Easter lamb

I didn’t spend Easter with Satu and Riikka because I set of to Mäntyharju again to spend Easter with my family at our cottage. We traditionally spend Easter as a family because it’s a longer holiday/weekend and my dad can get off work and come visit. And it’s the perfect excuse to get together and cook a good meal.

This Easter came so late that most of the snow had melted and the weather was so nice

My dad brought us gifts in the form of food again. He brought lamb for Easter, a whole cooked beef tongue, a whole smoked eel, smoked halibut and a smoked and cured slab of BACON <3

The slab of bacon was devoured the first evening. It was great on bread and even better just on its own with a beer. Yummy!

For our Easter meal we fired up the grill and cooked some lamb and asparagus. Grilling is always a joint effort in our family Sam or my dad sets up the grill and my brother and I concentrate on the cooking whilst my mum makes the salad.

My dad brought some gorgeous New Zeland lamb chops which I marinated in olive oil, pepper, salt and loads of garlic.

My mum made a salad out of new spring cabbage. She topped it off with a generous heap of olives, feta cheese and toasted sunflower seeds.

Dad also brought a bottle of wine which made the meal complete.

Sam’s mother made some pasha ice cream which was served with mango sauce and grapes.

Going back home means catching up with all of Sam’s family too. His cousin’s children had their birthday party on Saturday and it was a fun affair. Both of Sam’s cousins have two girls plus Sam’s brother just got a little girl so birthday parties are always very pink and girly!

There were pink sugar cookies, cake, pie and lots of candy. Luckily for me there was also some savory treats like crisps and my favorite, an assortment of cheeses!

A little off topic, but I just had to put this picture of my godchild, Aino. Isn’t she adorable <3

pre-easter

It was my turn to cook for the other girls this time. I didn’t really have any good ideas for Monday’s lunch so I decided to get inspired by Easter. I’m not sure when Easter exactly is this year, but since the supermarkets have been selling Easter eggs for some time now, I assumed it has to be pretty soon..

This is soon becoming my classic Easter dish. Eggs in nest. I’ve done it a couple of times now, but always with a different filling. This time it was with shrimp, cream cheese, lemon juice, pepper, dill and a hint of tabasco.

For main course was home-made coleslaw, grilled tomatos and lamb and buffalo sausages. I guess the lamb in the sausage made this eastery in my mind..

And the dessert was a bit of a struggle.. I was meaning to do pasha, but I didn’t have a mold for it. So I tried using gelatine to keep it together, and that didn’t really work because I didn’t put enough of it. So then it became pasha semifreddo. The texture wasn’t too good, but it tasted alright… It had cream, quark, peaches, lemon peel, raisins and almond crush in it. Ok for a first try without a recipe. Maybe I’ll try it again and then share the recipe if it’s any better!

-Riikka