Happy Easter!
There's something wonderful about Easter... spiritually as well as physically. Easter brings *hope*... hope for a better world, hope for a new beginning, hope for a new better tomorrow (and on a more personal note - hope that if we keep trying, one day we'll get it right).
Emily Dickinson's poem about Hope is one of my favorites:
"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
And sweetest in the gale is heard,
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
and on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me."
And on a lighter note... Easter brings families together for services, gatherings, food, and candy! Easter Egg Hunts are great fun! Watching the kiddies run around in the green grass (or snow as the case may be) looking for brightly colored eggs, Spring flowers in abundance (although since Easter is a bit early and winter still hanging on, flowers are a bit scarce this year), new life and Chocolate Bunnies!! What a wonderful world!
Don't mean to be too Pollyanna about it, I do know that life is hard and some people (here and in other countries) are in extreme difficulty, but I do believe that our attitude and perceptions and inner beliefs can help alter lives and re-activate hope. The other poem/saying (?) that runs through my head almost daily is "The world is so full of wonderful things... you'd think that we'd all be as happy as kings."
We're having an odd Easter dinner. DH and I love stuffed artichokes and we don't get them often. His mother (who is 95) made them for us in years past in New Orleans. So since Central Market had some beautiful ones this week, I decided to stuff one for us. If any of you are interested in stuffing your own, I kind of did a 'picture commentary' on how it's done (pretty simple really).
 |
| Remove pointy tops of leaves |
Assemble ingredients:
bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, olive oil (salt and pepper optional)
Spoon stuffing into leaves...
 |
| close up of stuffed artichoke |
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| Steam in covered pot until leaves come off easily (about 45 -60 mins) |
and then:
we'll have manicotti, salad,
and
PIE!
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| Buttermilk pie |
It all sounds delicious. Have a wonderful Easter, Rian. Deb
ReplyDeleteThe artichokes do look very tasty. I must admit that I have never eaten one like that. Hmmm. Hope you have a Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteI never knew how to stuff an artichoke, and now I do. Thank you. Custard pie? Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter! Ditto on the artichokes, we bet they're yummy done like that!
ReplyDeleteFirstly ..Happy Easter ....sounds like you had a lovely meal ...have only had Artichoke twice and never this way...and the pie is not one I've come across ....must look it up.
ReplyDeleteI cooked two chickens yesterday ...upside down so they stayed moist ...and had them cold today with homemade coleslaw and potato salad etc and cold sausages and hard boiled eggs. I sliced the breast and made a chicken mayo mix with the remainder meat...every one loved it ...even Kris who had thrown up earlier. said he had to have a small helping.
Like Kelly, I have never eaten an artichoke. My mother was English, she only did overcooked vegetables, usually from a can. I learned early(when she tried to make me eat Lima beans, that vegetables were not fit for human consumption. One of these days I'll have to try an artichoke and see if my early perception was correct.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Oh! That looks incredibly delicious! I love artichokes and will have to give this one a try. A very happy Easter and spring season to you and yours, Rian. :-)
ReplyDeleteOOO, stuffed artichoke! That makes my mouth water. My Sicilian mother-in-law used to bake hers in the oven. But any way it is cooked, I love artichokes. I have never had a buttermilk pie. have you posted that recipe before?
ReplyDeleteI hope your day was a perfect blend of food and family.
I have never eaten artichoke, what sort of a flavour does it have? It looks delicious :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you've had a great Easter.
blessings,
Diana
Thanks for all your wonderful comments. I will post the recipe for Stuffed Artichoke and Buttermilk Pie soon. Both were delicious. As for the 'flavor' of Artichoke, I'm at a loss here. You just have to try it... :)
ReplyDeleteRian, I hope that your Easter was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWE had a strange Easter dinner, too..."Bubble and Squeak"! We had dinner at my daughter's. Bubble and Squeak is cabbage, potatoes and diced ham. Funny name but it's delicious!!!
Jan
I have heard of 'bubble and squeak'... but I thought it involved sausage? However, it may be one of those English/Scottish(?) dinners that can be done with ham or sausage. Whichever - its sounds delicious!
DeleteWhat a great idea for an Easter lunch with a difference. I loved the poem and belatedly wish you and your loved ones a very haoppy Easter, Rian.
ReplyDeleteHave never seen a Stuffed Artichoke before!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfectly delicious looking Dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder what butter milk pie tastes like...sounds like a southern dish. Not to sure about the artichoke,,,but it is pretty and impressive.
ReplyDeleteButtermilk pie is similar to custard pie... another of my favorites. Artichoke has a very mild flavor... but can't describe it. The main flavor comes from the stuffing, but unstuffed steamed artichokes are good too.
ReplyDeleteHi Rian, this sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favorites!
ReplyDelete