3 Great Easter Recipes That Promise To Make Your Holiday A Tasty One

The Easter season is a time for religious celebration and the gathering of family and friends. A holiday that is of utmost significance to many Christians around the globe, Easter Sunday serves as a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion at Calvary. Preceded by the forty-day period of Lent -- which calls for fasting, extensive prayer and penance -- Easter stands as the most important day in the church on a yearly basis. Ritualistic practices of attending mass services along with celebrating alongside loved ones have become crucial components to a holiday that is widely practiced, with additional dates holding high significance as well.

Each year as Easter approaches, the days leading up to the Sunday celebration also serve important roles in the true understanding of the holiday. Officially beginning on Palm Sunday -- which recently fell on April 13 -- Holy Week helps shape the period into one of utmost importance for practicing Christians. A crucial time in the Christian year, Holy Week sees the celebration of Maundy Thursday -- also known as Holy Thursday -- Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Holy Thursday falls on the Thursday before Easter and it commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The fifth day of the Holy Week, Holy Thursday is followed by Good Friday, a date observed by Christians to help commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

While the religious aspect of the spring holiday is central, the sharing of food and drink with loved ones is just as significant. Many families choose to split holiday cooking duties amongst one another while others elect to meet at their favorite restaurants for large family celebrations. Those who choose to remain home with their close relatives usually partake in large cooking duties and since the Easter holiday is just days away, preparations for a busy time have already begun. That being said, here’s a look at three tasty recipes that are sure to make your Easter a bit tastier.

Honey Glazed Ham

A popular main course during the Easter holiday, different ham arrangements sit as the perfect centerpiece to any celebration. This recipe from AllRecipes.com calls for the mixing of tasty ingredients coupled with a succulent 5-pound ham in order to get the perfect taste everyone at your dinner table will enjoy. For a look at the step-by-step directions, follow this link.

Ingredients

1 five-pound ready-to-eat ham

¼ cup whole cloves

¼ cup dark corn syrup

2 cups honey

2/3 cup butter

Roast Lamb with Potatoes

For those who may not be fans of ham, roast lamb with a significant portion of potatoes sits as a hearty alternative. Thanks to a savory recipe from Food52.com, Abbachio al Forno (Roast Lamb with Potatoes) will leave each one of your guests asking for more. The combining of lamb, rosemary, garlic and potatoes makes for a great Easter feast. For a look at how to properly assemble this mean, click here.

Ingredients

4 pounds leg of lamb

1 bunch rosemary

2-3 cloves garlic, smashed

Extra Virgin olive oil

2 pounds potatoes

Glass of dry white wine

Salt and pepper

Easter Carrot Cake

After consuming a fulfilling meal, most people look forward to the items on the dessert menu. While popular options such as blueberry pie, banana cream pie and various cookies sit as options, carrot cake remains a staple of Easter dessert. A tremendous recipe from MyRecipes.com combines the great flavors of carrots, pineapples, coconut, cinnamon and pecans to create a dessert you won’t forget. Complete recipe details can be found by visiting this link.

Ingredients

Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (6 3/4 ounces)

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1/3 cup chopped pecans

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons canola oil

2 large eggs

2 cups grated carrot

1 1/2 cups canned crushed pineapple, drained

Cooking spray

Frosting

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Additional grated carrot (optional)