At the Table: Easter Traditions

Family and food, in that order. That’s what is on my mind every time a holiday approaches, and Easter is no different. Growing up, we didn’t have an Easter tradition, per se; we simply enjoyed a robust, home cooked meal – perhaps on a slightly grander scale than average. On the other hand, my husband’s European family celebrates Easter with a decidedly lighter menu: a selection of meats and cheeses, complemented with freshly baked bread and assorted pickles. And now that I’m all grown up, and a wife and mother, I’m in charge of starting our own family tradition. For Easter, it’s a blend of the two: I like to serve an abundance of finger foods, with substance.

Moroccan-spiced lamb kebabs with mint chutney. Tangy watermelon and feta salad. Roasted eggplant with Parmesan and parsley. Ricotta-stuffed pasta shells. And this year, a brand new addition: Rosemary and Onion Flatbread with Mozzafina di Latte, Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes and Arugula.
Never before have I tasted such a heady, earthy flavour combination. The fresh Mozzafina di Latte, a fresh soft cheese ball with a creamy, delicate white texture, adds necessary richness without overwhelming the palate. The salty prosciutto is offset by the sweetness of the cherry tomatoes, and the peppery arugula punches through at the end. All this is balanced by an herb-encrusted flat bread, which brings comfort and structure to the dish. 

It is decadent, it is divine, it is… kid-friendly? YES! Both my boys loved helping me assemble the flatbread, and since my sons are happy to munch on greenery, they enthusiastically gave my “grown up pizza” two thumbs up.
Make this flatbread an addition to your Easter table! It’s easy to prepare and is ready in as little as 15 minutes. The best part: there’s minimal prep work, which means you can spend time with your loved ones instead of being cooped up in the kitchen.

The serving size depends on the size of your flatbread; an 8” round naan would serve four, whereas a larger, 10” flatbread can serve six. Since this dish is simply part of an overall Easter spread, adjust accordingly based on how much you’d like!

1 Indian naan or Greek flatbread, 8-10” round
½ tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dehydrated onion flakes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 250g package Saputo Mozzafina di Latte cheese, sliced in ¼-inch rounds
4-5 slices prosciutto
½ pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh arugula
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Place flatbread on flat surface and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle dried rosemary and dehydrated onion flakes, adjusting more or less depending on your taste. Layer sliced Mozzafina di Latte cheese, leaving a 1-inch border from the edge.

(Saputo Mozzafina di Latte cheese is a semi-soft, fresh cheese made in the style of Italian mozzarella. This cow’s milk cheese is smooth, a little tangy in flavour, and is elastically textured, making it perfect for pizzas and other oven-based dishes because of its superb melting characteristics.)

Tear prosciutto into small, bite-sized pieces and add over the cheese layer, followed by the cherry tomato halves. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and the flatbread edges have browned.

Remove from oven, and sprinkle arugula on top. Finish with freshly ground pepper, to taste.
Easy-peasy and the kids loved it, too! And when you’re not in the kitchen, fussing over a complicated meal, you can have more time to partake in some of these family-favourite Easter activities:

Easter Egg Hunt. Indoors or outside, an Easter Egg Hunt is great fun for kids of all ages! Each hiding place can contain a few mini eggs or other sweets, and always ensure you’ve hidden a “big” prize too.  Just be sure if you’re hiding treats outside that you stash them in plastic eggs – you don’t want animals to find the chocolate before the kids do!

Easter Cards. A wonderful keepsake for grandparents especially. Let the little ones get as creative as they’d like. Encourage them to embellish their cards with stickers, sparkle glue and pompoms – and don’t forget to break out the bright pencil crayons!

Dyed Easter Eggs. *Of course* you’re going to colour Easter eggs – but here’s the easy way to do it: with drink mix crystals (such as Kool-Aid)! This dyeing project only requires two steps: dunking the eggs into the crystal/ water mix and stirring. Super-easy, inexpensive and gorgeous!

Bunny Ears. One of my favourite activities – and fashion statements! Before the holiday, head to your nearest dollar store and stock up on hair bands, squares of felt material and any additional embellishments such as glitter or foil stickers. Cut ears from the felt material, decorate, and attach to the hair band with glue.

Easter Egg Hot Chocolate: What’s the first thing you should do with all those mini eggs? Melt a handful with whole milk for the most ah-mazing hot chocolate! It’s the perfect evening treat to cap off a lovely holiday.

Of course, after you’ve spent time with family, celebrating, crafting and creating your own traditions, there’s always room for seconds.
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What are your Easter traditions? What is your go-to Easter dish? Do tell – I always like to collect new, tried-and-true recipes. Wishing you and your family a lovely holiday!