Easter and Turkey

Back on Truesdale circa 1969.

Turkey for Thanksgiving, then for Christmas day and one year it was slated to be the main course for Easter. I am not a turkey die-hard fan like some; I don't really like chicken either.

I finally said to my mom and Grandma that "you are not supposed to have turkey for Easter!" I remember them both being stunned by my culinary commentary. I was ready for them with the goat horns that hung by the front door, showing those as proof of claim.

After lots of debate they agreed to make something else. That year was my first taste of lamb. I have made lamb every year for Easter since I have had a family.

Do you remember the Easter bread grandma used to make? Some years I remember it coming from Aunt Phyll. It was yellowish, sweet and had dried fruit bits in it. I would pass on all the chocolate in the world for a piece of that bread toasted with butter on Easter morning, can't find it here. If anyone has a recipe please post it or send it along.

My mom would set the dining room table up with lots of candy from the Easter bunny for me on Easter morning. She would blow up Bunny figures and have streamers and such all over the place. It was the candy equal to Christmas.

I also remember the manufacture of Palm crosses on Palm Sunday. We made hundreds of them. I am widely known as the "palm cross king" in Atlanta as a result of those years of labor.

Best of all, I remember everyone parading in and out in their new Easter clothes. I used to think my cousins where the best looking and best dressed people in the world (still do).