Are You Getting Ready For Easter?
Hi, WA Friends
Most people participate in the commercial aspect of the Easter holiday. You're included if you buy even one box of peeps or a chocolate bunny!
The Anticipation
So, I've been running around like a "chicken with my head cut off" (a favorite family expression), trying to do all I can to help my wife prepare for the upcoming holiday festivities.
Things have really been heating up in my family from a meal preparation point of view. For the past two weeks, there have been discussions in the family about food and get-togethers.
Menu planning and Easter egg hunts for the children have been monopolizing our texting time, an ongoing tradition that started many years ago with low-tech telephones.
Good Friday๏ปฟ
It all starts tomorrow with Good Friday, when we get together for homemade meatless spinach pies, linguine with white and red clam sauce, and enough desserts to choke a maggot. If anyone is diabetic in my family, they're keeping it a closely guarded secret.
And, somehow, they don't consider any fish a "meat," ahh, the magic of being Italian! The only answer I can get out of anyone is that "the Vatican said so."
The Easter Dinner, With The "Casatha" And The Rice Pies
I remember my grandmother getting together with her neighbor to make 12 dozen ravioli (yes, 144) for the Easter pasta dish, which came after the antipasto and before the baby goat and enough other meat dishes to fill her kitchen table, which was bigger than any fortune 500 board room table I've ever seen!
Of course, the was the ritual of making the Easter casatha and the rice pies!
What, you've never heard of a Casatha? It's an Easter treat that comes from a recipe my grandmother learned from her mother in Naples, Italy. It's a dense chocolate cheesecake that's made with citron, EIGHTEEN large white eggs, and TWO POUNDS of ricotta cheese, which is the kind of cholesterol-fueled dessert that coronary angioplasties are made of!
The problem was that my grandmother made the casatha with a pinch of this and a cup of that, which is the way my mother learned to do it. Unbelievably, it always tasted the same and was always ultra-delicious!
Over the years, my wife quantitated the recipe with actual measurements (cups, ounces, teaspoons, etc.) and has become the "official family casatha maker."
The citron has to be "fresh," and we order it ahead of time from our local Italian gourmet shop. But, haha, every year, without fail, somebody asks if the citron is fresh.
So, my wife made the Easter casatha yesterday because it has to be soaked with brandy for several days, which she brushes on with care! Of course, everyone has to see a picture of it, so it has been texted to all interested parties.
Here is a photo of this year's casatha.
As you can see, the brandy brushing process has already begun! It will be the first dessert to be targeted and attacked as it vanishes among a plethora of other Italian goodies, including rice pies, wandies, and pignoli nut cookies.
My wife will make two rice pies on Saturday, one plain and one with pineapple. They have to be made with rice imported from Italy (risotto), which we also get from our Italian specialty store.
I hope everyone enjoys their Easter weekend, especially if you have children!
Rock On! ๐ค
๏ปฟFrank ๐ธ
Recent Comments
65
I've been winding down for Easter for the last week now Frank!
My mother has a fantastic meal planned for Sunday (all of her children and grandchildren are actually in the same place at the same time for probably the first time ever)!!!
But it's doubtful we will beat your spread my friend!!
Have a Rockin' Easter weekend buddy!!
๐๐ธ๐๐ป
Haha! That's great, Nick! I'm sure the food will be wonderful, and you'll have a real blast! ๐
Enjoy it to the max! ๐
Rock Easter! ๐ค๐ฐ๐ค
Frank ๐ธ
Hi Frank...is that the same as cassata? It sounds divine as does your upcoming feast. My father-in-law used to love making cakes drenched in brandy when he was alive.
The image you 've painted has left me hungry. Now I'm off to the store to pick up a few last minute Easter treats. You're never too old to enjoy a few of those classic goodies. Now if only I could find Peeps.
Rock On!
Susan ๐๐ธ
Hi, Susan
Yes, cassata may be a variation of this cake. The casatha, as pronounced in our Napolitano dialect, is a chocolate cheesecake made with two pounds of ricotta cheese, eighteen eggs, citron, chocolate, and brandy, plus other ingredients.
Yeah, my mother liquored up many of her desserts, too!
Have you ever had "Supreme" brand ricotta cheese? I don't know if it was marketed in Canada, but it's sold all over the USA. The Italian guy that started the company back in the 1950s was my patient for years until he passed away.
Haha! I tempted you to buy more Easter goodies! Mission accomplished! ๐
Avoid the red and lavender peeps, as one company made them with carcinogenic food dye this year.
It's amazing that I'm not 400 pounds! Fortunately, my appetite is not what it used to be. Still, it's challenging to stay at 230 lbs, even with exercise, which is still above my BMI.
Rock On! ๐ค
Frank ๐ธ
Hi Frank! That sounds about rightโฆI think it could be a dialect change. It is one great dessert!
We donโt have Supreme brand but my local market makes homemade ricotta which is decadent. Thatโs neat you had him as your patient.
I found original yellow peeps finally but thanks for the heads up. Shouldnโt be eating that stuff anyway. Oh the chemicals that are used. Lovely.
Hahaโฆthatโs a good one. Yes, it can be hard to manage the weight in an Italian family. My husband also says age has changed his appetite. Maybe thatโs the key.
Buona Pasqua! ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฃ
Hi, Susan
My mother used to make her own ricotta cheese. We also get one made at our Italian gourmet store, and it's really good. I think I may have sent you a photo of the store in a previous discussion. It's called "Chef-a-Roni."
Peeps only show up once a year, so why not indulge? ๐
Haha, Unfortunately, my appetite hasn't decreased that much, especially during the big holidays! ๐
Enjoy it all, Susan!
Frank ๐ธ
Hi Frank! I do remember seeing the photo of Chef-a-Roni and it looked great! The market we have was similar to looks as yours, but last year they renovated into a contemporary space, which I donโt think is as well appreciated. All the charm is gone. Sometimes tried and tested is better imo.
Enjoy the start of your feast! ๐๐ธ
Your Easter celebration is exactly what we used to do when my husbandโs parents were alive. As everyone went on different path now, we celebrate it with church people, having the Sunrise Service, which means we have to get up much earlier than the normal time, have a Sunrise Service @ 6am, then have a festive breakfast after the service, with foods everyone brought.
Happy Easter everyone!
Cheers,
Maria ๐น
Hi, Maria
Lol. We go to early mass, too, and then have a big breakfast at home!
Youโre breakfast sounds awesome!
Enjoy it to the max! ๐
Frank ๐ธ
Yeah, Frank one of the great breakfasts that people in the church would look forward to having.
๐๐๐ฅฉ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฑ๐๐????๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐ง๐ฅฎ๐ฅง
I love the look of your wifeโs casatha! A serving of that would be enough for one to get pulled over and do the alcohol testing!!! ๐ฅน๐คญ????
Haha, Maria
Yeah, probably, since she puts brandy in the batter before baking it and then brushes it on the top.
Itโs so rich that you really canโt have a big piece.
Italians booze up everything they eat and drink it with wine. Then thereโs all the alcoholic appetite stimulants and digestants. Even the espresso has booze in it.
Thatโs why weโre such happy people! Lol! ๐
Iโm sure youโre well-familiar with all this, having an Italian husband. ๐ฎ๐น
Frank ๐ธ
Of course Frankie Dowky ๐ธ๐
I am used to all the loudness, and the effing flying out, and the laughter! Italians are fun-loving people! Just donโt get them mad, as they are quick to get pissed as well! ๐ณ????๐
Have a relaxing evening Dr. Guitar Man ๐ธ๐!!!
Cheers,
Maria ๐น
Haha! My start was already chaotic, as I walked in a battle field scenario, we are just settling down with our critical scenario.
Hope the remaining evening be uneventful!
Keep rockinโ ๐ธ๐
Cheers,
Maria ๐น
Hi Frank,
Here is to you and yours having a great and festive weekend! ๐พ๐ฅ
Mine will be filled with work and hopefully getting caught up.
Stay Safe & Healthy!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks, Cathy!
That sounds good, but remember to take a little time for yourself, too! ๐
Frank ๐ธ
See more comments
Hi Frank,
Iโve already got Easter goodies for Diana, our 8 year old grand daughter staying with us. Yesterday I ordered gifts for her siblings in Utah.
Tonight weโll be going to Holy Thursday Mass. Tomorrow it will be Good Friday service. Then Sunday it will be Easter Mass. This gives Diana to wear her Easter clothes.
Regarding Easter dinner? Since we cook at home most of the time weโll be ordering food from out to give ourselves a break.
I love your traditional Easter plans for the table. Sadly, we donโt have any traditions like that.
Cheers.
Edwin
Hi, Edwin
That's great! You're obviously an excellent grandad!
We all meet at the "Italian" church on Easter Sunday.
Takeout is a good idea; it's a lot easier.
Enjoy it all! ๐
Have a Rockin' Easter! ๐ค๐ฐ๐ค
Frank ๐ธ