Hello out there Interwebbers!
Today is Easter, since it's past midnight. And for the first time for as long as they have been alive, my daughters are not home in bed waiting on the Easter Bunny. I don't get them back until tomorrow at 8am. This is just one thing I hate about my new life ~ sharing holidays. I know that it's only fair that he gets them half of the time for these important days, but there is something unbelievable about the idea that they won't be having Thanksgiving dinner with me this year. Still wrapping my head around this transition. Still trying to come to terms with all of the ramifications of my decision. I will. I just need to be patient with myself and the process. I will figure it out. I always do...
Easter Eve normally consists of egg dying for me. I didn't dye any eggs today, but I did deliver several dozen eggs and all the things with which to die over to their Dad's. Just because we're divorced doesn't mean the girls should lose their traditions.
And now I'm home, just finishing up the setting up of the breakfast prep. Again, seems strange to do it alone - normally the girls and I would be doing it all together. Tonight I hunted down their parade of bunnies and made the whole Easter scene in the living room with a whole bunch of baskets, fake grass, toys and candy. It looks pretty cool - I'll try to take a photo before they demolish it in the morning.
As a kid, I remember that our very large family would get together every Easter at El Dorado park in Long Beach. We would be up at the crack of dawn to get the primo spot at the biggest park in town. My Grandma and her sisters would bring their camping stoves and everything to make up a huge hot breakfast for everyone. And that was always at least 20 but could be close to 50 people. I remember being a little girl on my bike riding through that park in the morning. Cool clean wind on my face, hot breathe in my lungs and the smell of chorizo and tortillas in the air - I will never forget those mornings even when I'm an old old woman. Something about camping and sizzling bacon gets me to this very day.
Easter Breakfast, for this very reason, is important to me and is always a big deal at our house. Most years it mirrors my Grandma's - chorizo & eggs, potatoes, beans, bacon, tortillas, and coffee. It's the breakfast my Papa loves - and the one that reminds me most of those days. But other years we go more American style - diced ham & scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, toast, juice...you get the idea.
This year, we are taking our breakfast to go. Specifically, over to Mike & Kelli's - to enjoy it together with them and the boys and their Grandma. Since this is the case, I've decided on two dishes that prep here, but bake there - one is a French Toast Casserole, and the other is a Hashbrown Bake.
The French Toast Casserole we got to try this year by way of Christi Abshier. A simple recipe that includes cinnamon swirl bread, eggs and milk, chill it overnight, bake it up in the morning, throw some powdered sugar and syrup on it - Awesome.
The Hashbrown Bake is another super simple recipe that involves frying up a half pound of bacon, and a whole bag of frozen hashbrowns. Then layering the potatoes in a pan, crumbling the bacon over that, pouring an egg mixture over it, baking it up for awhile, and serve it hot with grated cheese on top.
We will also have the standard muffins/scones to insure that the children don't go hungry should the dishes a la many ingredients freak them out. You never know with little ones, and sometimes even big ones, how that might play - so for them, chocolate chip scones, apricot scones, and cinnamon muffins.
No one will go hungry.
I need to get to bed.
Just wanted to share some Easter nostalgia...and share that all day long I've thought about and missed my Grandma. This holiday, in particular, reminds me of her - and I just miss her and her light and love. Hopefully I'm passing that torch to my daughters. My Grandma would like that.
Happy Easter, Everybody!
***photo of Isabella taken Easter 2007 by me
I am catching up on blog reading and now realize what you were talking about when I asked about coloring eggs when we spoke Easter night. I totally relate to the holidays thing though. this year, both kids will be with me for Hanukkah and Christmas, but I won't have them Thanksgiving or Halloween. :( I love you Sissy!
Posted by: Maria | April 16, 2009 at 02:22 PM