How to Cook Easter Dinner

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If you've been nominated commander-in-chef this Easter, this guide will lead you into a successful campaign against a hungry family.

Step 1: Craft a menu
Craft a solid Easter dinner menu before putting together your final shopping list and heading to the store. Collect recipes from the friends and family you expect to attend.

Tip
There are many traditional Easter dinner recipes available online.

Step 2: Be traditional or not
Choose a main course. You can be traditional with a succulent glazed ham as your centerpiece for your Easter feast, or break tradition with roast leg of lamb instead.

Tip
Precooked hams are the easiest to prepare since they only need to be warmed through before serving.

Step 3: Mash it up
Peel and slice large russet potatoes. Bake with milk and cheddar cheese for some au gratin spuds. Or boil and mash them with butter and Gruyere cheese for a clever twist on boring mashed potatoes. Make them the day before the meal for quick preparation when your company arrives.

Step 4: Go green
Saute fresh green beans in butter and garlic, or toss cooked green asparagus in a pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper for two side dishes that both taste great and are good for you.

Step 5: Toss a fresh salad
Toss a fresh salad, complete with leafy, green lettuce, colorful peppers, tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and match stick carrots. Serve with a variety of creamy and vinegary dressings.

Step 6: Include dessert
Include a homemade or store-bought dessert like carrot cake, a meringue pie, individual strawberry tarts, or egg-shaped frosted cookies.

Tip
If you're making all your desserts from scratch, bake and decorate a day or two ahead of time.

Step 7: Put it all together
Bake your main course and warm the potatoes you made the day before. Saute your veggies and prep your salad as the meat cools. Set the table and enjoy your feast with family and friends.

Did You Know?
According to the American Meat Institute, Americans ate 23.3 billion pounds of pork from 116 million hogs in 2008.