Happy Easter!
I love this holiday. When I was a child in Panama I always received a new suit for Easter; it was the one time each year that I got a brand new outfit. I wanted to look good, because all of the colorful church ladies wore extraordinary hats and outfits to our Baptist service. My favorite part of the day, though, was always my late mother’s Easter feasts.
These days I celebrate this special holiday here in New York City with my family and friends. Naturally, I’m in charge of creating the Easter decorations. Here are a couple of pictures from my family’s Easter dinner last year. Unsurprisingly, I decided to create a design that incorporated lots of COLOR: Orange, pink and yellow tulips, bright blue hydrangeas, festive striped tablecloths and matching chairs, and sweet bunny cookie favors.
I may have the decorations down, but on Easter my beloved sisters, Aminta and Olivia, truly shine. They prepare our elaborate and delicious Easter meal. Of course, they always include a bit of Panamanian flare in honor our childhood and our parents.
Ham (A Classic!)
Arroz Con Pollo
Zarzuelas
Fried Chicken (This is my sister Olivia’s famous and top-secret recipe. I’m still hoping that someday she’ll let me have the recipe!)
Fried fish
Rice and Peas
Macaroni and Cheese
Fried Plantains
Bollos
Upside Down Pineapple Cake
Rice Pudding
It looks like I’m going to have to take a day off from my raw diet on Sunday!
What about all of you? Will you be celebrating Easter? Or did you celebrate Passover on Monday night instead? Or maybe you get to celebrate both? I want to hear about your holiday traditions. Please share!
Oh, and if you know any fun Easter games, share those too. I’m looking for something fun to play with my young nieces and nephews on Sunday.
PREVIOUS
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
afcpam
April 22, 2011
Preston,
This is a happy table, indeed! I love all the colors, the chairs, and the flowers; so pretty! I want to come to Easter at your house! lol
We celebrate Easter as the day Christ rose from the dead and is alive in our hearts and in heaven. What a glorious day! The family gets together and we hide colored eggs for the children. Even some of the older ones…teens and college age…enjoyed finding them. We give prizes for them.
I think it’s fun to have an Easter hat decorating contest. We are having one this year at our Mother-Daughter Brunch next week. We will be giving prizes for Most Outrageous, Most Beautiful, Most Creative, Tallest, Biggest, and Smallest hats.
My mother used to tell us that we put on new clothing at Easter to symbolize that we have a fresh start, a new chance; a putting away of the old, and putting on the new. I love that, don’t you?
I hope you have a wonderful day of feasting, fun and laughter with your family.
I’m cooking for the family this year. Our menu:
Spiral Ham
Roasted Chicken
Deviled Eggs (a funny thing to serve on Easter, don’t you think? LOL)
Broccoli/Cauliflower Casserole
Mac’ and Cheese
Green Beans
Twice Baked Potatoes
Creamed Corn
Yeast Rolls
Devil’s Food Cake with Twinkie Filling and Seven-Minute Frosting
My mother-in-law makes individual, edible nests with malted milk eggs in them; tasty and pretty.
Happy Easter to everyone!
Rodrigo Vasquez
April 22, 2011
Loove all the colors and patterns, they all just fit. and the little touches here and there just make it all come together. looks great.
Tara Noel
April 22, 2011
This is really a beautiful setting! Tulips are my favorite and the colors really do something for the appetite! Our family menu used to look ALOT like yours but in recent years we’re been opting for a reservation for brunch immediately after church at one of the local restaurant. As a result, I’ve been doing a fun Easter party a couple weeks before for the kids. The kids like getting a second chance to dress up, hunt eggs and get early Easter baskets!
Have a great holiday!
Angela
April 22, 2011
Happy Easter !!!!!!!! For the kids- you certainly cannot go wrong with an Easter egg hunt. they always love it. Have fun and enjoy the feast.
Mimi
April 22, 2011
After church, I am hosting an Easter brunch for my family. We always have simple food, but a stunning tablescape to make it extra special. Happy Easter and have a wonderful time with your family!
Marlene
April 22, 2011
Mr Bailey;
I had the honor of meeting you a few months ago at the Learning Annex. I love your Easter table from last year and I hope you can provide us with the recipe to your family’s Upside down Pineapplecake and ” rice with peas ” As a southamerican living here in NY – I also understand the importance of maintaning tradition! All the best and Felices Pasqua y usted es simplemente el mejor!
Courtney {pizzazzerie}
April 23, 2011
I love the tulip centerpiece!! It looks divine!
Mackie Hill
April 23, 2011
Hi Preston….and Happy Easter!
Unfortunately most of my family is far away in Colorado this Easter and I am in Maine, but I will be celebrating Easter with my partner. On the menu are Brown Sugar and Pineapple Ham, Spicy roasted sweet potatoes, oven roasted garlic brussel sprouts, macaroni and cheese, neufchatel pepper spread and English cucumber sandwiches, deviled eggs, and of course my mommee’s famous bunny cake. The tradition that I am emulating is definitely the ham and the bunny cake. Although there are only two of this year I just felt I had to have my mother present with her cake. It is not original as many people make this coconut bunny cake, but my mother made it every Easter while I was growing up and although it has been a while since I have had one, I felt that this year was time for me to restart this tradition! The cake is a homemade white cake cut into the shape of a bunny, slathered in cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with coconut, and then surrounded by green colored coconut with jelly beans. The finished product looks like a bunny sitting in green grass with colored eggs laying all about. It may be a bit corny, but evokes childhood memories that always make me smile.
Yellow lilies, orange tulips, and purple hyacinth will grace our table…along with orange dishes and a light blush tablecloth.
Thanks for sharing your family traditions with us Preston. Happy Easter to you and yours.
giovanna
April 23, 2011
Mr. Preston, I share your memories even though I am younger, I am from Colon, and I remember the dresses I had to wear to go to church, The ladies in their best outfits, then dinner time, it was awesome.
Rowaida Flayhan
April 23, 2011
This is a gorgeous table and so inspiring. Happy Easter wish you a blessed and wonderful weekend with your family.