I'm expecting at least 10 people, and perhaps as many as 20. It's funny - the first year I did this it felt like a huge undertaking and I worked a 16-hour day the day before. Now it's no big deal and I have things organized so that Easter weekend isn't really much busier than any other weekend.

I made a brownie trifle for the family shindig tomorrow...my mom made a rum cake (we were put in charge of dessert). There will be chicken and noodles, a honey baked ham, green beans, some kind of salad, corn, rolls of some type, mashed potatoes. And probably other stuff that I am not remembering.

Orange Swan, what is the recipe for that apple cucumber salad with sweet and sour ginger dressing? That sounds delicious!

I can't vouch for the deliciousness of the salad, fbk, because I've never made it before. But here's the recipe...

Apple and Cucumber Salad with a Sweet and Sour Ginger Dressing

2 medium cucumbers
2 Cortland apples
1 cup salad oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons grated ginger root

Wash, peel, seed and slice the cucumbers. Wash, core, and slice the apples. Combine the remaining ingredients in a blender and mix for 30 seconds. In a bowl toss the sliced cucumbers and apples with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

i made some spicy pepper and carrot salad and am in the middle of making a pile of heart shaped vanilla muffins, some with blueberries and dark chocolate fillings, some with strawberry and dark chocolate. i'm not sure what to top them with yet.

ethylene,
top 'em with sugar glaze: powdered sugar and lemon juice. Yumm.

OrangeSwan, that sounds amazing. Wow. AND you cleaned the house¿ Dang./

I made babka's with my Mom. It's a double rising yeast cake, with the sugar glaze. They turned out fluffy and great. I swear, when I was feeding Grandmother this afternoon, it looked like I was putting creamy coloured cotton in her mouth it was so fluffy. Damn it looked funny, yep, I laughed. Also, pork hocks in aspic, an old Polish tradition, yumm.

we have a friend in from Montreal and another friend in from New Zealand. We are having cheese and crackers, lots of beer and wine, roast chicken, bok choy, garlic mashed potatoes, baby carrots, more beer and wine, ice cream, grapes and cookies. It's all very low maintenance because we want to be socialising, not cooking.

Orange Swan, whenever you get a chance could I get the recipe for those sour cream posy rolls? Thanks :)

We're having ham, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, brownies and cupcakes. It's always always been hot on Easter my whole life, except this year I have the heat on and we'll be inside playing Monopoly all day instead of being in our bathing suits out in the boat. Boo.

We had 11. . .I made a killer spanikoppita (sp?) with whole wheat phillo which would have even been a hit in Athens.

No alcohol, which was fine. . I had bought champagne for new years. . . .didn't get around to it, was planning on bringing it out for Easter but wife said she'd prefer no alcohol (we usually drink for this party) in def. to a person coming who does not drink. But, as I said, it was fine, daughter making pound cake from Amy Sedaris's cookbook.

I dropped off a rib roast to my brother-in-law the night before. Then, just before going over today, I made a baby spinach and baby greens salad - extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ground mustard, garlic cloves, feta cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Once at my in-laws, they had, in addition to the roast, spiral sliced ham, a baked ziti dish, and a really neat pineapple dish (along with basics like corn, broccoli, potatoes, and something else I can't remember) Such a great time!

Sour Cream Posy Rolls

2 1/2 to 3 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 envelope (1 tbsp) instant yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter cut in pieces
2 eggs
poppy or sesame seeds

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour, sugar, undissolved yeast and salt.

In a small saucepan, heat sour cream, water and butter until very warm to touch; stir into dry ingredients. Stir in 1 of the eggs and enough remaining flour to make soft dough.

Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; roll each piece into a smooth ball. Place balls on greased baking sheet; cover.

Place large shallow pan on counter; half fill with boiling water. Place baking sheet on pan. Let rise 20 minutes.

With scissors make 6 3/4" snips around outside edge of roll. Beat remaining egg; brush on rolls. Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds. Bake in 400 degree oven 12 to 15 minutes or until done. Remove from sheet; let cool on wire rack.

Makes 1 dozen.