Help me meal plan: Easter

[bec]

So, I'm having my parents over for Easter. Ham goes without saying (our local meat shop has wonderful bone in hams). I have some fingerling potatoes I can serve, but what kind of vegetables say Easter yumminess?

[Magna]

Steamed asparagus, sugar-snap peas, or young green beans would be ideal, imo. Baby peas with mint (and drizzled with some olive oil) are also a good springtime dish. Baby pattypan squash may be available, and you can pan-fry them for a colorful and tasty dish. You could also add braised pearl onions or oven-roasted cauliflower if you wanted to.

[SBMike]

A nice gazpacho to go with that ham would be good. Also, Marinated cucumbers. Any of the dark green leafy things - wilted spinach, or something with kale if you liek that. Sauteed brussels sprouts. Eggplant ragu. Sauteed mushrooms.Texas caviar (includes beans as well as veggies.)

[bec]

Oooh! Thank you! Those sound fabulous. The peas with the mint are definitely making it onto the menu! I also like the idea of spinach or kale. Maybe I can sautee them with pearl onions and garlic. My plan is to have the ham and Easter Eggs as the protein, roasted fingerling potatoes for the starch and as many vegetable dishes as I can manage!

It helps that my husband is doing South Beach with me, and my parents are doing Weight Watchers, so everyone is really going for healthy foods with good portion control.

Maybe I could do a fruit salad for desert, maybe with some brandy drizzled over it. Yum!

[bethy]

I was gonna say minty peas and vinegary cucumbers too. Pimento cheese stuffed celery. Pretty devilled eggs are mandatory, and you can make fingerling "easter eggs" too. roast with salty skin, then half, mash with something yummy (like sour cream and chives), and restuff. mmm. don't make many!

[Chris55]

If you have room in your oven, you can roast your asparagus or other veggies with some olive oil drizzled on top. So many veggies are great this way - cauliflower, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, etc. To me, nothing says spring like asparagus! Rainbow chard is a nice choice for cooked greens, very colorful. Also adding some strips of red or yellow bell pepper to anything makes it more festive - with asparagus or fresh green beans. You might also try a cold bean salad with diced veggies and a light dressing.

[bec]

How would you prepare the marinated cukes?

The great tragedy of my life is that my wonderful, amazing, soulmate of a husband despises asparagus. Can't stand them. He's great about almost every other veggie, but that one.

I'm about to go to the store (we have one that has an amazing produce section) and see what they have!

[SBMike]

How would you prepare the marinated cukes?

There are ways to do this that take a week or more to get really good (and can stay in the fridge for a month or more.) But a quick way for tomorrow that should serve quite well:

Rice wine vinegar, chopped spring onions, and use the thin english cucumbers -- they work better for the quick method.
Peel and slice cukes. salt them, preferably with kosher salt. Allow to sit 5 minutes.
Chop spring onions.
Place cukes and onions in a plastic container that has a top to fit. If you are like me, finding a top will take longer than chopping the onions.
Cover completely with rice wine vinegar. Close container. Place in fridge overnight.

[bec]

The cucumbers are turning out great! Those will become a regular staple, I think!