Holiday meals made simple. #Easterdinner #family #awriterslife

Hi, ya’ll welcome back to Monday Munchies. I can’t believe it’s already April.

Yesterday We had a semi-traditional Easter Dinner. I also wanted to celebrate spring, so instead of heavy mashed potatoes,  I made Potato Salad. My husband wanted Macaroni salad so I made that as well.

Here is my menu.

Baked Ham

Potato Salad

Macaroni salad

Easter-colored deviled eggs

rolls with honey and butter

My daughter-in-law brought greens, corn, and broccoli

For dessert, I made Carrot cake with Splenda and tropical fruit fluff.

So what makes this simple?  My husband likes his salads cold so I made up both the macaroni salad and potato salad at noon and put in the ridge.

I used my instant pot to make the eggs and potatoes.  In 5 minutes I had both done at one time. I put on my cake to bake, made the frosting up and fruit fluff.

I made the dough in the bread maker. It took care of the kneading and first rise for me. All I had to do was put into a pan and let rise till ready to bake.

I didn’t have to bake the ham till about 3.   So all my food was done and all we had to do was take it to the table when the rest of the family arrived. I got to spend time with them instead of in the kitchen and they didn’t have to wait hours for the food. I could play with the Grandies.

I will share my recipes.

Potato salad

about 6 cups of cubed potatoes  I am making two bowls one with no onions and pickles and one with everything.

1/2 diced onion

2 dill pickles chopped

salt

pepper

garlic powder

onion powder

4 slices cooked bacon  crumbled

14 cup sour cream

! – 2 TSP of Dijon mustard

Mayonnaise I put about a quarter cup in the larger batch about three tablespoons in the smaller one.

6 hard-boiled eggs I put 4 in the large batch 2 n the smaller one.

Cook your potatoes until just done fork tender) Boil your eggs

If you have an instant pot add your potatoes the eggs on top cover with water and cook for 5 minutes immediately release steam and put in cold water to stop the cooking. drain well.

Add all other ingredients add the mayo and sour cream last a little at a time until you have the consistency you like. I don’t like mine real saucy so I tend to go less with the wet ingredients.

Add mustard and season to taste. As I put in the notes above I pull out some of the potatoes and eggs and make a batch with no veggies in it for my daughter and Granddaughter.

Fruit Fluff

4 cups of fruit of your choices such as strawberries, mixed berries, tropical fruit or a combination. I am using two bags of a frozen tropical blend defrosted. This one is peaches strawberry and mango

! 8 oz cream  cheese defrosted you can use the low-fat kind ( I am don’t tell my family)

2 TBS of sugar or Splenda. I am using the Splenda, again don’t tell!

And one tub of whipped topping. ( you guessed it I used the low-calorie one)

Drain fruit.

In a mixer whip cream cheese until smooth add whipped topping and sweetener mix well. stir in fruit and chill.

Macaroni Salad

1 box of elbow pasta cooked drained.

1/2 chopped onion, 2 chopped pickles,

salt pepper onion powder

1/4 Mayo

2-3 boiled eggs chopped

Mix all together.

For the carrot cake, I used this recipe.

This was better than the old version I used and so moist. PS it is all gone.

I found an idea on Pinterest about colored deviled eggs so I tried that. They came out so cute!

Here are some photos of the Kids and my daughter. My oldest granddaughter was with a friend and a no-show.

Did you have a traditional Easter dinner? What does your family like to see on the table?