My daughter Tricia's birthday is this weekend. Her birthday has fallen on Easter Sunday a few times. That's not the case this year, but it's close. We're combining her birthday with an Easter dinner at Katie's house this year. I remember one year when Tricia was a very little girl. She was able to choose her favorite meal (the kids always got to choose dinner for their birthdays) and on this particular birthday she wanted Kielbasa. We had never had Kielbasa. She'd seen Martha Stewart prepare it during a television show, and she was insistant. The horse-shoe-shaped sausage was roasted in the oven, cut on the diagaonal into oval slices, and served on a platter of curly lettuce. Tricia had to have it. I don't remember if she liked it or not, but that's what she got!
When I think of Easter dinner, I think of an oven-baked spiral-sliced ham, glazed in a brown sugar/mustard/pineapple concoction, with side dishes of au gratin potatoes and carrots, and a cheesecake or a pineapple-upside-down cake for dessert. My sister-in-law Carolyn and her husband Billy make this almost every Easter. I've served my share of spiral-sliced hams, too. No need to spend $75 for the over-priced honey-baked version. The pre-sliced hams you can bake at home are wonderful, and you can get a terrific one for under $20. No need to fear the ham.
In addition to a cheesecake and Easter sugar cookies, I'll be baking Tricia a birthday cake. It will be something simple and pretty. One year I was just tired of baking. I'd hit the wall. So I bought a Carvel ice cream cake for her birthday. I don't think she's ever forgiven me! Here I am, baking cakes for anyone who asks, and I couldn't muster one up for my own daugther's birthday. I won't make that mistake again! I have become much more discriminating about saying "yes" to requests. I only bake for people I know well and care about.
I look forward to this weekend. Russ will be here, and we'll go to church. Henry will hunt for Easter eggs, which should be especially exciting for a 23-month-old. I'll have one large, collective basket on my table, filled with the things my kids loved when they were young (including Cadbury Eggs - I don't get it, but they loved them!). I'll call Meghan in California and wish her a Happy Easter. I'll think of my Mom, and Russ's Dad, who both passed away around Easter time. They will be happy memories, because they were both happy, joyful people.
Whether you are celebrating Passover, Easter, or simply the arrival of spring, I hope you look forward to a beautiful weekend. Go make some happy memories!
Photo Credit: http://www.theflowerexpert.com/media/images/aboutflowers/exoticflowers/tulips/muti-hued-tulips.jpg
