some suggestions for dishes that can be prepared early? We will all be going to Church and I won't get home until 1p.m. or so and will be having people over at 3pm.

Any help will be appreciated.

Lyndalou

Since it is the first holiday in spring/summer, I would go with the picnic theme. Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Macaroni Salad, Baked Beans, Three Bean Salad ect., all of which can be made in advance.Baked Ham and/or a Oven Stuffer Roaster for the meats. IMHO

 

[kadesma]

We are planning picnic style, ham,deviled eggs,potato and a macaroni salad, stuffed onions,relish trays,foccacia,salami,mortadella,copa,fontina and tallagio cheeses tray,I've already made and frozen my pasta sauce so as wild as it may seem we are also having a big bowl of linguine and red meat sauce, some of the usual artichoke with chopped garlic,parsley,in butter and evoo. More to come I'm sure...desserts, pies of course and a coconut cake.
kadesma

 

[PattY1]

We are planning picnic style, ham,deviled eggs,potato and a macaroni salad, stuffed onions,relish trays,foccacia,salami,mortadella,copa,fontina and tallagio cheeses tray,I've already made and frozen my pasta sauce so as wild as it may seem we are also having a big bowl of linguine and red meat sauce, some of the usual artichoke with chopped garlic,parsley,in butter and evoo. More to come I'm sure...desserts, pies of course and a coconut cake.
kadesma

Oh, oh, do you have a recipe for Coconut Cake? I have been looking for a good recipe. I also am looking for a good white cake recipe, preferably White Sour Cream Cake.TYIA

 

[DaveSoMD]

I am trying to plan a buffet for Easter. There will be 10 of us, and I have very limited space.
Can you give me some suggestions for dishes that can be prepared early? We will all be going to Church and I won't get home until 1p.m. or so and will be having people over at 3pm.

All these can be prepared ahead and cooked/reheated or served cold/room temperature

Ham

Turkey

Rolls / rye bread

Deviled eggs

chilled asparagus

beets

apple sauce

scallooped potatoes

quiche / mini quiches

Fritata

anything you can serve out of a crock pot can be kept warm (soup, stew, cabbage)

cake or cookies for desert

 

[kadesma]

Oh, oh, do you have a recipe for Coconut Cake? I have been looking for a good recipe. I also am looking for a good white cake recipe, preferably White Sour Cream Cake.TYIA

Hi Patty,
I'm sorry I just saw your post. I don't have a recipe a friend is bringing the cake. I'll ask her but I'm not sure if she will share, Fingers crossed
kades

 

[PattY1]

Hi Patty,
I'm sorry I just saw your post. I don't have a recipe a friend is bringing the cake. I'll ask her but I'm not sure if she will share, Fingers crossed
kades

Thank you.