Gone To The Beach: 04.21.2014

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter Dinner Food Critique

Hi! Just a quick update for those of you who follow my cooking adventures and disasters here.

Easter : first of all the day itself was cold and windy but oh so beautiful with forget-me-not blue skies and brilliant turquoise water in the bays [after the flopped flea market, 5 dealers?!]...

And yes the food was great!

Deviled eggs---yummy!

Found watercress at a fancy local supermarket. It now comes in big bags like prewashed lettuce, who knew? I used 1/3-1/2 bag to get the 3/4 C chopped for Martha Stewart's recipe here

I used 9, not 8 eggs. I used 2+ heaping T. of horseradish, not 2 teaspoons. My kids like things spicy.

Could have used any bitter green---arugula, parsley, even old standby celery, because the horseradish overwhelms any other taste. But hey, watercress looks pretty, makes very cute garnishes.

Crock pot pulled pork, made yesterday [Saturday]. Fine but the big box store pork roast was tough despite 10 hours in the slow cooker.

Tasty though.

More creamy horseradish on top! Tiny gherkin/ cornichon pickles and red radishes on the side .

Excellent sweet slaw based on Country Living salad from their April issue.

I used broccoli straws, Honey Crisp apples, and shaved Brussels sprouts. I omitted the nuts and cheese. I made a sweet raspberry poppy seed dressing, partially from a Marie's or Marzetti jar dressing plus extras, like olive oil and lemon juice; and tarragon, sugar.

We have a new gadget, a mandolin, veggie slicer that makes the most beautiful perfect
julienned matchstick cuts of the veggies and apples. I thinly sliced the Brussels sprouts by hand.

For dessert my daughter made a family fave, we don't have a name. It is kind of like cannoli filling? Low fat ricotta cheese whipped with amaretto or almond extract/ vanilla, Splenda. Stir in chocolate chips and toasted slivered almonds. Chill. Serve in small bowls with new spring strawberries on the side.

Lots of nice leftovers, the unused veggies will make a delicious stir fry in a few days, too.

edit: from my blog friend Kelley, her Easter pix!