This year we are going to share an elegant Easter meal that will make your family stand up and cheer. Decorations for this spring festival can change depending on whether you will be entertaining a family with young children or mostly adults. For younger children, you will need table linens that allow for spills and caters to the whimsy of the season. Try spring colors of lavender, pinks, greens-you know, the colors of Easter eggs. Name cards can be easily made with small Easter baskets stuffed with a bunny or chick holding the name of the occupant at that place. Colored grass can be placed down the middle of the table with dyed eggs from the morning egg hunt along with spring flowers in pots, and candies for those who indulge.
For others, small bowls of fresh berries with bows that go with your color scheme will make the table almost too good to eat. A small gift for the children can make the meal even more memorable. It may take the form of a secular one or religious one depending on family tradition.
If you are entertaining a more adult crowd, why not go elegant? Use the sliver and crystal and wonderful spring flowers in small containers at each place. These containers can then be used to support your place cards so everyone can find his or her place with ease. This is a festive occasion and the table should reflect it. We like to use a centerpiece of silver and crystal fruit, but you can go through your buffet and select something that has meaning for you. In the past we have decorated the tables with old porcelain that has come down to us through the generations one year, and another year set the table with antique china service plates instead of chargers. The color scheme changes also. I can still remember the disco colors of years gone by, as well as the pristine all white linens and everything in between.
Your house may want a bit of decoration also. After the cold winter, it's time to lighten up and brighten up. Add some new throw pillows to the sofa for the spring and summer. Take away the woolen throw. There won't be too many nights before the fire until next fall. Decorate that fireplace with a bank of blooming azaleas that can be planted outside after the holiday. Have star gazer lilies for their aroma and Easter lilies for tradition.
Make a twig wreath with spring flowers for the front door, or if you don't have the time, have one made. Force bulbs in pots to place on side tables or the mantle. When you're done, your home will be transformed.
Our menu for Easter is a classic make over. The sugary sweet mint sauce that usually comes to table with lamb, is gone and the mint becomes delicate in the rice dish. The lamb is a crown roast of baby lamb, bones Frenched with all fat removed and made succulent with garlic and rosemary. Each chop will be about two bites worth, but what bites! And our asparagus is not the old steamed variety. Rather, the slender stems are sweet after being roasted and tossed with balsamic vinegar.
Since not everyone at the table will be counting their carbs, you may wish to have warm rolls on the table and serve biscotti or cookies with the pineapple for dessert. If you can not get your butcher to make a crown of lamb, just purchase racks of lamb, roast until done, allow to rest and slice.
(for the recipes, click on The Recipes or click on the individual recipe above)
