Here’s how spacey I am these days: When I made this week’s meal plan, I completely forgot that both Passover and Easter are happening. So let’s talk! What are you planning, and how can I help?
(That picture, btw, is chocolate toffee matzo crack/crunch with pistachios and salt. Here’s a good recipe for it.)
Completely ignoring Easter. We usually celebrate with my (Catholic) dad's family, but the rest of us are Jewish so I'm fine not doing anything, especially since we're all vegetarian and it's not like I was looking forward to a ham or anything.
For Passover: Matzo ball soup, all the normal seder plate stuff, and maybe some sweet potato fries so I can make sure my toddlers eat something. We're doing a mini seder over Zoom with my in-laws before the sun goes down. Still trying to think of a dessert.
We’re not observant except with extended family celebrations. My daughter turns three on Easter Day so we’re going to celebrate her! Per request, Nachos and apples and Strawberry ice cream in a cone and nachos and milk.
Ohgoodness. It's so incredibly lazy I'm embarrassed to share!
I got some kind of super fancy jarred cherries as a gift from my uncle in law a few days ago, and I picked up couple boxes of the trader Joe's brownie truffle mix and just combined the two than baked for 50 minutes. End result is pretty darn decadent in flavor. Its how my gram used to always show me how to make them, for quick pantry baking.
Easter is usually my holiday so I do brunch with around 25-30 family members & friends, sadly this year we can’t do it, our state is in total lockdown and I’m not even going to the store this week. So it will just be our little family of four, I’m still making brunch I had a ham from Christmas in my deep freeze and plenty in my pantry & fridge for quiche, potato’s and salad, no croissants and no desert but it’s ok, I promised my family and friends after Covid is over we’ll be throwing a bbq and swim party this summer. I would love to do a crusty bread not necessarily for Easter Sunday but one that doesn’t require yeast, I have a lot of baking supplies in my pantry
Admit that I am being super lazy and purchasing a premade family meal from a local restaurant. I can't seem to get the energy to plan and find ingredients for a special meal, and only three of us are here anyway.
For Passover, I am going to make matzah ball soup and a pot roast. The side dishes will be mashed potatoes or potato kugel and salad and maybe roasted carrots. Also all the Seder plate items, except no shank bone. A bunch of hardboiled eggs. And matzah toffee and fruit for dessert. Pretty traditional. For Easter, we decided to do a brunch for the 4 of us, which is not our typical family tradition. Usually we have a big dinner with ham, kielbasa and lamb, but my kids don't like lamb and I don't really like ham, at least not enough to cook a big ham for the 4 of us. So for the brunch, I think cinnamon rolls, eggs, "Polish easter bread", grilled ham steaks and fruit...I also have kielbasa in the freezer and could serve that too. (I'm Jewish and husband is Catholic)
That all sounds great, Ann! My husband is such a laid-back Catholic that I doubt we'll do anything. Usually our Easter observance involves giving candy to the kid. Which I just realized I don't have this year... Oops.
oh my gosh, my grandparents were from Poland. I had completely forgotten about the Polish Easter bread until you mentioned it. They didn't cook at all, so think a neighbor gave it to them. Warm memories.
We do a Polish Easter with kielbasa and pierogies and other delicious heavy food s. I usually travel to Brooklyn to get everything we need the week before Easter but since we are stuck at home and not riding the subway, I ordered everything we need and am keeping my fingers crossed it will be here soon. I also make a “lamb cake” which is essentially a pound cake in a lamb shaped mold- and I tried to get out of it this year bc I am so swamped with work, but my girls wouldn’t hear of it. I am not sure when I will get the baking done though.
Great recipe! My kids love crack/crunch. I've been trying to find inspiration about cooking for Easter, but it just isn't there. Not sure what I'll do. Once Sunday is here I'm sure I'll be disappointed if I don't have something planned.
We were pretty lucky being able to source just about everything we need to get through Passover. In family tradition fashion I forgot the horseradish, and we need to get dates and ice cream to get us through the week. I think we're doing a pot roast (got SUPER lucky finding a chuck roast!) for seder with veggie matzoh ball soup (since chicken isn't an option), and a carrot kugel that my daughter loves. It's a lot of work, but once or twice a year I'll do it. I haven't gotten as far as dessert yet. I'm pulling a Scarlett O'Hara on that one (I'll think about it tomorrow...) We were able to find matzo but no matzo crackers. We may end up having Easter dinner with my folks (who are Catholic, and we're "sharing" a household for the duration of this, altho we have two houses.) But I'm not responsible for that. We're cooking for them on Thursday night - shepard's pie, but with ground turkey instead of a mix of turkey and lamb.
A pot roast, NICE. I scored some short ribs at the farmers market on Sunday but I think it'll be too much food for the three of us, factoring in the matzo ball soup.
I'm going to miss making matzo crack this year! I couldn't get matzo so we have to make it from scratch and I don't think we'll have enough left to allow for matzo crack. *sad face*
NB: I'm Christian, my husband is Jewish and we are not particularly observant on any front so god knows my seder meal is probably violating all sorts of dietary restrictions. Full apologies.
I'll make matzo ball soup and charoset. I managed to find gefilte fish at the store. I have NO IDEA what to do about side dishes for the chicken.
For Good Friday I have shrimp (no meat and yet somehow a special dinner, whee!). I may do polenta with that (please see note about not being observant - we'll be eating bread products for Easter even though it's Passover, it's all just a mess) and then...some sort of vegetable?
Things I have in the house for possible side dishes for Good Friday/Passover Seder: Polenta, rice, potatoes, most beans, couscous, frozen peas, beets, acorn squash, butternut squash, beet greens, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, snow peas. Limited amount of carrots.
I'd love to hear everyone's menu!!
Debbie, I'd love to know what to serve with my chicken at Passover - or how much you really make - I feel like between the soup and the chicken and the charoset and the matzo it's already a lot of food, but I know there's always other stuff too. I just can't remember what the other stuff is!! I also couldn't get a shank bone (or at least didn't want to risk venturing out to a place where I could get one) so if there's any sub for that on the seder plate, I'd love to know. Currently debating using the stuffed shank bone from my kid's plush seder plate.
Growing up my family always had a GIGUNDUS meal for Passover--there'd be the usual nibbles during the seder itself, then gefilte fish, then matzo ball soup, then a turkey or brisket or other huge piece of meat. Usually with a matzo farfel or potato kugel and some kind of carrot dish. And then multiple desserts. I think I had a stomach ache every year. For just the three of us we'll be keeping it light, with matzo ball soup and maybe some roast chicken parts (couldn't find a whole chicken). I *may make a potato kugel since it's one of the few special dishes my son actually likes, but who knows.
For Passover I’m making potato kugel cups Or a side I think. Would be a good chicken side https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/potato-kugel-cups/ or tsimmes is traditional. All types of carrot/sweet potato hybrid recipes out there. I’m making a sweet potato kugel type thing one night. I’m using a chicken drumstick bone on the sedar plate.
Those look delicious Jamie! My kids would love them. We usually do tsimmes with mostly carrots (which I have quite few of), so I didn't think about the sweet potatoes, but I think I could make enough for the family if I stretch it with our sweet potatoes! Thanks!
We typically use a parsnip in place of a shank bone, because we often have a vegetarian seder. We're not, this year, because I could actually get the pot roast, but I'm still using a parsnip. :) I roast it whole.
This all sounds amazing - do you have a matzo recipe that you like? I haven't made it from scratch before and I'm daunted. I'm thinking through my menu this evening and will share. Similarly, I'm in a mixed fairly non-religious household that has both Passover and Easter traditions/meals.
My son baked matzo in hebrew school when he was little, but I'm not sure I'd recommend that ;). I trust recipes at Leite's Culinaria since they always do a lot of testing. This one looks good: https://leitesculinaria.com/84910/recipes-homemade-matzoh.html (and now I see that Carrie already linked to it!)
Completely ignoring Easter. We usually celebrate with my (Catholic) dad's family, but the rest of us are Jewish so I'm fine not doing anything, especially since we're all vegetarian and it's not like I was looking forward to a ham or anything.
For Passover: Matzo ball soup, all the normal seder plate stuff, and maybe some sweet potato fries so I can make sure my toddlers eat something. We're doing a mini seder over Zoom with my in-laws before the sun goes down. Still trying to think of a dessert.
We're doing matzo ball soup and a Zoom seder, too! No sweet potato fries, though.
I’m just feeling grateful we managed to find enough eggs that the kids can dye some!
That's a nice feeling, isn't it?
We’re not observant except with extended family celebrations. My daughter turns three on Easter Day so we’re going to celebrate her! Per request, Nachos and apples and Strawberry ice cream in a cone and nachos and milk.
OMG that sounds wonderful!
Oh, is easter happening so soon? With the lockdown I've been finding it all to easy to lose track of what day it is much less the date!
I may pick up and have a small lunch with my family at home for easter, but otherwise absolutely nothing is really getting planned.
I'm still baking like my life depends on it to try and keep busy. The last few days have been all about cherry chocolate brownies. Delicious!
I need cherry chocolate brownies. Recipe?
Ohgoodness. It's so incredibly lazy I'm embarrassed to share!
I got some kind of super fancy jarred cherries as a gift from my uncle in law a few days ago, and I picked up couple boxes of the trader Joe's brownie truffle mix and just combined the two than baked for 50 minutes. End result is pretty darn decadent in flavor. Its how my gram used to always show me how to make them, for quick pantry baking.
Easter is usually my holiday so I do brunch with around 25-30 family members & friends, sadly this year we can’t do it, our state is in total lockdown and I’m not even going to the store this week. So it will just be our little family of four, I’m still making brunch I had a ham from Christmas in my deep freeze and plenty in my pantry & fridge for quiche, potato’s and salad, no croissants and no desert but it’s ok, I promised my family and friends after Covid is over we’ll be throwing a bbq and swim party this summer. I would love to do a crusty bread not necessarily for Easter Sunday but one that doesn’t require yeast, I have a lot of baking supplies in my pantry
I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of bbq parties this summer, assuming we're allowed to leave out homes.
Admit that I am being super lazy and purchasing a premade family meal from a local restaurant. I can't seem to get the energy to plan and find ingredients for a special meal, and only three of us are here anyway.
Honestly, I think that's a great idea. I have no idea how I'm going to get food for the seder done in time.
I am feeling that same low energy around making something “special” and am 100% borrowing this idea.
For Passover, I am going to make matzah ball soup and a pot roast. The side dishes will be mashed potatoes or potato kugel and salad and maybe roasted carrots. Also all the Seder plate items, except no shank bone. A bunch of hardboiled eggs. And matzah toffee and fruit for dessert. Pretty traditional. For Easter, we decided to do a brunch for the 4 of us, which is not our typical family tradition. Usually we have a big dinner with ham, kielbasa and lamb, but my kids don't like lamb and I don't really like ham, at least not enough to cook a big ham for the 4 of us. So for the brunch, I think cinnamon rolls, eggs, "Polish easter bread", grilled ham steaks and fruit...I also have kielbasa in the freezer and could serve that too. (I'm Jewish and husband is Catholic)
That all sounds great, Ann! My husband is such a laid-back Catholic that I doubt we'll do anything. Usually our Easter observance involves giving candy to the kid. Which I just realized I don't have this year... Oops.
oh my gosh, my grandparents were from Poland. I had completely forgotten about the Polish Easter bread until you mentioned it. They didn't cook at all, so think a neighbor gave it to them. Warm memories.
We do a Polish Easter with kielbasa and pierogies and other delicious heavy food s. I usually travel to Brooklyn to get everything we need the week before Easter but since we are stuck at home and not riding the subway, I ordered everything we need and am keeping my fingers crossed it will be here soon. I also make a “lamb cake” which is essentially a pound cake in a lamb shaped mold- and I tried to get out of it this year bc I am so swamped with work, but my girls wouldn’t hear of it. I am not sure when I will get the baking done though.
Great recipe! My kids love crack/crunch. I've been trying to find inspiration about cooking for Easter, but it just isn't there. Not sure what I'll do. Once Sunday is here I'm sure I'll be disappointed if I don't have something planned.
What about something simple but still fun, like a Dutch baby?
We were pretty lucky being able to source just about everything we need to get through Passover. In family tradition fashion I forgot the horseradish, and we need to get dates and ice cream to get us through the week. I think we're doing a pot roast (got SUPER lucky finding a chuck roast!) for seder with veggie matzoh ball soup (since chicken isn't an option), and a carrot kugel that my daughter loves. It's a lot of work, but once or twice a year I'll do it. I haven't gotten as far as dessert yet. I'm pulling a Scarlett O'Hara on that one (I'll think about it tomorrow...) We were able to find matzo but no matzo crackers. We may end up having Easter dinner with my folks (who are Catholic, and we're "sharing" a household for the duration of this, altho we have two houses.) But I'm not responsible for that. We're cooking for them on Thursday night - shepard's pie, but with ground turkey instead of a mix of turkey and lamb.
A pot roast, NICE. I scored some short ribs at the farmers market on Sunday but I think it'll be too much food for the three of us, factoring in the matzo ball soup.
I'm going to miss making matzo crack this year! I couldn't get matzo so we have to make it from scratch and I don't think we'll have enough left to allow for matzo crack. *sad face*
NB: I'm Christian, my husband is Jewish and we are not particularly observant on any front so god knows my seder meal is probably violating all sorts of dietary restrictions. Full apologies.
For passover: I'm going to spatchcock a chicken (This recipe is killer: https://www.kitchenistadiaries.com/2016/08/majorkeyalert-tutorial-for-crispy.html)
I'll make matzo ball soup and charoset. I managed to find gefilte fish at the store. I have NO IDEA what to do about side dishes for the chicken.
For Good Friday I have shrimp (no meat and yet somehow a special dinner, whee!). I may do polenta with that (please see note about not being observant - we'll be eating bread products for Easter even though it's Passover, it's all just a mess) and then...some sort of vegetable?
For Easter breakfast: probably deviled eggs, definitely Portuguese Sweet Bread (which is a sweet enriched dough that uses milk and eggs and SUGAR) sweet bread recipe here: http://oneperfectbite.blogspot.com/2013/07/portuguese-sweet-bread.html
For Easter dinner: Duck Breasts https://carrietracy.blogspot.com/2009/10/beginners-duck.html
Probably roast squash and probably a Pommes Anna.
Things I have in the house for possible side dishes for Good Friday/Passover Seder: Polenta, rice, potatoes, most beans, couscous, frozen peas, beets, acorn squash, butternut squash, beet greens, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, snow peas. Limited amount of carrots.
I'd love to hear everyone's menu!!
Debbie, I'd love to know what to serve with my chicken at Passover - or how much you really make - I feel like between the soup and the chicken and the charoset and the matzo it's already a lot of food, but I know there's always other stuff too. I just can't remember what the other stuff is!! I also couldn't get a shank bone (or at least didn't want to risk venturing out to a place where I could get one) so if there's any sub for that on the seder plate, I'd love to know. Currently debating using the stuffed shank bone from my kid's plush seder plate.
Growing up my family always had a GIGUNDUS meal for Passover--there'd be the usual nibbles during the seder itself, then gefilte fish, then matzo ball soup, then a turkey or brisket or other huge piece of meat. Usually with a matzo farfel or potato kugel and some kind of carrot dish. And then multiple desserts. I think I had a stomach ache every year. For just the three of us we'll be keeping it light, with matzo ball soup and maybe some roast chicken parts (couldn't find a whole chicken). I *may make a potato kugel since it's one of the few special dishes my son actually likes, but who knows.
For Passover I’m making potato kugel cups Or a side I think. Would be a good chicken side https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/potato-kugel-cups/ or tsimmes is traditional. All types of carrot/sweet potato hybrid recipes out there. I’m making a sweet potato kugel type thing one night. I’m using a chicken drumstick bone on the sedar plate.
Those look amazing! Like baked latkes.
Those look delicious Jamie! My kids would love them. We usually do tsimmes with mostly carrots (which I have quite few of), so I didn't think about the sweet potatoes, but I think I could make enough for the family if I stretch it with our sweet potatoes! Thanks!
We typically use a parsnip in place of a shank bone, because we often have a vegetarian seder. We're not, this year, because I could actually get the pot roast, but I'm still using a parsnip. :) I roast it whole.
A parsnip because the color is right, or for some other reason?
The shape, I think? vaguely bone shaped? IDEK. :)
This all sounds amazing - do you have a matzo recipe that you like? I haven't made it from scratch before and I'm daunted. I'm thinking through my menu this evening and will share. Similarly, I'm in a mixed fairly non-religious household that has both Passover and Easter traditions/meals.
My son baked matzo in hebrew school when he was little, but I'm not sure I'd recommend that ;). I trust recipes at Leite's Culinaria since they always do a lot of testing. This one looks good: https://leitesculinaria.com/84910/recipes-homemade-matzoh.html (and now I see that Carrie already linked to it!)
Unsurprisingly, I've never made matzo before. I've seen people recommend this recipe: https://leitesculinaria.com/84910/recipes-homemade-matzoh.html
I'm thinking of using this one: https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2016/04/19/homemade-matzoh-in-18-minutes/
Lots of people seem to be planning on doing this Mark Bittman one: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013086-olive-oil-matzo
I'm totally unafraid, because at least it doesn't take very long!!
That's the spirit!
Have you seen this? I don't know if there's a recipe but someone suggested this as a good resource. https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/april-2019/how-to-make-your-own-matzah
I can't even imagine making matzo at home! impressed.