Who’s going to eat the Peeps?
That’s the first thing I thought of when I sent the invite for Easter Dinner. Growing up, we hosted festive Easter dinners with cousins, aunts, and uncles—so I’m used to lively holiday tables and the ruckus cousins make when together.
Mom’s Easter Dinner was legendary. She pulled out all the stops: A beautiful table set with Mamina’s crystal stemware; her ivory and gold wedding china; a beautiful lace tablecloth with a pretty blue hue; and silver flatware that she stored in a fancy wooden box.
The menu—always the same by family demand—began with creamy homemade lasagna; followed by roasted turkey; bread stuffing; stuffed mushrooms; Auntie Jeanne’s cranberry relish with walnuts; and an assortment of black and green olives.
As our family grew, we still returned home for holiday dinners—with kids and puppies in tow. Over time, our cousins branched off into their own family holiday dinners.
In time, hosting the holidays shifted to the next generation—us! Christmas, Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, and Easter doled out to the next generation like Olympic torches we carried with honor. The transition was slow and steady. Mom still made lasagna and apple pie; one of us roasted the turkey and arrived with it steaming hot, wrapped in foil; another made the bread stuffing; others brought desert and wine. We parceled out the menu—marveling at how much Mom had done on her own for so many years.
Through the years, the holidays remained the one constant we could rely on as a family. We were together at the table. We always made room for each other. Mom would be happy that we still make room for each other at the table.
Today, kids are grown; second cousins rarely gather; and commitments and priorities include choosing whether or not to be at Easter Dinner, or Christmas or Thanksgiving. Still, we have our core crew at the holiday table and I’m grateful for it.
To our younger generation, life may feel like it stands still, but we know that it moves faster than ever. I heed the generational call, echoing Mom’s voice: Let’s be together. Let’s stay together. Let’s spend holidays together—in honor of family, of generations past and generations to come.
And if you come for Easter Dinner, I’ll make sure there’s plenty of Peeps!
The core crew
Missing a few faces, but here we are at Christmas Dinner—making a ruckus, just how I like it!
I hope your holiday table is lively and full—that you parcel out the menu with joy—and that you remember to buy enough Peeps for the ruckus that ensues.
Who’s going to eat the Peeps at your table this year?
Buona Pasqua!
Carla