Easter Ham, Lamb, Sides and More!
Easter is one of those can’t-wait-for holidays because it signals the change of season and the advent of spring. Who doesn’t love spring? The red-breasted robins have suddenly appeared, warmer weather ensues, buds pop out on bushes and tree branches, and it’s another excuse for special holiday meals! Here are a few Easter brunch recipes to add to your holiday brunch or dinner menu.
Traditional Entrées: Ham and Lamb
Roasted lamb is one food that appears in many Easter celebrations, but the entrée actually predates Easter. Derived from the first Passover Seder of the Jewish people, it commemorates the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Martha Stewart makes a minty Rack of Lamb in a lively sauce with capers that’s slathered on the roasted lamb and served alongside. Take a look at her entire Easter menu including Twice-Baked Potatoes with Greek yogurt, Spring Salad with Mint and goat cheese and a Carrot Cheesecake with mini-marzipan carrots!
Food and Wine offers up another 10 mouth-watering lamb recipes for Easter, from Lamb Chops with Rosemary and grapes and Greek-style Leg of Lamb to Basil-Crusted Leg of Lamb with lemon vinaigrette.
Another traditional Easter entrée is ham, prepared dozens of ways. Check out the Delish Dr. Pepper-Pineapple Glazed Ham, served with Cream of Asparagus soup and Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Bon Appetit contends that nothing says Easter like a roasted ham and to prove it they offer eight ham-tastic recipes.
The Honey and Rye Glazed Ham has a boozy glaze with rye whiskey, honey, molasses and red chiles and the Baked Ham with Mustard-Red Currant glaze and rhubarb chutney makes for another sweet ham using the first spring produce. You’ll need to bust out a large roasting pan with a rack and your meat thermometer – safely cooked ham registers 135º after 1 ½ to 2 hours in a 350º oven.
And for leftover ham, try these ham sammies from Country Living, with slices of meat jammed between biscuit halves with apricot mustard.
Line up the Sides
Potatoes are always a great side dish on Easter and if you don’t want to go full-on cheesy scalloped, the Recipe Runner has a Skinny Potato Casserole. Blogger Danae uses russet potatoes (cooked and shredded) with a teensy bit of butter, low-fat cream cheese, non-fat Greek yogurt and skim milk, plus skim mozzarella with cheddar for the cheese. Scroll down for two more vegetable sides on her site, Brown Butter Green Beans with slivered almonds and Balsamic Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts.
Blogger Kristin at Yellow Bliss Road curated 27 Easter side dishes like Gouda Cauliflower and a Beet and Potato Salad – plus a bunch more that reveal a creative spin on some traditional classics.
For more ideas than you have time to scan, check out Good Housekeeping’s 60 mix-and-match Easter dinner menus. No matter which meal you make, how many eaters come to the table, or the style of your feast, there are enough recipes here to make it a win for everyone. From Pimiento Cheese Finger Sandwiches (no crusts), Caprese Bites and the Best-Ever Deviled Eggs, to a Roasted Asparagus Tart and Triple Citrus Bundt Cake. You’re covered from appies to dessert.
And if you’d rather take your brood to a great Easter brunch in Castle Rock, try the Cherokee Ranch and Castle in Sedalia, just 10 minutes from Castle Rock. Plus, Siena at the Courtyard in Castle Rock is taking reservations. Call them at 303-688-2622.
Easter in Crystal Valley
What could be more fun that spending Easter in Crystal Valley! The brand new homes in the master-planned community of Crystal Valley, are surrounded by nature, yet convenient to shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation. Tour the beautiful models and move-in ready homes from Richmond American Homes, Kauffman Homes and D.R. Horton – ranch and two-story designs, priced from the $300s.
