I’m participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge, hosted by Stacey Shubitz and Ruth Ayres at Two Writing Teachers.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and I find myself in the midst of preparing a holiday meal for my family (correct that: husband). The kids were not able to be home this weekend, so it looks like it is just the two of us, plus Rosie, of course.
Since it was just going to be us two, I suggested that we go out to eat for Easter dinner. Husband wasn’t feeling it. Thought it “would not be right if we didn’t have our Easter ham” and lo and behold guess what I’m making for dinner tomorrow? You guessed it : ham!
This isn’t surprising as we all have our dearly held holiday traditions. Some are our own, some handed down from family.
Tonight I am making my mom’s orange-pineapple-carrot jello salad, and for dessert her “ice-box cake” which is not a cake but does reside in the “ice-box” (remember when we called it that?).
My mom died this past October, and I find that one of the ways I keep her close to me is by making some of the dishes she loved and looked forward to, especially around the holidays. If it’s Easter, you must make a ham, little red potatoes, fresh asparagus, and orange-pineapple-carrot jello salad (served with the meal, even though husband feels this is actually a dessert). The ice-box cake is a nice addition for dessert (which mom ate at every meal and never had to diet her whole 85 years!).
So, Mom, you will be thrilled to know that your daughter (who you thought didn’t cook enough “real meals” for her family) is making you proud by serving your favorite Easter meal.
I miss you, Mom.
gstevensblog 
Sounds like comfort food at it’s finest, enjoy and I hope the meal bring lovely memories of your Mom.
So true, no matter where in the world you are, when you fix one of those specials holliday foods your family is right there with you, at least in spirit.
Happy day! Good luck with the leftovers! We always share those special memories on special days. May all your memories be happy ones.
I knew this must be a family tradition. Food has that way of transmitting family history. I know you are missing your Mom but I sense how preparing this Easter feast is one way of keeping her close.
Somehow traditions are almost always tied to food, and keeping those traditions keeps us close to loved ones, even when they’re not there. I will never eat my mother’s apple cake without thinking of my dad, who absolutely adored this heavy, but moist cake recipe that was passed down to mom from my grandmother. I hope you and your husband enjoy your Easter dinner tomorrow. When you eat your Orange-Pineapple-Carrot Jello Salad and ice-box cake, your whole family will be there in spirit.