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An Easter Menu for Entertaining on a Budget

Easter is the perfect time to bring family and relatives together around a lovely feast. But to entertain all these people without losing your shirt, economical recipes are your best allies. Here are some choice options, from cocktail hour to dessert, for affordable yet delicious springtime dishes.

Cocktail Hour: Devilled Eggs with Smoked Salmon

Before the meal, serve a platter of prettily decorated devilled eggs. Eggs are such an economical protein, you can afford to garnish them with a thin slice of smoked salmon—you only need a tiny amount of it. However, if you prefer classic devilled eggs, you can omit the salmon.

Appetizer: St-Germain Soup (Fresh Pea Soup)

This bright green soup is a perfect introduction to Spring. It’s full of inexpensive vegetables, like potatoes, frozen peas and lettuce (you can even use those leaves that are a bit past their prime). Just cook them in broth and put them through the food processor. Cream is optional in this recipe, which is ideal to adjust to your budget.

Main Course: Apple and Maple Syrup Pork Roast

Tip your hat to an Easter tradition, the maple-braised ham, with an apple and maple syrup pork loin roast, served with a creamy sauce made from the cooking juices. This cut of meat is often more accessible than smoked ham, and so easy to prepare.

Side Dish: Potato and Celeriac Pancake

For out-of-this-world potatoes, mix them with celeriac in a pancake. Slice the two veggies very thinly using a mandoline. Layer them in a cast iron pan, overlapping them in a circle to create a pretty rosette. Cook in the oven until the outside of the pancake is golden brown and crispy.

Salad: Mixed Vegetable Salad with Creamy Mustard Dressing

Add a touch of colour and freshness to the meal. Serve the main course with a simple vegetable salad, topped with a vinaigrette made from ingredients you always have in the fridge: mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and lemon juice. Use arugula instead of lettuce with your favourite vegetables.

Dessert: Chocolate Soufflés

Easter wouldn’t be Easter without a visit from the Easter Bunny and a copious amount of chocolate. After the egg hunt, kids will be delighted to dip into these gooey, ultra-chocolaty soufflés—and you will be thrilled that you only needed six ingredients to make such a decadent dessert.

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