Easter is a time for family; A time for gathering with the people you love and making memories that will last through the years. In our house, it was always my mother that hosted the holidays. She made sure that our family gathered for every one, that my brothers and our families would always stay close, and we're forever grateful for that. It taught us the importance of family, and of tradition. When she passed, that task fell to me.

I can't say that I relish the task of planning and hosting every gathering the way she did. It's a lot of work planning a menu, shopping, cooking for days sometimes, polishing silver, and making sure everything is ready at the same time. Add that to everyday chores, meals, and work, and it sometimes feels impossible. 

I miss the days when I was a guest, and could just hang out with my siblings, being seated when I was told that everything was ready. I would help clean up when it was over, and that was the extent of my involvement in the holiday meal. I want my guests to feel just as relaxed without leaving me feeling overwhelmed, so over the years I've come up with a few tips and shortcuts to help get the meal on the table without being trapped in the kitchen for days, and I want to share them with you.