Easter Brunch

[racheld]

SNOWANGEL:

How was lunch?

Probably more importantly, how's the plumbing?

rachel

[snowangel]

The plumbing got done by 9:00 pm that night. Much swearing and gnashing of teeth.

Easter lunch was wonderful. I had a bigger crowd than expected. Ham; two of Marlene's dishes which you'll see on recipeGullet when it reappears soon -- potato puff and maple glazed carrots; roasted asparagus (crank up the oven when the ham and potatoes come out and let it do it's thing while the other stuff is resting) and a very pretty salad with mixed baby greens, a raspberry vinagarette featuring raspberry vinegar made from home grown raspberries, Maytag and some pecans I caramelized. Oh, and bread. The day was spectacular. We had an easter egg hunt and the kids spent most of the time out of doors. My SIL got in town early enough to call and say "can I bring dessert?" Why, yes, my dear. Ice cream with fresh fruit, out on the deck. It was divine. Only one kid barfed, and only one got a bloody nose. The toilet didn't back up. As I said, wonderful. Just four days prior, we celebrated a one-year anniversary in our new-to-use house, and we were reminded that this is a great house for entertaining. I first entertained here last Easter, three weeks after we moved.

This is my favorite time of year. We had as much fun enjoying friends and family as poking around in the gardens. My rosemary is showing signs of life!

[lovebenton0]

The plumbing got done by 9:00 pm that night.  Much swearing and gnashing of teeth.

Easter lunch was wonderful.  I had a bigger crowd than expected.  Ham; two of Marlene's dishes which you'll see on recipeGullet when it reappears soon -- potato puff and maple glazed carrots; roasted asparagus (crank up the oven when the ham and potatoes come out and let it do it's thing while the other stuff is resting) and a very pretty salad with mixed baby greens, a raspberry vinagarette featuring raspberry vinegar made from home grown raspberries, Maytag and some pecans I caramelized.  Oh, and bread.  The day was spectacular.  We had an easter egg hunt and the kids spent most of the time out of doors.  My SIL got in town early enough to call and say "can I bring dessert?"  Why, yes, my dear.  Ice cream with fresh fruit, out on the deck.  It was divine.  Only one kid barfed, and only one got a bloody nose.  The toilet didn't back up.  As I said, wonderful.  Just four days prior, we celebrated a one-year anniversary in our new-to-use house, and we were reminded that this is a great house for entertaining.  I first entertained here last Easter, three weeks after we moved.

This is my favorite time of year.  We had as much fun enjoying friends and family as poking around in the gardens.  My rosemary is showing signs of life!

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Your second annual Easter parade.

Sounds wonderful. And what a perk to be able to poke around the garden and see a few greenies poking their heads back up at you.

[viva]

Only one kid barfed, and only one got a bloody nose.  The toilet didn't back up.  As I said, wonderful. 

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That's awesome.

Easter brunch in Phoenix this year was wonderful as well, it was 80 and sunny, so we did the bloody mary bar and appetizers outside which left the kitchen vacant for me to get the rest of the meal done. Doing most everything either via casserole or grill was a great approach to leaving my hands free to drink bloody marys.

That savory bread pudding recipe above was delightful, and the boys did a great job of grilling up the lamb and quail. I did quick red and orange carrots with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar glaze.

Nigella's Forever Summer cookbook really came through for me, the cold pea and mint soup was a hit, and her new potatoes and chocolate pavlova recipes will need to be repeated in future years. Everything was just super-easy to make in advance.

I love Spring.

[petite tête de chou]

Well it certainly wasn't a brunch, but my husband and I grilled prawns on the back porch in the rain and drank half a bottle of Chivas Regal.