Easter Dinner

I am so glad that today is over with. Twelve years ago today we got a call at 6:00am telling us thta my mother had died during the night. She waited until it was Easter morning. She was born on Christmas so I think it's important that she died on Easter. But since that day, Easter has always been a sad day for me. I don't ever handle holidays well. I am so far away from my family. I rarely get to see them. So holidays are hard for me. Today was also the first Easter since my Mother-In-Law died. That made it a doubly hard day. And of course you know this would be the day that my son decided to be a little terror. Before any of the sugar hit his bloodstream he was being a rebellious little guy. Every time I asked him to do something it was met with defiance. It seems that "No" was the word of the day. He finally went outside to play with his friends. At last it was peaceful in the house.

We made the cupcakes yesterday so all we had to do today was frost them. We also died the Easter eggs yesterday. The first thing I did today was make the Easter bread. After the first rising, I rolled the dough into two long snakes and then braided them together. Then I tucked a few eggs into the braids of the bread. Everything went well while the bread was rising. But when I baked the bread the eggs popped out. They were just laying on the pan beside the bread. I put the ham in the oven which was the easiest thing I made all day.

I started to make the veggie kugel. My Sister-in-law and her family are Jewish so I was trying to make something that they could eat since it is Passover. Fortunately I was able to shred the veggies with the food processor but it still took a long time. I searched and searched for potato startch to make the kugel with. I finally gave up and bought a potato kugel mix. I added the shredded veggies to that. It was okay but not something I will ever make again. Next came the Whipped potatoes. They were so yummy with cream cheese and chives and half and half mixed in. So good. Finally I made corn casserole. My Father-In-Law loves my corn casserole so I end up making it for every holiday.

It was a lot of cooking but the food was so yummy. We had a great time with our family. It was a warm and sunny day so the kids were able to play outside after dinner. Dakota was able to introduce his cousins to his neighborhood friends.

So, it's been a long day. I'm very tired and I'm about to go to bed. I told everyone after dinner that next holiday it's Chinese food for everyone.

Hope you had a great holiday.