Southwest Ham for Easter! Also Easter Basket making!

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 Hatching eggs remind people of newborn or reborn life and rabbits are prolific breeders especially in the spring. Because Christians are supposed to observe Lent before Easter and can't eat eggs or meat, you can see why these two would become important foods when Lent is ended.

Decorating Easter eggs dates to Medieval Europe; so does egg rolling. In America, dyed and decorated Easter eggs were brought by Germans in the later 18th and 19th centuries, especially Pennsylvania Dutch. They became popular during the 19th century as Easter celebrations became more focused on children-it's fun. Other ethic groups, Greeks for instance, use red-that's as old as the Neolithic and blood means new life.

Hiding and hunting eggs might mean hunting for a suitable mate, but more likely comes from rural traditions when people would have to find eggs laid in fields and hedges by chickens and other birds. It also means hunting rabbits. This, too, became a children's game (that's happened to lots of our holiday customs-like Halloween).

Eggs are a big part of Easter foods, whether eaten alone or in all the fancy baked breads of the season.

If Jesus ate meat at the Last Supper, it would have been lamb. Jewish Passover traditions call for lamb, and so do most European traditions. But, in north Europe pigs, were always important. Hams, from pigs slaughtered in the winter, then salted and smoked were ready to eat in the spring-before fresh meats were available. This is especially true in North America where lamb was never an important meat.

Because I am living in the southwest in the Winter, I am offering a Southwest spin on our Easter Ham this year.

Jalapeno-Pomegranite Glazed Ham
adapted from Akasha Richmond

Instant pot instructions as well as conventional oven

1 7 pound, bone in, spiral cut smoked ham
1 c. chicken stock (homemade or Swanson)
1 10 ounce jar jalapeno jelly spicy
1 c. sweetened pomegranite juice
2 T. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Preheat oven to 325 F. Place ham in a large roasting pan and add the chicken stock.

In a medium saucepan, bring the jalapeno jelly, pomegranite jusice and lemon juice to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Whisk in the mustard, cinnamon and ginger and simmer until reduced to about 1 1/4 Cups, about 5 minutes.

Drizzle half of the glaze over the ham and cover with foil. Roast for 1 1/2 hours, basting frequently, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the ham registers 125 F.

Remove the foil and brush the ham with any remaining glaze. Roast for 30 minutes longer, until the top is lightly caramelized. Transfer to a platter. Pour the pan juices into a bowl and serve with the ham.

 Instant Pot instructions-

1. Pour ¼ cup water into the steel basin of the Instant Pot.
2. Place the ham in the pot with the sliced side facing down. If the ham is too large, you may need to cut a portion of it off in order for it all to fit.

Drizzle the glaze over the ham. DO NOT cover with foil.

1. Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 10 minutes at high pressure.
2. Naturally release pressure (if the valve doesn’t drop after 10 minutes, then open the valve to release any remaining pressure).
3. Drain the liquid from the pot into a bowl and set aside. Allow the ham to rest for at least 10 minutes, then remove the ham to a platter.

The perfect compliment to ham-2009 Calera Pinot Noir- Wine Advocate rating is 92 points!! At $23.00 this is a must buy! Free shipping on any 12 bottles! Click on the icon to the right and you will go to their site.

How to make a cute Easter Basket
Read all instructions first! This is a 30-45 minute project, if you have all your supplies.

 Choose a Easter basket can be anything except plastic (we are using a glue gun to attach embellishment).

I am making Easter baskets, for my grandchildren. Choose a fabric that coordinates with what the child is wearing or just a pretty Spring color. When my two boys and two girls were growing up, I made the boys baskets with little sailboat fabric or ducky fabric. Cut the width of the fabric the measurement from the top of the basket to the bottom of the basket, plus 5"-6". The length should be double the perimeter of the basket.

This isn't the best picture, but, baste (long stitch on sewing machine) the fabric over, making a hem, about 2 1/2". This can vary, depending on how wide you want the ruffle to stand above the basket. Adjust the width that you cut your fabric if you want the ruffle wider.

Now you should be able to easily pull two of the threads from one side of the basting and make the fabric gather. Gather and check the length with the perimeter of the basket. It needs to fit around the basket and have some to lap over.

Now fit the wrong side out and use the glue gun to attach the ruffle to the rim. Let the fabric hang into the bowl of the basket.
*Note that if your basting breaks, it can be ruffled with the glue gun and sort of pushing the fabric, where it is going to be attached. It may take more glue, but, it can be done.

 The bottom is made by cutting a piece of cardboard the perimeter if the bottom of the basket/vessel, cut fabric 1" larger (doesn't need to be perfect) than that and glue to cardboard.

You then fit the cardboard bottom into the basket!

 Next, the fun of adding a personal touch!

Add adornments with a glue gun. Buttons, toile, ribbon, silk flowers, little toys...let your imagination go wild!

Easy squeezy lemon cheesy! You are done! You can attached some beautiful ribbons you may have in your drawer, or have purchased. Some silk flowers or anything to the handle. Grandma and Grandpa can fill with Easter candy!!

Easter table setting ideas! Hop to it!

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There is nothing prettier than a wonderfully decorated table for Easter dinner. Easter is usually the first time we get to celebrate spring and incorporating the season's flowers, fruits, pastels and holiday candy can make an ordinary dinner table into an elaborate Easter creation. 

I arranged some tulips in a vase that was given to me as a hostess gift, from my friends Cheryl and Michael. This is in the powder room on the vanity, for our pre-Easter dinner.

Easter is the perfect time to arrange beautiful spring flowers around your table. If you are ordering bouquets from a flower shop, remember they are very popular this time of year, so be sure to order well in advance.

If you want to make your own, you can buy individual small pots of prim roses, petunias, hyacinths and a short tulip or two. Arrange the flowers in woven Easter baskets (long and narrow works well for a centerpiece) and fill the empty spaces with floral moss or green Easter grass. Add small vases of tulips around the house. After Easter dinner, these flowers can be added to your garden for a splash of Spring. For a simpler flower arrangement, add a vase of Easter Lilies as the centerpiece or a mixed bouquet of flowers, you arrange in a beautiful vase. I added a butterfly, as that seems to be my Granddaughters favorite at the moment. And even though our dinner was for 5 adults, it reminded me of her, as we sat around the table on our pre- Easter dinner!

For alternative centerpiece ideas, use white or pastel candles in white porcelain or silver-toned candleholders. I used some green votives, that I have had, to match my dinnerware. A large glass bowl can be filled with fresh fruit. Remember to save room on the table for all the serving dishes and make sure the centerpiece is not too high for you to see everyone at the table.

 Set your table with a tablecloth, table runner, places mats and napkins in Spring prints or coordinating solids. For napkin rings, use something flowery or themed for the Easter holiday if you can find them. Use your good china, silver and any serving dishes with spring motifs. In my case, I have had these "golf" motif plates for years, they are a pretty Spring green. They make me smile, as my Mother gave me place settings for eight, and so did my sister-in-law, so I have place settings for 16! Nice with our large family and large friendship circle. I found the green napkins and napkin rings on sale at Sur la Table, years ago.

If you are having a children's table, add tiny pastel buckets and fill them with Easter treats like jelly beans. For children's napkins, use pale yellow or blue and tie them with white satin ribbon in place of the napkin ring.  For the tablecloth, use a paper pastel one so the kids can draw Easter pictures on the tablecloth to keep them occupied and for some added Easter fun. 

 The Wine!! The table is set, let's party!! Okay, you still have time to order from wineontheway.com, just click the icon on the right side of this blog, it will take you to Adam and Gigi's site, for discounted 90 points and up wine. Free shipping with any 12 bottle order.

We started with some munchies with the Mer Soleil chardonnay, just some cashews, shelled pistachio's and roasted almonds. I love this wine, and will be paring it with a brie appetizer, for Easter( recipe and pictures will follow after Easter).

2010 Unoaked  Mer Soleil "Silver"Chardonnay Wine Enthusiast rating: 90 points  $22.00

Silver captures the crisp, pure, mineral essence of the classic Chablis style with the tropical elements found in Chardonnays of the Pacific coastline.

Using Chardonnay grown in special blocks of the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, they harvest the grapes when just fully ripe, their gold color hued with green, expressing clean aromas of Chardonnay fruit and firm acidity.

The grapes were pressed and fermented in both stainless steel and natural cement tanks imported from France.

Tasting notes:

Mer Soleil's Chardonnay grapes dependably get so ripe, they offer explosive flavors even without the oak. You won't miss a thing without the barrel. The pineapple, orange and golden mango flavors are delicious on their own, and even offer a hint of vanilla. A mouthwateringly fresh squeeze of acidity makes everything bright and clean. 

Now let's ham it up!! With a nice pinot noir! Order now, from Wineontheway!

                       Best Pinot Noir at this price point! A MUST purchase.

2009 Calera Pinot Noir bursts from the glass with expressive fruit, flowers, spices and mint. It shows lovely mid-palate juiciness and an elegant, polished finish. At $23.00 a bottle, it may very well be the single finest value in American Pinot Noir. Adam (owner of wineontheway.com) tells me, he was hardly surprised to learn Emirates chose to serve this wine in their business class cabin last year. Our guests loved the pairing of this fine wine, with our pre-Easter dinner last night. Ruth said, the flavor of the wine and ham, is, mmmmmm. I paired it with ham, but, would be equally good with a "Crown roast of pork" or pork tenderloin. Actually, I am quite certain, this lovely wine would be good with turkey too!! 

*As with all our reds, my friend, Jim say's, "open 2 hours before serving and let it breathe." 

*Wineontheway order now, the icon is on the right side of this blog! Remember free shipping with any 12 bottles! You could buy 6 Mer Soleil and 6 Calera!! 

*This week I will be offering recipes from our pre-Easter dinner. A Jalapeno glazed ham (for a little Southwestern flavor), scallop potatoes, asparagus with pineapple buerre blanc, some red pearl onions roasted with a little balsalmic, and a light mixed berries with custard sauce.

                                                       ~

Our weekend was filled with fun! Dancing two nights in a row with "Mountain Man"!! Followed by our lovely pre-Easter dinner! I will be sharing pictures this week!

 Friday night at the Chochise Geronimo club, these little ones started the dancing out!!

            Mountain man, Wee Bear and our friends, Cindy and Ernie!

             Brother and sister dancing! Mountain Man and ME! LOL