I thought this week I would just make one post for Easter since Easter Even can be terribly busy! right now I find myself with just half an hour to make a start with writing between the departure of Day Camp Team Leader Natalie and her friend Andrew (they came late this morning, shared Saturday lunch, and worked very hard organising the Team Music Binders)
and the start of an impromptu Pysanky Workshop, for 7, which is due to begin, at 4pm, in my dining room … as my friend Michelle would say,I’m having…”just a quiet afternoon at the Taylor’s”!
Although I had expected Day Camp matters to take a bit of a back seat during Holy Week, there has been a fair amount of activity; including the confirmation of 3 Host Churches, the completion of proofing the Program Manual and arrangements to begin the inventory of Team Supplies. It is really encouraging to see this much progress, particularly with April just around the corner.
Natalie and Andrew have both been involved in overseas Mission work with YWAM so I took the opportunity to ask if they would consider sending out the message of our need for Day Camp Team Leaders since their circle of acquaintances would be extremely suitable candidates if they are not off in more exotic locations for the summer!
Of course most of my time at home has been absorbed in a frantic race to complete all sorts of Easter gifts from knitting “Chubby Chirps” to baking Russian Kulich (Easter Bread) & Jelly Bean-topped cupcakes, sewing “buckets” and, of course, finishing the Pysanky. I ended up settling for conventional varnish having decided to give the “traditional” finish of goose fat a miss!!
As a last minute addition to the buckets I decided to paint sheets of paper with floral designs and fold them into Peace Cranes. I couldn’t find my origami instructions but found this YouTube Tutorial to be excellent, should you wish to produce your own flock.
As mentioned above, there has been a lot of Easter Baking this week but I thought it would be nicer to offer a savoury recipe, which could be a good group project over the Holiday. These are Tibetan Momos and we had them for dinner last Monday. They make a great vegetarian meal, served with dipping sauce and a simple soup.
Potato and Green Pea Momos
Dough: –
2 cups unbleached flour- ¼ cup whole-wheat flour
- ½ cup cold water
Place flours in a medium bowl; add water and mix, by hand until a smooth dough is formed. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead for approx. 5 minutes. Cover and set aside while making filling.
Potato and Pea Filling: –
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 2Tbsps. frozen peas
- 2 Tbsps. butter or margarine
- ½ tsp. salt
Place potatoes in a pot with cold water and boil until soft. Drain off the water and mash. Meanwhile sauté the onion in the butter, until soft. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and cool before proceeding to fill dumplings.
To make Momos: – divide dough in half and roll each piece into a “snake” about 12 inches long. Cut each snake into 12 equal pieces. Cover pieces with a damp tea towel while working.
With a small rolling pin (a drinking glass works well) roll each piece into a 3” circle on a floured board. Place a heaping tsp. of filling on each circle. Draw up edges and pinch together to make little “pouches”.
Dip the base of each Momo in oil and arrange on a bamboo steamer tray. Do not crowd too tightly as they will expand while cooking.
When all the Momos a made, cover the steamer and place over simmering water. Steam for 10 mins.
Serve immediately with a dipping sauce of- ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 Tbsps. balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsps. water and ½ Tbsp. minced fresh gingerroot.
Easter Day
“Alleluia, Christ is Risen! ….”
It is now mid-afternoon on Easter Sunday. The workshop, yesterday afternoon went very well. There were 6 of us and my friend Barb’s relatives (visiting from Ontario) went home all fired up to order supplies and begin a family tradition of Pysanky-making themselves. It was a very special way to spend the end of the afternoon. And I was delighted, last evening, to find the 2012 Easter Service of Lessons and Carols from Kings College Cambridge. A wonderful video, which I think, I shall watch again tonight!
I actually biked to Church today, for the first time this year! It was mighty cold and windy, but still great to whiz down and back under my own steam. I was very pleased to discover that we were to have the Eucharist and honoured when Nick asked me to administer the chalice.
It was a bit disappointing that no small children were in attendance and thus my carefully assembled activity bags were not used but I suggested we could give them out to small children over the coming Easter Season.
The lovely Banner (well it is really 2 banners), which Sue designed and which was made 2 Sundays ago during our Inter-generational Service, was hanging in the hallway when we arrived. Sorry my photo is a bit fuzzy and does not do it justice, but I was being jostled by the after-church crowd putting their coats on!
After church I hopped on my bike again and was home and in the house soon after 1230pm, Fabulous!
Tonight, I’m braising a small lamb shank for my festive celebration. It has been a very special Easter, very different from all those shared with family and friends at St. Matthew’s but rich in worship and quiet reflection and with opportunities for a wealth of artistic expression.
Coming through the long tunnel of Lent and winter into the light of Easter and spring is a gift beyond measure and, as I now sit listening to Messiah, I am deeply thankful for many Blessings.
“The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!”
Your Easter Eggs look beautiful, Valerie! Happy Easter!