EASTER DINNER CHECK LIST and LOTS OF INSPIRATION!
We love to celebrate holidays and seasons and big events here at StoneGable! What could be better than celebrating the resurrection of our Savior? Easter is a favorite time for our family and friends to gather! How blessed we are to worship together, be surprised by an Easter Basket and share Easter dinner! I’m starting early to plan an Easter Dinner so I’m not stressed or hurried at the last minute. Here’s an easy to do, work ahead checklist to make Easter day all about family and fun!
Here’s an Easter Dinner checklist that will help you start early, get things done little by little, and enjoy Easter dinner with those you love! And lots and lots of pictures that might give you some Easter inspiration and ideas for your table!
START 2 WEEKS BEFORE …
Start early and plan, plan, plan!!!! The more you can get down on paper the more organized you will be!
PLAN AN MENU
Decide NOW what you are having for dinner! Write it all down and collect recipes you need all in one place!
Here’s our Easter 2016 Menu:
- Charcuterie Board
- Honey Baked Spiral Ham
- Kielbasa
- Aunt Sue’s Mac And Cheese
- Roast Asparagus
- Baby Greens, Strawberries, Slivered Almonds with a Champagne Vinaigrette
- Deviled Eggs
- Bunny Bread
- Glazed Lemon Zucchini Bread
- Chocolate Bunnies
- Champagne, Mint Water, Coffee
WRITE A GROCERY LIST
Write down EVERYTHING you will need to cook your fabulous Easter meal! I’ve been using Evernote on my smart phone. I can collect my recipes and write a grocery checklist. Easy peasy!
ORDER ANY FOOD YOU ARE SERVING
We are having a Honey Baked Spiral Ham. I’ll order that well in advance and pick it up the day two days before Easter! Order it early and check it off the list!
KNOW WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
Make sure of every person coming to dinner! Call, text, email or evite. Just make sure to do this so you don’t forget! Ask friends and family earlier rather than later and get a commitment. It’s so much easier to plan a big meal when you have a firm count!
KNOW WHO’S BRINGING WHAT
If your feast is a collaborative effort, know exactly who is bringing what… and write it all down!
PLAN A TABLE
When you have a good idea of how many people will be coming to Easter dinner begin to visualize your table. Is it going to be a sit down dinner or a buffet? Are you thinking formal or casual? China, everyday plates or paper? Will you need more than one table? Planning a table is so so much less stressful when done way in advance! Spend some time brainstorming about what you can use! Be creative.
BUY EASTER BASKET CONTENTS
If you are putting together Easter baskets get the contents of the baskets ahead! Do it now! Don’t forget some pretty filler like straw or crinkled paper. And buy some fun chocolate bunnies!
I think this year we are going to draw names and put an Easter basket together for one special person. Sound fun, doesn’t it?
BUY TABLE FAVORS
I love to have something festive and fun and personal at each place setting.
I think I’ll buy fun initial mugs for each person at our table and fill them with chocolates! YUM!
ONE WEEK BEFORE
Now it’s time to put our Easter plans into action!
IRON TABLE LINENS
This is my least favorite job!!! So I’ll do this first!
SHOP FOR EVERYTHING BUT NON PERISHABLES
Early the week before I make a huge grocery shopping trip. Get everything you can but the perishable things that won’t keep. Use your list from the week before! Don’t forget the jellybeans!
BUY ANY WINE, BEER ETC.
Stock up on any drinks you will need. We serve champagne at Easter, so Bobby will do a Champagne run!
BEGIN COOKING
Cook a little each day! I’ll make the Glazed Lemon Zucchini Bread and freeze it early in the week. I can make almost everything ahead. I love a yummy and easy menu!
SET THE TABLE
Set the table and enjoy how pretty it make your dining room!
GET OUT SERVING DISHES
Know what serving dishes you will use for everything. Don’t forget the serving utensils too!
DYE EASTER EGGS
Hard boil eggs and dye them! How fun is that!!!!! Put a big bowl of colorful eggs on your table Easter morning and let everyone choose the egg they like best!
PUT TOGETHER EASTER BASKETS
Put together any Easter baskets you are giving and hide them away from sneaky eyes until Easter morning!
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR
Don’t forget about yourself! Plan something pretty and comfortable to wear. Make sure everything is clean and ready to go! How about getting a manicure or pedicure?
PICK UP ANY ORDERED FOOD
If you are like me and order something make sure to pick it up!!!!
THE DAY BEFORE EASTER
It’s crunch time!!!! And if you have been planning away you are in great shape!!! Good for you!
SHOP PERISHABLE ITEMS
Now get those perishable items. Remember to pick up an extra bag of ice too!
GET FLOWERS AND ARRANGE THEM FOR THE TABLE
While you are out and about get some gorgeous flowers for a pretty centerpiece! This year I’ll be looking for lots of white tulips!
TEXT PEOLE WHO ARE BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE DINNER WITH A GENTLE REMINDER
Send a sweet and gentle reminder to the kind folks that are bringing food.
It might look something like …
“Hi Sue! We are so excited to see you tomorrow. And you know how we love your Mac and Cheese. YUM! So nice of you to offer to bring it to dinner! You are a sweetheart! Hugs, Yvonne”
CLEAN
Go over the area of your home that will be used to entertain. Don’t get crazy!!!! Just a little swish and swipe!
EASTER MORNING
The big day has arrived!!!!
PUT OUT EASTER BASKETS
Get up a little early and have those amazing Easter Baskets hidden and ready for each recipient!
COOK LAST MINUTE FOODS
Enlist help and cook up those last minute recipes!
ASK SOMEONE TO SAY GRACE
It’s such an nice gesture to ask a guest (before dinner of course so you don’t put then on the spot) to say “grace”.
RELAX AND EXJOY THIS SPECIAL TIME!
If something is not perfect, OH WELL! Now is the time to let everything roll off your back and enjoy those you love, your great food and pretty table! Have fun and be grateful!
I hope this checklist will help you be more organized and enjoy Easter dinner with your family and friends! And I hope the images have given you lots of ideas for your Easter table!
Thanks. You have thought it all out and made it easy for us to enjoy Easter. Missed your Sunday post.
Gorgeous and lovely, so inspirational, thank you for sharing. Looking forward to Easter this year [as always] didn’t want to buy chocolate treats, alas, the chocolate hen looks super. Sundy post -another day. Go well.
I was wondering when you make your lemon zucchini bread ahead of time and freeze, do you glaze day of serving? It looks delicious and festive.
Wondering if the above is the Yogi Janet Abel I know. Nice to know friends have discovered friends online Happy Eastrr to all.
Such a helpful and beautiful post. Thank you. I can imagine the time it took to put this together for us. I just wanted you to know that I really appreciated it. I got a lot of ideas and inspiration from your photos.
Yvonne, just loved your post! My daughter and I are sharing The preparation of Easter brunch this year. We are planning our menu this week so your post is a great inspiration ??? thanks. As always love your blog each and every day ! Hugs, Dorinda xo
Perfect timing! I was just doing my Easter Dinner notices to our friends who we have invited for dinner, and ordered my ham and turkey from our local shop. I’m planning my dishes I am making, and have asked my friends to bring their favorite things they usually make. I haven’t decorated for Easter yet, I will do that this weekend! I have collected some beautiful bunny rabbits, and I have darling little baskets and nests, and your post today got me excited! I have some faux flowers and faux eggs, etc… and will supplement with some beautiful fresh flowers from the market. Thanks for the planning tips and inspiration today!
Thank you, you truly did think of everything. Love the menu, we always make a favorite of my husbands called peas and eggs. Sounds different but it is simply a white simple sauce (milk, butter, flour salt and pepper) canned peas and hardboiled eggs. It’s not too bad, I think I am just getting used to it.
Hi Yvonne thanks for this great checklist!this put me in an Easter mood already!
I wish you a very nice day!
Claire
Where are your dishes from? Absolutely love all of them!
Hi Erika, I get my dishes from many sources. Most of the dishes are from HomeGoods, collected over years!
What a visually stunning post chalk full of great ideas!
Thanks so much Laurel!
Yvonne thank you for this motivator, I needed it this year for some reason and you said all the right things!!!
Yvonne, I wish you and your family a joyous Easter! It will be beautiful, that I know. Great post, filled with all those helpful things we can all do to have a wonderful Easter to share with our guests. Xo Lidy
Yvonne this is the most gorgeous post! Thank you for the great ideas and checklist! I think I will enjoy the day so much more by following your great suggestions!
Οh Yvonne what a beautiful post such pretty pictures one is more prettier than the other and thank you so much for the helpful ideas . All though our Easter menu differs a little from yours. You see we cook a whole lamb on a spit . We start early Easter Sunday morning and all through the day. By the time we eat it’s 5 o’clock in the afternoon. All of your Easter decorating ideas are very helpful for me .I will definitely use all of your suggestions.Have a great day…
I need all the help i can get. Thanks for the inspiration and tips!
When my oldest son was about 3 years old and we has guests for Easter dinner, I wanted him to start early to do what was proper and also feel included. So i asked him to say grace. This was not a new thing ..”God is great etc etc…what was new was the Grace and not blessing. So we all bowed our heads and David said “Grace”.nothing else. now I love to tell the story, then not so much. Have a lovely Easter. Jere PS. David is not 69 and hearing the story…not so much.
Where is our Lord ? The first thing I think we should all do on Easter morning is go to our knees and thank our Lord for the great love he gave us all….by dying for our sins ….the pain He went through for us and to praise Him for an Easter morning that He arose and by this we have eternal life with Him. O praise His name. I love Him !
Wonderful post, Yvonne! This not only inspired me, but will be a great help. The pics are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks!
Well, it’s been about a year since I’ve been following you and I adore all your “eggy” ideas. I have enjoyed reading your posts each morning and learning new techniques and getting such grand decorating tips. I especially enjoy your Sunday inspirational messages. XOXO
I look forward to your comments Celicia!
This wonderful post reminded me of why I started following, learning, and imitating your tips and suggestions many years ago. Beautiful reminder!
Didn’t a wise person say, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery?” Thanks, Yvonne!
HI! Just this past weekend I learned of your blog! You love your home like I do! Your photographs are amazing!
They literally make my heart happy!
Thanks Annie! Welcome to the StoneGable family.