Please help! Need Easter dinner for 2 suggestions

[michellemseymour]

Last night my DBF requested easter dinner, so I don't have much time to plan. I've never cooked a traditional easter dinner before and I'm a little nervous. I know he likes ham, but I've never cooked ham before either. He's got a huge sweet tooth so I'd like to do something nice for dessert (I love to bake). It's just the 2 of us and everything seems to serve 8+ people. Any suggestions would be so appreciated!

[Chelle D]

hmmmm....does he want a "traditional" dinner (ham, potatoes, veggie, dessert, etc)?

If so, I know you can buy ham steaks and that may work. Just brush them with a little mustard/brown sugar mixture and bake until warm. Also, just searching for myself, I found this sauce to serve with ham that sounds good.

Cabernet Peppercorn Dipping Sauce

1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon wine
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), cut into pieces
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, optional

Cooking Directions
In medium skillet, combine wine, broth and peppercorns. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook, uncovered until mixture reduces in half (about 15 minutes). Remove peppercorns. Stir in butter, honey and thyme until butter is melted. Serve warm with baked fully-cooked ham. Makes about 1 cup sauce.

Serving Suggestions
Decandant sauce with a kick. Perfect for fully cooked ham or pork roast.

Nutrition Fact
Calories 100 calories
Protein 0 grams
Fat 6 grams
Sodium 167 milligrams
Cholesterol 15 milligrams
Saturated Fat 4 grams
Carbohydrates 7 grams
Fiber 0 grams



Mashed potatoes are easily scaled to two people, or you can do twice-baked potatoes. The asparagus with balsamic-browned butter is very good and can be made for two. Do strawberry shortcake for dessert and you are all set!

This recipe is awesome and you can scale down the cream cheese mixture and use a portion of the angel food cake and make it is wine glasses for an elegant presentation.

Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

Recipe By : posted by Linda in MO
Serving Size : 15 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Desserts

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 quarts strawberries -- sliced (2 to 2 1/2)
2 Tablespoons sugar -- (2 to 3)
1 tsp almond extract -- OPTIONAL (I only like a
little or either I just use vanilla)
1 large angel cake, whole -- torn into
pieces
16 ozs light cream cheese -- softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup light sour cream
16 ozs Cool Whip Lite®
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Mix strawberries with the 2-3 T. sugar and almond extract, if using. Set aside.

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, vanilla and almond extract. Fold in Cool Whip.

You can either mix everything together at this point or (this is what I do)---layer everything in a large clear glass bowl in this order: 1/2 cake pieces, 1/2 strawberries, 1/2 cream cheese mixture, repeat layers.

You might want to decorate the top with additional strawberries and/or Cool Whip. Refrigerate.

Serving Ideas : Easy to halve recipe - or you can make individual trifles in wine glasses or sundae cups.

[islandgirl]

I've found that there are so many uses for leftover ham that it's worth it to bake a small one for Easter. The spiral sliced ones they have in the supermarkets come with their own glaze so they're pretty easy, too! Sides can be simple like asparagas or snap peas and roasted potatoes, leaving you more time for dessert. Because Easter makes me think of lemony desserts (to counterbalance all those chocolate eggs!) I would do the lemon cake from the Barefoot Contessa parties cookbook. Although she does it in two loaf pans I have baked it in Bundt pans, and for Christmas did it in my mini rose Bundt pans, which made for a great presentation! Add some fresh raspberries in the center of the Bundt pan and some lemon curd and you're all set!

Enjoy!

[michellemseymour]

Thank you both for the ideas...the strawberry dessert sounds perfect! And I found some great ham recipes, I'm sure it will be a really nice dinner.