Easter Traditions

It is so hard for me to believe that Easter is just around the corner. Maybe the challenge is the snow day that the kids had on Monday. I have always associated Easter with the start of spring. The start of new life (and renewed life).

Holidays seem to be a time of tradition for me. When I was a kid, I can remember my grandparents taking us to an Easter egg hunt. Of course, coloring Easter eggs is a fun activity that is typically reserved to Easter. I can remember getting a new spring dress and shoes for Easter, and even on a few occasions a new hat too. Easter menus include ham and scalloped potatoes (although, I don't eat those, so I'm not sure whey I would associate that) and of course, colored eggs. Easter morning always included the hunt for the Easter basket and the yummy chocolates and chocolate eggs.

Most years, we have taken the kids to an Easter egg hunt, although some years cold weather and schedules seem to make this hard to do. I've chosen a new dress and sandals for my daughter to wear for Easter, my son isn't into the clothes, so he'll make do with something he has. We colored our Easter eggs last week. The kids always want to color a lot of eggs, but I am the only one that eats the hard boiled eggs, so we have to balance their desire to color with how many eggs I can eat! We enjoy using a white crayon to write a message that magically appears when the egg is colored.

The menu for Easter has evolved over the years. We generally go to one of my aunt's houses for the holiday and everyone brings a dish to share so the selection will vary, but the constant of course is the ham.

Brian Hendrickson, Curemaster for Hormel Cure 81 ham brand, has a few tips for you when it comes to ham:

Know your Numbers: When purchasing ham for a large crowd, such as Easter dinner, count the number of guests scheduled to attend. It's a good idea to get about a pound of ham for every 3-4 people. Don't forget to estimate a little extra for unexpected guests, and everyone's favorite - leftovers!"
As Simple as Heat & Serve: Hams are typically sold as a fully cooked product, so when preparing, all you need to do is heat it until the ham is hot throughout. A good gauge is when the ham reaches about 140-145 degrees. It's a simple protein solution when you are pressed for time.
A Ham for Every Occasion: In recent years, various cuts and flavors of ham have been introduced, making it a great option for entertaining or a weeknight family dinner. Hormel Cure 81 ham items are available pre-diced or pre-cubed for an easy addition to your morning omelet, or in ham steaks that are great to throw on the grill.

My husband doesn't like ham though, so I also will sometimes bring an alternate entree with us to the meal - usually a pasta dish (he is Italian, afterall!)

How do you celebrate Easter? Are there recipes that you make every spring? Does your family participate in any charitable programs?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.