I grew up with a lapsed Church of England mother and a lapsed Greek Orthodox father, and we had 2 Easters, the "regular" one essentially being a big chocolate feast and the Orthodox one a huge, elaborate Greek feast. Every so many years they fall on the same day (as they do this year). As an adult I have always hosted the latter at my house, and since my dear father passed away in February, it will be an extremely bittersweet occasion, especially as both his and my birthdays fall in that same week. That said, it will also be an occasion on which all of his children and grandchildren can be together and eat what was always his favourite holiday meal of the year, and he will surely be with us in spirit.

So, the menu:

Roast leg of lamb with olive oil, rosemary, etc.
Rice and orzo pilaf
Roasted potatoes (cooked with the lamb)
Greek-style green beans (onions, tomatoes, LOTS of garlic)
Huge Greek salad
Home-made bread
Spanakopita
Olives, feta, hummus, tsatsiki, etc.

All washed down with lots of red wine, followed by my mother's baklava (which my middle son describes as "the essence of goodness") and birthday cake for dessert. Then we need to lie down for awhile, although the hardier among us might go for a walk! I'm basically a vegetarian, but this is one of those meals when all bets are pretty much off in the name of tradition.

Hippity hop,

~D