Decorating for Easter at my home
I know that people are curious about how my house is decorated for Easter, so I thought I'd give you a little peek. Laura Acuna, my housekeeper, always does such a nice job helping me with setting out the decorations. Many of these decorations are handmade and you can find instructions for all sorts of wonderful projects in my new Encyclopedia of Crafts, which, by the way, is #2 next week on the New York Times bestseller list! Congratulations to all who worked so hard on this volume.
This is an especially busy week with Passover and Easter being just a few days apart. I really love traditions and was so fortunate to attend a lovely Seder at my friends, the Slotkins. Now, I am gearing up for Easter and I am preparing a lunch for family and friends. The menu I am planning is:
Rack of lamb
Martha Stewart ham from Costo
Pierogi (I really miss Mom)
Artichokes
Asparagus
Garden salad from the cold house
Homemade rolls
Lemon meringue tarts
Chocolate sorbet
I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Thanks for sharing your lovely Easter collection! Where is your source for your Easter lemon meringue tarts? Meyer lemons? Sounds wonderful. . .
I hope the Easter bunny stops by your house for a visit. . .Happy Easter.
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | April 10th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I should say you better have a Marha HAM!
I miss your Mom too, so strange not seeing her in the audience at your show.
I am having a Martha HAM from Costco too, I just bought the 15th one do we get some sort of certificate when we reach 100 hams lol?
What time is lunch? My invite must have gotten lost, surely!
Happy Easter to everyone, I don't celebrate Passover but Happy Passover to those that do.
EVERYONE if you are out traveling on the roads this holiday be safe and well and have a nice time.(Watch out for the other drivers!) Most of you must have heard about the rookie pitcher killed here by a hit and run driver- Be CAREFUL!
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | April 10th, 2009 at 1:29 am
I read my post back to myself, I meant to say it is strange to not see your Mom( Laura & Martha) in the audience anymore, I know she is celebrating Easter with a lot of folks in Heaven so says I.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | April 10th, 2009 at 1:48 am
I saw your comment about the K-Mart contract on Twitter. I discovered the product line this past Christmas, but was not able to buy the Christmas decorations that I had really wanted because they were all sold out. I loved almost the entire line and love the fact that it is more affordable than the Macy's line. I hope that when looking for a new partner, you team up with a store that has locations throughout the US and has more affordable options. It was incredibly frustrating with K-Mart, because the closest store to me is 100 miles away. They turned all of my local K-Mart stores into Sears Essentials stores.
By the way, can I come eat Easter lunch at your house?
It looks like it should be a wonderful day for you and your guests.
Posted by: Erin Schultz | April 10th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Wonderful Easter decorations.
Have a lovely Easter weekend
love
Alison
x
Posted by: Alison | April 10th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Happy Easter Martha.
Your friend,
Sonia
Posted by: Sonia | April 10th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Dear Martha,
I want to congratulate you on the success of your new Encyclopedia of Crafts.
Love your Easter decoration and collections.
Wish you a great and healthy holiday.
Best Regards,
Rowaida
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | April 10th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Martha, your house is decorated beautifully. I love the little peeps and fuzzy chicks and the chocolate bunnies, yummy. I love chocolate bunnies, especially even more now that I can't have chocolate
.
Happy Easter to you Martha, and to all your staff, the gardner, Betsy, Laura Acuna, and everyone that works for you.
Happy Easter to all my fellow bloggers from all across the country...Jan E., Pam from CA, Cindy Bricker, Rowaida, Sonia, and so many others your not excluded just don't remember all the names. Happy Easter to all of you!!!! Happy Spring!!
Linda
Phila, PA
Posted by: Linda | April 10th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hi Martha,
Thanks for sharing your beautiful Easter decorations and you are right when you say we are curious. They are all very nice and I like the pussy willows too. I wish we had some of those where I live. Is picture #14 your colored chicken eggs instead of chocolate bunnies? I see chocolate bunnies in #22.
Your dinner menu looks inviting also; it is nice that you are having pierogi in honor of your mom. She will like that and you know she is always with you.
I wish you and Laura and Eliad a Happy Easter and the same to all who visit this blog. Make it safe and have fun. Blessings to all! Trish
Posted by: Trish | April 10th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I love the glittered eggs! My grandmother use to have something like this that I admired as a young child. If there were a Costco here I would go get one of your Pot Pie Slabs to feast on for the occasion. Happy Easter!
Posted by: Kari | April 10th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Martha, we wish you and your family a very happy
holiday. Deco at your home is lovely as always.
Marty.
Posted by: marty dayton,ohio | April 10th, 2009 at 9:16 am
We soooo appreciate these sneak peeks into your home, Martha!...that's what I like about some of your early books (with family included!)
My absolute favorite item in today's gallery is the parlor urn containing pussy willow branches. It is absolutely stunning! I liked the little fuzzy chicks and the small rooster finger bowls used for salt/pepper (that you featured earlier this week). They look old-timey to me - a style I'm naturally drawn toward. The common everyday (meant as positive adjectives) grouping of the chocolate bunnies (to me) was simply charming - something so simple to create but ending with a smile, seen from my vantage point.
Thanks for showing us yesterday (Thurs, 4/9) how to blow out eggs. I could never get a visual as to how it was done, and as always, you made it simple for us, step by step!
I'm glad you enjoyed the Seder at your friends' home, and that you spoke about it freely on your show. While I am not Jewish either, it IS something that I think I'd like to partake of sometime. Afterall, I am a woman of faith and profess that Jesus is my Saviour (and love to share Him with others!) He was a Jew, right?! [grin]
A blessed and victorious Easter to all!
=^..^=
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Hal-le-lu-jah!
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | April 10th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Love the photos--as always, you are an inspiration. Easter blessings to all.
Posted by: Cathy-by-the-river | April 10th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Martha
I do not understand the reference above to K-Mart contracts. Could you educate us via the blog what that means? I do not Twitter yet. I buy all my garden products at K-Mart, Acton, MA from your line.
I miss your mother, too. As a viewer, I learned so much from her. Thank you for running the past edition of her cross buns show this morning. I tuned in while baking the white cupcakes from page 169 of your Baking Handbook adapting it to the coconut icing from page 150 as a gift for the Easter table of my host.
Joyful blessings to all this spring! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! To all baseball fans -- the loss of the young rookie from the Angels reminds us to drive safely. May he rest in peace with Martha's mom.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | April 10th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Beautiful decorations and I love the sounds of your menu....especially the asparagus...
Posted by: Mixing Bowl Mama | April 10th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Charming decor, Martha! I love your little cabbages all lined up. I have a nice collection of Easter things now...i do love the papier mache bunnies, etc. One of mine is white with Martha green accents and, of course, he carries a basket that i fill with chocolates for my kids and grandkids. Another bunny i have is outfitted in velvet and carries a basket...i fill a waterpik with delicate little Spring blossoms and insert it into the basket for him to carry. Ha! i think i love Easter as much as Christmas! Thanks for all your wonderful inspiration over the years and have a Happy Easter!
Posted by: Sherey | April 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I watched your show today and loved seeing your Mum...I know how much you must miss her
Thanks for the peek into your Easter....
I didn't think about your ham..sorry, I got a Honey Baked Ham...I will have to give yours a try, thanks for the reminder...
Happy Easter Martha,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy :) | April 10th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Beautiful Easter decorations. I collected "Pendelfin" bunnies years ago and I always bring them out at this time. Also, tulips make for pretty floral arrangements as well.
Happy Easter everyone.
Posted by: Maureen | April 10th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Thank you for the sneak peek into your home...VERY NICE! i DO WISH the photos were larger. : )
Posted by: jennifer ramos | April 10th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
.
EASTER MESSAGE
On missing your mother.....
During this season of rebirth, it's such a pleasure to see daffodils return as daffodils, lilies as lilies, and fields guarantee us a flurry of green, puppeted with a popping butterfly or two. Nature is dependable--and never dies. So is with all life.
Regardless of our personal beliefs of life and death, scientifically, matter can neither be created nor destroyed. Though I can't view my late mother's wrinkles or hear her cough any longer, I know she hasn't defied science. A lady slipper in the forest solidified this.
I went walking in our woods to give her memory some of my time. Looking for her lady slippers reminded me how she had made magic of them by pinching the bloom off at the sepal and placing them in a bowl of water. They were swans.
There were none. A recent excavation had apparently destroyed them.
It was the one year anniversary of her death and my return to her brought me grand absence.
Following the path home I spoke to her in my mind, then glanced left. There was one, just one lady slipper. I had seen the swan.
I shook my head and checked my watch. It was 5 o'clock.
G.Wells Spencer. "Time of death 5 o'clock."
-------------
I had to know all the way home, she, like the flower, would return ---------- always.
.
Take a walk in the woods this weekend. There will be gifts!
HAPPIEST EASTER
Andrea
.
Posted by: andrea and the weimaraners & unleashed mouth | April 10th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
That mantel looks absolutely edible.
Posted by: Sylvie | April 10th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Today I saw a delightful Mom on tv.
Someone didn't fall,far,from that Tree.
So family and friends will gather to partake,
Participate in Tradition and Martha's bake.
Adorable collection of porcelain bunnies,
Ostrich eggs and various funnies.
Paper mache planter,graced by an orchid.
Fuzzy chicks and fancy nests less the lid.
Gourmet jelly beans,beautiful gilded eggs.
Basketful of little peeps,living on the edge.
Chocolate bunnies,of course,not out of place.
Little bird,big egg,taking little space.
Tisket,tasket,a little cabbage basket
And little nests hitching a ride.
Pussy willows in a dither,beggin' to be outside
*All in all,between me and you
We know now,why The Craft Book is #2.
*forgive.
Posted by: celia stock | April 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
is it just me? pic 3 of 21...there is a face in the marble mantel and the pillow on the sofa looks like a body and an outstretched arm.
Posted by: angrynikki | April 10th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
It's 3 AM and I am wide awake as usaul but I need some help please. I must make homemade scalloped potatoes for Easter does any blogger here reading these comments from The Martha Blog have a good sure proof recipe?
Nothing fantastic just a recipe where you can taste the potatoes not the fancy jazz. Help, Help! I am hoping Laura will see this come through & post this if she isn't off all weekend enjoying her Easter LOL!
I am a baker not a cook so I am in dire need of making these potatoes look and taste like potatoes~
Thank you
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | April 11th, 2009 at 5:05 am
Beautiful decorations Martha! One questions- how on earth do you keep your dogs and cats from trying to p[lay with everything! I have two weimaraners and they think everything in their reach is another toy for them. I can just imagine what they would do to all those beautiful chickies!
Kristine
Posted by: Kristine | April 11th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Your pictures are amazing! I love them all, although I especially love the pussywillow arrangement you have.
What a creative person you are. Don't let Francesca & Sharkey know about the chocolate bunnies....they might think it's for them!
Happy Easter.
Posted by: Sherry | April 11th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Martha,
Happy Easter to you and your family. Laura, Eliad and all. (I miss your Mom too lovely woman...Happy Easter Big Martha in Heaven!)
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures of your home. I especially like the brown walls and that evergreen in your room. How long do you keep those in your home? Just a few days?
Congratulations on your newest book -Encyclopedia of Crafts #2 on the NY Best Seller List!! YAY!
We had Seder dinner on Wednesday too at my in-laws. Delish! We celebrate both holidays.
To Pam From Calif - Hey girl, got your scalloped potato recipe...two in fact-
One is Martha's and the other is Emeril's!
Garlic Scalloped Potatoes -
Serves 10 to 12
2 cloves garlic, halved
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature, plus more for dish
3 pounds Yukon gold or all-purpose potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 cups heavy cream
1. Preheat oven to 325°. Rub a 3 1/2-quart baking dish with garlic, and butter generously. Add the garlic cloves to the dish. Arrange potatoes in layers in baking dish, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper, and dotting with butter. Pour cream over potatoes. Dot top with any remaining butter.
2. Bake until golden and bubbling and potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400°, and continue to bake until the top is brown, about 10 minutes more. Let stand about 15 minutes before serving.
Scalloped Potatoes
Ingredients
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
4 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 to 3 1/4 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices
8 ounces Swiss cheese, grated
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish with the butter and set aside.
Place the cream in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper, and stir well. Add the potatoes, adding more cream if necessary to completely cover the potatoes. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are barely fork tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat.
With a large spoon, transfer 1/3 of the potatoes with some of the cream to the prepared dish, forming an even layer on the bottom. Top with 1/3 of the cheese, and continue layering the potatoes and cheese, ending with cheese on top. Place on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Good Luck!
Happy Easter to all the Martha Bloggers!!
Hope the Easter Bunny gets you all!! LOL
Paula M.
Posted by: Paula M. :) | April 11th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Dear Martha,
I always read your blog. You are such an inspiration!
While reading your menu I saw that next to your peirogi listing you wrote that you really missed mom. I have been feeling that today myself.
My dad just passed away in January at 61 years old and I am preparing my first Easter feast without him. I miss him so much. It just feels so strange to know that he willnot be here to tell his stories and make us all laugh!
I hope that memories of your mother continue to bless and inspire you the way my memories of my dad inspire me. She was an incredible lady!
God Bless you and have a wonderful Easter!
Posted by: Melanie | April 11th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I love the decorations, but I love your menu even more! Bon appetit!
Happy easter everybody
Posted by: French furniture | April 11th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi Martha, I just love all of your decorations for your lovely Easter luncheon. Everything looks absolutely stunning. Your menu is fabulous. I'm sure everyone will enjoy everything. I loved watching your repeat show on Friday featuring your Mom and you making the hot cross buns and babka and Jacques Torres making the chocolate bunny house. I remember seeing the original episodes. I sure miss your Mom and her wonderful laughter and ability to teach us all how to make delicious things. Have a great holiday. Happy Easter to everyone who reads Martha's wonderful blog and all of the animals, too. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 11th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Thank you Paula,
I wondered if you have been reading A.M's blog haven't seen your name here in awhile - woman you have saved my bacon.( AM too) I have printed out both recipes just curious which one was AM's and which one E's? I checked out the web site this morning before posting to blog here but didn't find a simple one but a zillion potato recipes whew! The web site spectacular & beautiful more so since the revamping from April 2007.
I am glad you were reading the blog today.
I can't take garlic in large doses .I like the second one better, oh gosh it better be AM's or I am dust right lol?
I am ok as a cook far from a Julia Child by any means, oops I mean Martha Stewart lol! Geez wouldn't that be great to have both their talents a spy turned cook, and a genius turned mogul everything etc! Yes by all means I am kissing up here royal for sure.
Thanks again very much- via Paula via blog to via me.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | April 11th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Sound good I guess my invitation got lost in mail.
I'm doing leg of lamb for Easter first time cooking lamb
Posted by: peppylady | April 11th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Martha you have a beautifuly home and i love the way you have done it up for easter I havent been able to get on the web site for a while i hurt my back on the 1st of April thank you for all the great ideas
Posted by: Deb | April 11th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Dear Martha
I love your show watch it all the time and love the blog also. But how do I find eggs to blow that won't crack around the hole when I blow them. I don't have access to farm fresh eggs, I really miss them since I move to the city. You inspire all of us to keep on crafting and baking. Have a wonderful Easter!
Posted by: Lorain S. | April 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Your house looked beautiful for Easter. We were in the middle of decorating this weekend but I filled the house with hyacinths, lisianthus, stocks and tulips - it looked wonderful. I made the pineapple glazed ham and twice baked potatoes. For dessert we had a strawberry and almond galette which was wonderful, and all from the Living Magazines. Thank you for your inspiration.
Pru x
Posted by: Pru | April 12th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Marth, As a resident of Maine you don't want to miss this HUGE upcoming radio broadcast regarding Maine. The broadcast file is to long to be sent as an email so for your convenience we have posted it on youtube.com with a link below which can be used or copied to your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUJBjXigChM
Posted by: j. smith | April 13th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Hi Martha,
Your home looks great as usual. I must say we enjoyed our Martha Stewart ham from Costco! This is our second one-we had the first one at Christmas. We love the flavor, and that unlike most every ham on the market, it's not too salty! Great job on the products you're offering through Costco!
Posted by: Sara Stewart | April 13th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Loved your info on potatoes. Here in central Idaho the growing season is very short, but I can count on a great potato crop every year.
We harvest enough to last the entire year - harvest new potatoes when the flowers have died back and store the hardened off potatoes in a spare refrigerator set to 40 degrees F. They keep beautifully until late spring.
Posted by: Karen Brees | April 13th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Martha...just a note to let you know that I think of your mom whenever I see pierogi.
Happy Easter! ♥
Posted by: Bridget | April 13th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I love the mirror over the mantel. I have enjoyed your decorating for years. I was watching your show as I was ironing a table cloth and saw the segment where your mom joined you to make babka. My grandmother came from Poland during the Depression. We have always purchased from our local Polish bakery. I look forward to babka every year and after watching the show I am going to try making it next year. Thanks for helping our family start a new tradition!
~AmyLynn
Posted by: AmyLynn Maleady | April 14th, 2009 at 6:21 am
I enjoy your tv program, on April 9th or 10th 2009, A rerun.... Martha and her Mother baked Hot Cross Buns, I have tried searching and am unable to find the recipe........PLEASE SEND....Looking forward to making them.........The recipe is similiar to a paska recipe......
Thanks You
Marilyn
Posted by: Marilyn Nevarov | April 15th, 2009 at 1:19 am
I have watched your program for years and my friends always refered to me as MS and also Cara hence my e-mail address. I'm 72 now but still do the crafting and drawing and photography. I recently moved to W.Va. and went from house to apt but it is still cute and I can sit on my little porch and view the mountains. So many times I wanted to email you but wasn't techy enough. Recently got on line and now I think I've got it. Enjoy your craft programs the most but like it all. Looking forward to the new ones for 2009 and 10. Thanks for listening! Cara
Posted by: Carolyn Hopes | August 8th, 2009 at 12:59 pm