What's new
By:
Filters
Cooking Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Cooking Easter Dinner?

jglass

jglass

New member
Anyone making a big dinner for Easter?

I have made Easter Dinner for my husband's family the past several years that they get together and have at my FIL's. For some reason I had not given it a thought this year. Hubby said his Dad mentioned it on phone yesterday so I will have to check with him today and see what he wants done.
Do you have those family members who will not give you a yes, no or maybe til the last minute about family get togethers? Jon's brother and his wife do that every single family dinner. I like to know atleast a week before so I can plan the food and get the shopping done. His brother's wife usually brings her parents and several other members of her family. I go from cooking for 7-8 to preparing enough food for 13-14 or more. It makes a big difference in how much food to prepare.
 
We never had to worry about who was showing up - everyone always did. All they had to bring was their appetites and they went home with tons of foods and baked goods.

The unfortunate part was - one who had married into the family (she wasn't our blood) - was very ignorant. She wouldn't lift a finger to pick up a thing, she wouldn't say thank you, and always carried her "heritage" attitude. She tried to ruin every dinner and celebration we had. Eventualy she was the one not wanted - but we tolerated her and her rotten attitude. She would be the type to not say if she was coming or not - we didn't care - her husband and kids would come without her.

But not to miss a trick - she would always show her ugly face. I have no feelings for people like that - there is no call for them to be that way.

As far as Easter dinner - of course I'll be cooking and baking - it's expected of me. I just haven't thought about what I am making yet.
 
Easter dinners have always been big in my family. Grandma was known for her rice pies with ricotta and ham :D

I've got a sister-in-law like you described Mama. She won't lift a finger and always shows up empty handed. :rolleyes:
 
Rick -

I don't care about being empty-handed because I enjoy all the cooking and the baking. Even is she didn't lift a finger - that's fine - it was the attitude that needed adjusting.

We always have ricotta pies for Easter - do you make them as well? Did your gram make them with or without the raisins? Did they all have a double crust or did she make some single crust?
 
Mama Mangia said:
Rick -

I don't care about being empty-handed because I enjoy all the cooking and the baking. Even is she didn't lift a finger - that's fine - it was the attitude that needed adjusting.

We always have ricotta pies for Easter - do you make them as well? Did your gram make them with or without the raisins? Did they all have a double crust or did she make some single crust?
Click to expand...

Her's were single crust and some had raisins and some without. She always made both. One thing I remember about the crust was it had a sugar coating on it. I don't make them and sadly my mom doesn't make them the same way.
 
I don't care if it's single or double crust, with or without raisins - I absolutely love ricotta pies. With graed lemon or grated orange - or without - don't matter to me.
 
I would take you up on it!

I asked the FIl about it Sun and he said he had to wait and see what the other son said.
I'm not going to give it another thought. If he asks me to cook I will and get what ever I can together.
 
and just what would they do if you made the announcement that since no one got back to you and gave you time to plan and cook, that you decided to eat out this Easter?
 
Jon told me his Mom used to have arguments with their Dad over the same thing. They never gave her any notice about dinners til the last minute and their Dad never wanted her to say anything to them. They got divorced the year before I came into the family and ever since I have done all of the cooking. The only difference was their other daughter in laws family never came to the family dinners before the divorce. From what I understand they never got along well with my mother in law. During Christmas I stayed onto them about who was coming to dinner at their Dads and when. I'm not doing it anymore.
Every year more of it has gotten placed on me. My FIl thinks $50 can cover a dinner for more than a dozen people he has invited and I get no help cooking anything. Plus I have to cook it here and haul it there. $50 didnt cover the cost of everything I am expected to cook 11 years ago when I started this.
 
Last edited:
We cooked for a couple dozen - every Sunday, every holiday, exery special occasion )or should I say every excuse) - always our home, our food, our clean up - and they brought just their appetites and took home tons of food.

Sometimes you wonder why the scales of balance seem to be "rusted" in one direction.
 
I have come to the decision the scales are going to get readjusted this year.
I'm getting really tired of being to exhausted from cooking for days to enjoy the holidays.
It takes all of the pleasure out of cooking. I like helping but no one seems to think I need any lol.
 
Janie -

stop it as soon as you can

coming from an Italian family it was my "duty" to follow in the footsteps of my mom, gram, great, gram etc, and I never got to enjoy a holidy or occasion - always making the sacrifice because it was my "duty"

all the housework, laundry (yes laundry - tablecloths, napkins, dish towels, etc. washin, starch, iron), scrubbing before and after - all on one person's shoulders

now I cook and bake in a more relaxed mode - it's my pleasure to make what I want, to make favorites for others and do as I please - there is much, much less pressure

I still put time into making everything homemade and fussing - and it does take time to do it - but I enjoy it much more now

and don't feel guilty - you paid your dues - many times over
 
I was talking with Jon yesterday and I told him there are going to be some changes this year in regards to the holiday dinners. Time to put a little enjoyment back into cooking.

Maybe it is just me but when I am trying to cook to many things I am not able to give my dishes the attention I would normally and they suffer. I always tells Jon when I taste and stir I am giving the dish some love lol.
 
it's no fun being on "automatic pilot" with time schedules - it's more important to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones than being a slave to it
 
Well Mama I asked my FIl about it and last Sunday supper and he said he had not mentioned it to any of them yet except the kids. I mentioned it was like the 4th day of April and we noticed he had hung up the old 2009 calendar! The wind had blown the calendar off the wall the other day when he had the doors open and he somehow managed to get the old calendar from last year hung up instead lol.
 
Our family has always worked it so that everyone brings something to contribute to the meal. If the meal is to be held at our house, I would do the main course or what ever else I want to make to go along with it. I enjoy cooking for a crowd. If I feel anything else is needed I will ask other family members to bring it. I have never had anyone complain. That would be very rude and be improper if they did. I'd be sure to state that fact too. For example, if I am preparing a ham and my sister makes a really great augrauten potato dish, I would request that my sister makes that dish. Everyone loves it and it's flattering to her to be asked.
if I were to go to someone Else's dinner I will ask if there is anything I can bring. The request for me is usually along the line of some homemade pasta dish and some fresh baked bread of 1 type or another. It is very enjoyable having everyone compliment one another on their contribution to the meal. It makes the meal seem so much more enjoyable too.
 
Last edited:
Mama Mangia said:
well - when is HE celebrating Easter?? LOL that is too funny -
Click to expand...

I am going to ask him one more time tomorrow. :)
After tomorrow I will see him only once more before the next Sunday supper so that is kinda of the last chance he has. We do Sunday supper and then go and see him about Wed or so for coffee. I try and make him understand any ham or turkey that you buy in this town will be frozen and take days to thaw.
If he hasnt made plans then I will make a regular Sunday supper for three like always. For the life of me I cannot recall what I made last year. I remember scolding one of the grandkids and her cousin for trying to peek out the dining room window while the other adults were outside hiding eggs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top