I was a little worried this year, but I’m happy to report that you’re never too old for the Easter Bunny…
I swear that I’ll grow up one day, but today is not that day. Today I’m going to let my inner child run wild and free. Today I’m going to enjoy my milky chocolates and fuzzy bunnies. Today… I’m going to tell you all about my Easter weekend. The celebrations started on Saturday morning with some festive Easter egg nail painting…
Essie’s Off The Shoulder
Then it was off to church with the Easter basket in tow.
It’s a Polish tradition to bless a basket of food on Holy Saturday. The foods in the basket most commonly include eggs, meats, cheeses, bread, butter, and salt, but really… anything goes. My family has been doing this for as long as I can remember, and it’s one of the Easter traditions that means the most to me.
After the basket was blessed, I headed on over to my parents’ place to join Mom in the kitchen and help her start prepping food for the next day. There was a lot of chopping…
… wrapping…
… boiling…
… frying…
… baking…
… and beating…
Phew. It was a long day in the kitchen and I may or may not have passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Sunday morning started bright and early with a trip to church. I don’t talk about religion much on Spoons, but my faith is a big part of my life and it’s hard to imagine Easter without all of the accompanying masses and prayers. After mass I headed on over to my parents’ place yet again for a simple Easter brunch, which included all of the foods that we blessed the previous day.
Various meats and cheeses – A variety of breads.
As well as some of the foods that we prepped the day before.
Potato, veggie, and egg salad (similar to this one) – Beetroot broth.
We also partook in another Polish tradition which involves dividing up the eggs we blessed the previous day and exchanging it among ourselves along with a blessing.
The rest of the day was pretty relaxed. There was napping, game playing, and egg hunting…
With the ever essential afternoon break for coffee and cheesecake…
That right there is my contribution to the Easter feasting. It’s an orange ricotta cheesecake recipe that I got from Martha Stewart (I added raisins and almond extract), and even though I’m not really the biggest cheesecake fan, I have to admit that even I enjoyed it (my parents raved about it).
I think it was the fact that it uses ricotta cheese instead of cream cheese – it wasn’t overly cloying the way I find most cheesecakes to be, and I could actually eat more than two bites without having to deal with that strange pasty feeling on my tongue and the back of my throat. No I’m not crazy. Cheesecake is – but this one gets a thumbs up from me.
As for the rest of the day, we had dinner at some point…
Rolladen (bacon, cheese, mushrooms, red peppers, dill pickles, and mustard wrapped up in beef sirloin), kasha with gravy, salad, and roasted brussels.
… before calling it a night and settling down to watch The Hobbit. Overall, it was a marvelous Easter, and because this post has already reached epicness in length, I’ll end it here by wishing you a happy Monday and a happy April Fool’s! Make sure to keep your guard up so you don’t get pranked 😉
. – . – . – .
Cheesecake: yay or nay?
Did you get an Easter basket this weekend? What was in it?
Do you take part in April Fool’s? What was your best prank/pranked moment?
All that food – YUM! My brother made an amazing chicken dish for our Easter…I wish we had more leftovers!
Tasty weekend! I enjoy hearing about other cultures holiday traditions, thanks for sharing yours. I’m super-picky about cheesecakes, they have to taste SUPERB for me to like them, otherwise I get really disappointed. I didn’t get a basket this year but did get some chocolate bunnies & also “borrowed” plenty of candy from the kids in the family. It was a chocolate filled Easter for sure! Have a fab Monday!
I’ve totally been there before–an entire day of food prep and cooking with mom. It actually is super exhausting, but in the best possible way. I love any chance I get to bake or cook a big meal with family, Easter is no different! Looks like yours was wonderful..although I am slightly judging you for not liking cheesecake!
Aww your Easter basket is so cute, this is the first year my mom just gave me a little bag of candy and no real basket came for me from the bunny
I’ve had a few years like that as well… and even one or two where the Bunny didn’t come at all. Parents need to stay on top of those things!
mmm my dad makes a similar polish salad to that 🙂 His is hungarian!
Looks like you had a great weekend 🙂 Happy easter! <3
Looks like such a great weekend! I am salivating a little at some of those food photos.
Connor and I both got Easter baskets…lots of chocolate…and jelly beans. Connor hates jelly beans sooo, good, more for me. 🙂
I’m half German and we have ‘Rolladen’ as well and it’s exactly what you described with the same name. Pretty cool. 😀 Happy Easter!!!! 🙂 🙂
I find that lots of European holiday foods tend to be the same. Happy Easter to you as well 🙂
I think a lot of Polish and (East) German food is the same because they used to be one country not too long ago 😉 I’m German, but my Grandma was born in what is now Poland, but used to be German back then. She made the best Rolladen ever 😀
Your Easter eats look delicious! And I love your bunny!
Love the nail polish colour – so pretty!
Reading this post has made me miss my family even more! Unfortunately I couldn’t make it home this Easter, and had to spend it alone 🙁 My husband is Polish so we follow a lot of the same traditions that your family does. EXCEPT we always have the beet + horseradish relish (salad?) which is my fav! I’m looking forward to next year!
What a wonderful Easter- Thank you for sharing your family traditions- my grandparents were from Poland but my family did not carry on the traditions- I love that you have!
I love all that Easter tradition going on in your family. I do not celebrate Easter but was overall a great weekend. That orange cheesecake looks delicious – although I am not a huge cheesecake person. I have not partaken in April Fools today, hopefully it will be fine
nay for cheesecake but my mom makes an italian cheesecake made with riccotta and i love that! go figure;-)
i am polish as well but for out meal we have kielbasa, pierogies, babka, saukraut, etc….have you ever had those things? random i know i was jw xoxoxoxo
Yup! Actually, our holiday meals used to be primarily made up of those foods so I have no idea what happened this year. Mom was responsible for the menu planning – I just brought dessert.
Looks like you a had a beautiful feast for Easter! I am not a big cheesecake fan either, it’s often too rich for my taste. But I do love pumpkin pie cheesecake, that stuff is SO good!
That potato, veggie, and egg salad sounds fabulous!!
And cheesecake? Um, that would be a definite YAY, especially if it involves pumpkin, peanut butter, and/or chocolate! What can I say, I love my chocolate :).
I am glad that you had a great Easter!
That egg salad is easily one of my favorite holiday meals, especially because we only make it around the holidays. It’s such a work intensive dish, but more than worth it in the end.
I LOVE cheesecake – in any form! I’ve only made it from scratch once though. I actually prefer whipped cheesecakes for texture reasons. They just taste better, and like you said, don’t coat your mouth with filling!
Glad you had a nice weekend with your family! Those are the best!
Mmm cheesecake. I have to admit that I’m a fan and am now incredibly intrigued by the idea of using ricotta cheese in one. I love that you still get an easter basket and that your family has such meaningful traditions…easter has never been a big one for us and we don’t get baskets anymore, but I’ll take any excuse for family time with tasty food 🙂
Cheesecake is definitely a big YAY for me..I love the stuff its so good!!
looks like you had a lovely Easter filled with delicious food; all of it looks so good! You’re definitely never too old to enjoy Easter and loads of chocolate haha 😉
Glad you had a good Easter weekend! Quick question. I was slowly making my way through reading your old blog. It was really inspiring to see your whole story-where you came from and where you are today. Is there a reason why you protected it?
I’ve been going back and forth on the idea of shutting it down for a long time now and I finally decided to do it because it’s a place I wrote in so long ago and I never really check up on anymore, so it feels a little vulnerable leaving it all out in the open like that. If you want to finish reading, shoot me an e-mail and I’d be more than happy to grant you access.
Wow, your Easter looks like a lot of fun. I am loving the basket too. I got an Easter Package full from my parents with some new running shoes and that is all I really wanted LOL. It was somewhat saddening celebrating Easter by myself this year (even my friends were out of town) but I had a good time.
On a side note-I really like that color of your nails. Thinking I might have to purchase it.
It looks like you had a fantastic Easter weekend! I am jealous of your spread 🙂 No Easter basket for me this year… My mom just sets out candy for all of us to share after dinner.
Cheesecake is probably my least favorite dessert. Although I like the taste, I do understand the hatred for the “pasty” taste in your mouth. I’d definitely choose cake over cheeesecake any day. I got an Easter Egg filled with goodies and an easter egg with some money. Nothing too special!
Neat! Thank you for sharing your Easter traditions! Your food looks amazing! I had a small chocolate bunny that my exercise instructor brought for everyone on Sunday. Rude! lol It was a nice gesture and tasty too. Have a great day!
What a fun Easter celebration for you!
I love that you got an Easter basket, because I did too:)
My parents will probably get me stuff forever haha. I’m fine with it.
I’m so the opposite, I hate every cake but cheesecake. It’s my favorite.
I always love learning more about your family traditions! It’s so interesting.
Happy Monday love!
I was actually never a huge cheesecake fan… prob the lactose intollerancy haha but it always looks/smells amazing! My Nana used to make a homemade cheesecake allll the time and apparently it was the best, but I never got a chance to try it out lol Glad to see you’re not to old for Peter Cottontail 😉 I’m happy to say I wasn’t either… thank God 😀
Sounds like an amazing Easter!!
We kept it simple, church, nap (well he napped, I worked out lol) then dinner with his parents and an easter egg hunt with his little sister. Oh and we did our taxes. Nothing says family bonding like doing your taxes together!! lol
Ugh. That reminds me that I have to get some quality bonding time in with mine too 😕
I love that I still get an Easter basket. And I love that you get one too! Never ever ever too old for the Easter Bunny ;).
I really love cheesecake, but I don’t eat it that often. The Easter Bunny brought me an Easter basket complete with a new dress, leggings, chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate, jelly beans, a lanyard for my annual pass to Walt Disney World, and a Little Mermaid bath mitt. I don’t think I’ll ever get too old for the Easter Bunny 😉
I’m glad you had a nice Easter my dear! And yes, you can never be too old for the Easter bunny….I’m going to be like 40 and still insisting that I get my chocolate bunny for Easter.
That cheesecake looks amazing. If I was a cheesecake-hater, I think it would have the power to convert me :-p
And I loved reading about your family’s Polish traditions! Different cultural traditions are so interesting to me. And that rolladen sounds so good – wanna make me one? :-p
Happy Monday! <3
As much as it pains me to say it, I’m afraid you’re going to have to settle for one of my mom’s rolladen 😉 Working with raw meat still skeeves me out, so I made her do all the rolling 😆
That looks like one beautiful Easter! So glad that you enjoyed!
So cute you still get an easter basket! I usually still get one too, but mike and decided to opt out of them this year! We just wanted to save the money since nursery stuff costs us a lot! We did gift cards and a small gift card!
Fun to hear the polish traditions!
Happy monday love!
I’m SO with you on the Cheesecake! It’s not even an ED thing but I always thought it was too “dry” and, yes, pasty, instead preferring creamier cakes. Speaking of cake, though: I finally had some this weekend and there’s evidence in pictures :).
Not actually a whole Easter basket but my mum got me a chocolate Easter bunny when I was actually expecting to not get anything.
Thanks for letting us know a bit more about Polish Easter traditions. I do really enjoy learning about other countries’ traditions and religions and I know next to nothing about the Polish one so I’d enjoy you sharing more!
Let her eat cake! Great job, girlie. And that’s so sweet of your mom to surprise you with chocolate 🙂
I could go for a coffee and cheesecake break everyday! I like the sound of that. 🙂
My boyfriend’s family is Polish and they do a similar egg blessing tradition. They each bring a hard boiled egg and you have to it against the person sitting next to you’s egg. Then whoever’s egg doesn’t end up cracking says a blessing for the whole family.
Yes, you may not discuss faith often on your blog, but this post was beautifully written, Amanda! Just to read your words about God, and how much Easter means to you, and your family just warms my heart <3
Your Easter looks so much better than mine!!! Love that nail color, too. I am NOT a fan of cheesecake either! I’d much rather have something chocolate-y (lets pretend that’s a word) or ice cream 😉
Cheesecake. All the way. My aunt makes the BEST homemade cheesecake. By the way, I think I’ll be making a trip to Canada next Easter 🙂
Pack warm clothes! We have snow – hence why the egg hunt was inside 😆
So my mom got me an easter basket with WAY too much candy in it! Darn her. I do love the mini cadburry eggs though! So good. And Cheesecake is probably my #2 after carrot cake. YUM! Looks like you had a great Easter
I haven’t eaten breakfast yet and now i’m starving, all your pictures look amazing! I love the bunny in the Easter basket and theres no better way to spend a holiday than with friends and family
You don’t like cheesecake??? Can we still be friends?? Of course because it only means that I get your share ;)! On that note I am absolutely yay when it comes to cheesecake. When it comes to dessert, it’s almost on par with ice cream, which says a lot!
Your Easter looks wonderful…and delicious for that matter, Amanda! You and your mom look like quite a team. Food aside, I’m loving that shade of Essie- I might have to seek it out in time for summer.
Egg hunting: the greatest tradition every created. I love your family easter traditions! Good food, relaxing, and the best company make for a truly marvelous holiday. I hope you owned the hunt though. Somebody had to since my skills are sub par right now.
I owned it, but that’s only because I was the only one playing 😆 Apparently you DO outgrow egg hunts at some point, but I haven’t reached it yet 😉