Ah, its spring time again! We welcome the smell of freshly cut grass, the sounds of the frogs and the birds, and the many trees already boasting their gorgeous blooms. Easter is just around the corner now. As my family, my siblings and I prepare for our annual Easter celebration, we remember with fondness our annual Easter egg hunt held at my grandparents home for so many years. Oh, how we loved our beautiful hand made baskets stuffed with brightly colored shredded grass (the stuff that would get all over the carpet, making our parents crazy). My oma would stuff the baskets full of it so that the beautifully decorated, hard boiled treasures wouldn’t get broken as we’d throw them in our baskets as fast as we could, running about the yard in search of all the eggs, trying to snatch them up there before our cousins could.
After the Easter egg hunt, we’d take a much needed break. …all the running around outside tends to tire a kid out. Enjoying some of Oma’s home baked roll out sugar cookies, oatmeal raisin, and my personal favorite pfeffernousin, a German cookie shaped like a cross, a delicious gingerbread and molasses flavored cross. Simply divine. We’d sit on Oma’s front porch counting our eggs while enjoying fresh baked cookies and milk. That’s right, dessert before the meal. Mmmmm.
The smells coming from the kitchen were amazing as always, our traditional honey ham baking in the oven, boiling potatos on the stove, red cabbage simmering and the fresh baked German rolls. All the kids had a job to do, setting the table, bring in all the delicious foods, placing them carefully on the table so as not to spill on the white linen table cloth. Before long, we’d find ourselves seated at the dinning table, ready to indulge.
I’m so thankful to have these wonderful memories of my oma and opa’s house at Easter. Sharing a beautiful home cooked meal, the small talk between our families, the Easter egg hunt. It seems food really does bring families together. Strengthening the bonds and ties that families are made of.
I’m so blessed and incredibly thankful that our Hempler hams continue to be the center piece of my family’s holiday celebration and hope that it has added a richness to yours that inspires such fond memories. I hope, too, that my daughter will continue the family tradition of gathering around the table, sharing in fellowship, remembering the reason why we gather on such a special occasion.
