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Does the thought of hosting a Easter dinner or a holiday intimidate you? Or are you a seasoned host looking for some new tricks? I LOVE to host, whether if it is inviting a neighbor in or hosting a large holiday dinner, I am just happier with people in my home. Often the details evade me, so I try and force myself to take a few minutes to plan out ahead of time. And since I have time on my side this year, I thought I would share my plans with you all! Here is our Easter menu for this year. Nothing crazy, simple but delicious recipes, and some you can make ahead too (I will tell you some cheats to make your life easier on the day of!). I also included a full ingredient shopping list at the bottom of the post to take all the guesswork out. And our simple Easter tablescape that I actually planned ahead… again, big ideas over here, not so great with the details. I am the one throwing a table together as the guests are walking through the door…. Again, working on it! I grabbed a few things at Target that are very timeless and seasonless, added some spring colors, and voila! Easter dinner table!
Easter Dinner Menu
Brown Sugar Ham
Ham to me is synonymous with Easter. It is very simple to make (most hams are already cooked, you just need to warm them for a few hours basically!). The trick to a stand out ham is to make a bomb brown sugar glaze. Again, not hard to do!
Fruit Cups with Sherbet
My uncle would always bring this to our holiday meals growing up. It may not be the most conventional dish, but it was such a delicious appetizer! Simply combine your favorite fruits and top with a big spoonful of rainbow sherbet for an unexpected yet incredible appetizer! I think this year I will do strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, blueberries, and kiwi.
Scalloped Potatoes
Some sort of cheesy potatoes must be on the menu, regardless of the holiday. This one is new for me an apparently very highly rated from this cookbook. I am excited to give it a shot!
Deviled Eggs
Again, another holiday staple! And these are so easy to make. My favorite way to boil eggs is to put them in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes, then remove from heat. Remove water and cover with ice until cooled off. Once the eggs have cooled off, they will peel perfectly! You can also use this tool which is seriously magical.
Iced Hot Cross Buns
A good roll is always a good idea on a holiday! These are on the sweet side with the icing, which speaks Easter dinner to me.
Balsamic Glazed Vegetables
A classic roasted vegetable is always a good idea! Sometimes holidays can get a little casserole-heavy, so a healthier option here will have your waistline thanking you (summer is coming!). I am making the Brussels sprouts and also a separate carrot dish.
MAKE AHEAD
We are all busy people, right? Well the key to holiday success is to make ahead whatever you can. For our Easter dinner plans here, I will make the majority of the meal ahead of time! The hot cross bun dough can be made early and kept in the fridge to bake the day of, eggs for the deviled eggs can be boiled in advance, veggies prepared for roasting, and potato dish completely prepared ahead of time. You can spread the work out up to three days prior to the holiday so the day of will be stress free! It has been my key to success to holiday hosting with little kids under foot or on the hip, and in my case, in utero and all of the above.
Another life saver for me is grocery ordering. If you follow me on instagram I share our weekly dinner meal plans every weekend. I have a full blog post coming to explain my process, how I save money, and maximize my time (hello 4.5 kids and crazy schedules!), but a preview is ORDER YOUR GROCERIES. Especially with a longer list like this, it will save you so much time and wandering the aisles if you aren’t familiar with a specific item location.
Easter Dinner Tablescape
Here is what I threw together for our Easter dinner! Nothing too fancy, just mixing a few classic pieces. I do need your opinion at the bottom though…
Shop my decor here. Can you believe those gold chargers are only $2?! And don’t tell anyone, but I use them for every holiday… this beautiful china is from my dad’s aunt who passed away a few years ago. I never had china prior to this and I love pulling it out every Easter! Just feels so spring to me and makes me think about how much I love my family.
This is a reminder (for me) to just do it.
Host even when you aren’t ready. Our house is still under construction (can you see the dumpster out front?) and I had to take pictures from strategic angles to avoid the ab machine we brought up to sell and the buyer flaked. And the chandelier we haven’t hung yet. And the barware from the bar area we tore out and doesn’t have a home until we renovate the kitchen…. Life doesn’t stop, and life will never be perfect. So host anyway!
Can you help me decide between bowls for the fruit salad? I can’t decide between whimsy or more classic… Maybe I should just decide based on the portion size…
And because you didn’t ask, here is Dustin’s whole home renovation because I am just so proud of him.
And for those who are new around here, here is a little about me!
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