Easter Dinner Down South

Easter dinner is a joyous celebration that brings together loved ones to partake in delicious food and cherish each other's company. It symbolizes the resurrection and renewal of life, making it a time for reflection and gratitude. The dining table becomes a focal point for sharing stories, laughter, and creating lasting memories with family and friends. The feast invokes a sense of tradition and togetherness. It's a time when generations gather around the table, sharing not just food but also stories, laughter, and love. As the aroma of delicious dishes fills the air, the spirit of Easter infuses the room with warmth and gratitude, creating a sense of unity that transcends time and space.

The Easter Feast honors cooking traditions.Photo byDown South Today

This cherished tradition not only nourishes the body but also the soul, offering a respite from the stress of everyday life. Through the simple act of breaking bread together, families reaffirm their bonds and create new memories. Easter dinner is more than just a meal; it's a communal experience that embodies the essence of love.

My mother was the quintessential self-taught Southern cook who used no cookbook and ran her kitchen with military precision. The dinner table would rival a spread in a fancy restaurant. Colorful choices of meats, fowl, vegetables and fruit salads were served with sweet iced tea. Desserts usually included one of her pies and a cake. We ate while sharing stories, taking time to serve ourselves and be certain that everything was tasted. Should anyone dare skip an item, Mom, almost on cue, would politely suggest: “You really must try my squash casserole.”

I’ve included my Mother’s favorite dessert recipe. Her version of Lemon Meringue Pie remains a personal favorite. It’s loaded with nostalgia and each bite takes me back to those halcyon days when Sunday dinner, especially Easter, became a stage for a great cook, a gentle lady who taught me how to appreciate good food served with love.

Bourbon Meatloaf is DeliciousPhoto byDown South Today

Baked Bourbon Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1 heaping cup finely chopped onion

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

1 heaping cup chopped white mushrooms

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 1/4 pounds ground beef chuck

1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 cup Coca-Cola

3 tablespoons Kentucky Bourbon

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Glaze:

1/3 cup ketchup

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons Tupelo honey

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and celery and cook for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, bacon, and garlic and cook 4 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and let cool. Add the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, egg yolk, ketchup, coke, bourbon, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to bacon mixture. Mix until blended, shape into a loaf and place in a 9×5-inch pan. Stir glaze ingredients together in a small bowl. Spread over top of meatloaf. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Tip pan to drain excess grease off. Let rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Roasted Asparagus with Cheese

Ingredients:

1 pound (500 g) asparagus spears, woody ends removed

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon minced garlic (or 4 cloves garlic, minced)

3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking oil spray. Arrange asparagus on baking sheet. Set aside. In a small bowl mix together olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Drizzle the oil mixture over the asparagus and toss to evenly coat. Bake for 10-15 minutes until vibrant and just beginning to get tender. Remove from oven and top with the mozzarella cheese. Return to oven and broil (or grill) until the cheese melts and becomes golden (about 4-5 minutes).

Lemon Meringue Pie with Graham Cracker CrustPhoto byDown South Today

Miss Carrie’s Lemon Meringue Pie

(Mother’s Recipe)

Ingredients:

½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice with pulp (if desired, grate one lemon rind)

3 eggs, separated

1 can Borden’s Borden’s Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

6 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon lemon extract

For the crust: 2/3 stick of butter 1 cellophane pack of Graham crackers (or use a commmercially-prepared Graham cracker crust)

Preparation:

To make your own crust, melt butter in the pie pan; finely crush crackers, pour into pie pan with butter and form crust.

Separate egg whites and yolks. Beat egg yolks with a fork until light and fluffy. Combine beaten yolks and milk, reserve one teaspoon of lemon juice, then slowly stir in rest of lemon juice, lemon extract, and grated rind until well mixed.

Add a pinch of salt to egg whites, then beat egg whites with electric mixer, adding the reserved teaspoon of lemon juice, and when almost to peaks, add sugar slowly and finish beating.

Add filling to crust, top with meringue.

Cook in preheated 350 degree oven until meringue is golden brown.

Perfect Wine for AperitifPhoto byDown South Today

Dr. Dwight R. Weathers. His wine cellar in his beautiful home near Atlanta is legendary.Photo byDr. Dwight R. Weathers

Wine Suggestions:

My go-to guy for wines is Dr. Dwight Weathers who maintains a brilliantly-stocked home wine cellar. For an aperitif, he recomends “a Gewürztraminer to get the taste buds singing with appetizers.” If you are serving ham, “a dry French Rose’ would be delightful.” Roast Duck, popular for Easter would pair with “an Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir or a French Burgundy like Gigondas.”

Welcome to the Easter Feast!Photo byDown South Today

Bonne dégustation. Happy Easter.