Our PHABULOUS Easter PHEASTER – 2011 3

Easter this year was Ace.

Beautiful Weather. Family here from Overseas. Lots of chocolate eggs floating about the place…..and to top EVERYTHING off, the most PHABULOUS PHOOD EVER for lunch!

It was actually a double celebration for us as the Latin and Orthodox calendars collided (only happens every few years or so) and as I always celebrate both Easters, this year was extra special and extra huge – one TRULY mega Phood Phiesta!

For Orthodox Easter (Greek) we always prepare a Lamb on the Spit. ( I have written a poem about that here ) and this year was no exception!

The day before Easter this year, Dad and stylist to the Stars, T, (who was instrumental in putting together this) spent 4 hours stuffing, rubbing, slathering, coating and marinating the lamb with 3000 kilos of olive oil, garlic, oregano, pepper and SALT! As T said to me, Dad’s aim when doing this (and the reason it takes so long) is to have a little bit of each of the above liste ingredients in EVERY SINGLE MOUTHFUL OF MEAT. So no matter where your piece (or piecesssss) end up being cut from, you have flavoursome morsels of lamb with each every bite.

Once it was marinated, the lamb hung overnight on racks in the laundry. It was then placed on the spit, with burning coals below, 3-4 hours before we planned to sit down to lunch.

As it cooked away, guests arrived and greeted each other with cheerful “CHRISTOS ANESTI” ‘s and “Happy Easter!” ‘s and gathered around the lamb nibbling on snacks and sipping drinks until the meat was ready!!!! FEEEEEEEEED ME!

And then it WAS ready…..Oh Boy…. a taste sensation like NO OTHER!

And leftovers for dinner!!!!

Although the Lamb really is such a delicious and special thing to be gobbling on, it does need some sides, so accompanying it this year we had:

Greek Salad, made by me. I actually call it ‘Phoodie’s Greek Salsa Salad’ – see here for recipe.

Fennel and Pea Salad, made by Teita – this was probably my favourite thing on the day (aside from the lamb OF COURSE):

Green Salad (with lots of Avo – yummmmmm) made by J:

Potato Salad made by G – SOOOOO Delicious:

Tzatziki, made by N, goes such a treat with the lamb, or just slapped on a bit of Lebanese bread. (For Phoodie’s Tzatziki recipe, click here)

After all of this savoury food, our sweet stomachs were calling out for something, and on offer was:

M’s Chocolate “Souffle” – this was PHENOMENAL! So light and fluffy…..For all intents and purposes this was simply a chocolate mousse, but due to it’s aforementioned lightness and fluffiness it is given the title “souffle”.

Yaya’s Pavlova – the BEST pavlova IN THE WORLD, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Fruit Salad. Yummo.

Phoodie’s Chocolate ‘Nests’ with ‘Eggs’ – Coconut, Roasted Almond Chocolates.

And…….TSOUREKI! Greek Easter Brioche. Read more about it here.

Oh yes. Easter 2011 really was spectacular. Or as I said in the header of this post, absolutely PHABULOUS!

Bring on 2012!