Of all our traditions we have in our family as the weather warms, Easter and Mother’s Day are the most formal of them. As far as Easter goes, we Italians center our holidays around food (usually a meal that is roughly 5 hours long and takes a week of prep!) There are Easter eggs and plastic egg hunts in the yard-those traditions we have borrowed from American culture. But we also have the Colomba Pannettone (an Easter sweet bread), giant chocolate eggs with prizes hidden inside for the children and a tableful of nuts and fruit bowls with cups of coffee and espresso to finish our meal. It’s at that point that our male counterparts take a “passegare” around the neighborhood to lighten their stomachs (and make room for the final dessert course) while the ladies clear some plates and prep for the hunt with the kids. After that, we sit and chat about life and family as we wait for the men to join us. During this gossip session, we usually have refreshers of coffee and espresso all around-and when I am hosting, this is usually on my deck. This gives us a bird’s eye view of the kids hunting for eggs, and lets us watch the sun go down while we relax. As for me, it’s usually the first time I get to sit down all day, and I really enjoy seeing everyone satisfied, relaxed and having fun at my event (and let’s face it, my legs don’t mind the rest!).
Every year, it’s the same. But this year, I wanted to make it extra special. My Godparents are retiring, and moving back to Italy this summer. SO this would be the last time I host Easter at my home with them here. I decided to turn up the volume on the decor and the food, by making it a shabby chic Easter.
As far as the food, I did not skimp here. Italians like their traditional dishes, and don’t like too many surprises. Some things I kept to tradition, like my Neopolitan Easter Soup and my crepe lasagna for the pasta course. We had the traditional antipasto passed around of cured meats and crudites. But we also made some special dishes to show my Godparents how much we loved them (in Italian culture, love means food). For instance we deviated from the traditional lamb for the meat course, and made osso bucco with gremolata. We also made Milanese rice, which hasn’t been done in our family-I think ever! We also had some nosh for the pre-dinner deck sitting; some spinach and cheese filled phyllo cups, wine, cheese, various dried sausages, fresh squeezed lemonade and orange infused iced tea. For dessert, I made the kids some bunny cake pops (never been done in our family) to accompany the more traditional “Pastiera” (Easter sweet barley pie) and the Pannetone. I also put out some chocolate dipped Mandarin orange slices sprinkled with Fleur de Sel to accompany the traditional fruit and nut course. I tried to put a little something different and special throughout the dinner.
Decor, a Shabby Chic Spring Explosion
Italians don’t do much decor for Easter. It’s really all about the food, and if there is any decor, it’s usually flowers. I decided to make my home a dizzying array of vintage lace, pastel floral fabrics, vintage mismatched china and pastel poofs. I wanted everyone to feel like they were coming in and really celebrating rebirth, love and energy-inside and out. And the bonus? All this work I spent crafting these decorations I was going to save and reuse for a baby shower I’m hosting in June! Perfect!
Eyelash Yard Spring Door Wreath, linen prep
Bunny Cake Pops
After the main meal was served, and eggs were all found (well, almost all-the kids couldn’t find a few and my sister and I couldn’t remember where the missing ones were!) I had everyone sit on the deck. I served coffee again (a mainstay in Italian culture-I think Italians drink coffee more than water) and brought out the desserts. I also brought out some of the fruit, in case someone wanted to eat lighter. We relaxed, laughed and watched the first few stars come out. We sipped our coffee, enjoying the warmth, because now the sun was setting, and their was a slight chill to the air. As for me, the coffee was fortifying, because I still had a mound of dishes to clean. The Starbucks Spring Blend was the smooth, perfect cup for me as I gathered my much needed second wind, sitting among my most loved people in the whole world. This blend is fast becoming my favorite, it’s smooth and light, perfect for relaxing.
As for some of the missing eggs-I found one of them during clean up. I had to text the pic to my sister. Who knows when I’ll find the other two?
Here’s to spring and family! I hope spring decides to finally stay awhile!
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| missing egg #1, outdoor sugar bowl |
Flora is an award-winning creative director in Chicago turned food and lifestyle blogger extraordinaire. She is also author to the popular BEE NATIVE! gardening book series and various children's books that celebrate the wonder and hard work of bees and butterflies. Her blog and social spaces inspire thousands to create, learn, cook, grow, and craft, making their world lovelier one pixel/petal/seed/bite/stitch/brushstroke at a time. Follow her on all the social spaces, YouTube, and Amazon, and get creative!
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