Easter 2005

We have a fun week planned to get ready for Easter.  Each day we are preparing something for our family Easter dinner (everyone comes here).  For our family, spreading the preparation out in this way helps us to stay better focused on the reason for Easter.  During this week’s plan you will see what prep is planned each day this week.  I want us to be able to enjoy our family and each other and be relaxed and focused enough to worship without feeling overwhelmed by what I think “just has to” be done.  Spreading out preparation also allows the prep to be a blessing to my family that I enjoy, instead of feeling completely overwhelmed by it.

 

Below you will also see our menu for Easter dinner.  It is just a plan and may be scaled back or changes depending on how this week flows and what is on sale.  Most of the special touches are things that can be made ahead this week and simply reheated for dinner.  I like to make 3-4 different desserts for special family dinners so everyone has a favorite and feels pampered, though again, 3 of the desserts are pretty easy or can be made ahead of time.  I generally make smaller sized dessert choices (cookies, smaller bars, min-pies, mini-cupcakes) because then you can taste more than one thing, but not have eaten the equivalent of half a cake by the time you are done!  :o)

Gluten & Dairy Free Hot Cross Buns by test.angelaskitchen.com

Other fun things for Easter:

Easter Story Cookies

Hot Cross Buns

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Peep-a-licious

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This week’s Gluten Free Menu Swap is being hosted by Cheryl of Gluten Free Goodness.  She has picked the theme of Sugar Free Delights.  Um…  yeah, with Easter this week, often it is easy to just focus on the treats filled with sugar (mmmm…. dark chocolate bunnies…), but there are many delicious alternative sweeteners out there to enjoy.  I have a post that shows how I use natural sweeteners in my baked goods that might help you out if you are just starting to explore this subject.  A couple of easy favorite recipes that use natural sweeteners are Pumpkin Pie Popsicles (also tasty in an icecream maker) and Watermelon Slush.  We are really into frozen desserts in out home!  Cheryl’s blog is a great resource for tastiness sweetened without refined sugar.  She also has a great list of gluten free Passover links for you.


Monday: Make Spicy-Sweet Nuts/make Hot Cross Buns (freeze)

Quinoa Confetti Salad with Pork Satay


Tuesday: Make Adeena’s Gluten Free Rosemary Teff Dinner Rolls (freeze)

Asian Flank Salad


Wednesday: Make cupcakes and freeze/Make sweet potato kale hash browns (freeze)

Clean-out-the-fridge stir fry and salad


Thursday: Make Cardamon Bread/make Cardamon Biscotti/boil eggs to color and for deviled eggs

Mexican Cornbread Casserole (from freezer) with salad

 

Friday: Make glaze for ham/make ham sauce/make balsamic syrup/make Poppy Seed Dressing

Chicken Mango Curry with pre-soaked brown rice

 

Saturday: color eggs with the kids/peel eggs for deviled eggs/assemble Scalloped Potato dish/Roast Asparagus/Make Lemon Bars/Make Easter Story Cookies before bed with the kiddos

Leftovers or gf/dairy free grilled sandwiches  and soup (from the freezer) with salad


Sunday: Easter

For breakfast before church:  Hard Boiled Eggs, Cardamon Bread, Sweet Potato-Kale Hash Browns, fruit

 

Watercress Deviled Eggs

Fruit Platter with Dairy Free Fruit Dip

Mixed Nuts, Olives, Veggie Patter


Spicy Apricot Glazed Ham

Mustard Sauce (for the ham)

Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes with Caramelized Leeks

Roasted Asparagus With Balsamic Syrup

Spring Greens with Strawberries, Spicy Sweet Nuts and Poppy Seed Dressing (dressing will post on Wednesday this week)

Hot Cross Buns

Adeena’s Gluten Free Rosemary Teff Dinner Roll Recipe

 

Cardamon Biscotti

Easter Story Cookies

Lemon Bars

Cupcakes (Probably… maybe… kind still up in the air depending on how the week goes- leaning toward almond sponge cake with chai spiced frosting.  Probably decorated similar to these. So cute!)

 

This post will also be linked to the Organized Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.