In Pictures: Easter

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  We ate a scrumptious dinner at my sister Shauna's house.  I was thrilled not to host!  I made these potatoes (got the recipe from Kyle's sister, who got it from her foodie chef friend) and they were delicious.  Definitely holiday food, as in not good for you, but well worth the splurge.  I don't have a photo of them. Just imagine a beautiful colorful dish. (Note:  I skipped the water bowl part of the directions, and I didn't make it beforehand. I also substituted some of the cream with half and half, and reduced the butter just a bit.  And it was still tasty!)


Scalloped Yukon Gold and Sweet Potato Gratin with Fresh Herbs

Two kinds of potatoes are thinly sliced and combined with cream, butter, cheese, and a mixture of herbs. Yield: Makes 12 servings Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes 1 1/2 pounds medium red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams) 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh Italian parsley 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 1/4 cups (packed) coarsely grated Gruyére cheese (about 5 ounces) Preparation Fill large bowl with cold water. Working with 1 Yukon Gold potato at a time, peel, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds and place in bowl with water. Repeat with sweet potatoes. Combine cream, butter, and garlic in medium saucepan; bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Mix all herbs in small bowl. Mix sea salt and black pepper in another small bowl. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Drain potatoes, then pat dry with kitchen towels. Transfer half of potatoes to prepared baking dish. Use hands to distribute and spread evenly. Sprinkle with half of salt-pepper mixture, then half of herb mixture. Sprinkle with half of cheese. Repeat with remaining potatoes, salt-pepper mixture, herb mixture, and cheese. Pour cream mixture over gratin, pressing lightly to submerge potato mixture as much as possible. DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Remove plastic wrap before baking. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover gratin tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until top of gratin is golden and most of liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes; serve. Okay, now onto the photos!  Kyle trying to explain to Sprout how to go on an Easter egg hunt.  She was not interested.  But she was interested in the contents of the eggs.  Friday evening egg hunt with our friends.  Saturday after another egg hunt and breakfast at our church, we headed to Portland.  We stopped by the new visitors' center at the temple and met up with some old friends from Boston and Portland.  We also hit Ikea, Cheesecake Factory, and Crate and Barrel.  All in all a lovely day!   Our kids got their faces painted at Ikea.  Not quite appropriate for temple grounds.  Oops!  Here they are with Seth and Alice.  These kids were little together in Boston years ago.   On Sunday it was sunny again!  I took the kids outside to get some photos.  Kate loved modeling her new dress.  She made some very silly faces.   Hayden always looks sharp in his Sunday duds.  Poor Asparagus could hardly keep her eyes open in the sun.  But doesn't she look darling?  Jilly Bean loves to laugh!   I didn't have anything new and exciting to wear, so I did my hair in a fun big bun.   Top/Side view.  I'm looking forward to more sun this weekend!  And some rain too, I'm sure.  I do live in Oregon, after all.   We had a tender moment in our family as we read scriptures on Sunday night.  We talked about who we are excited to see again when we are resurrected.  I was touched by the children's answers.  They mentioned great grandparents, Kyle's Dad, and Baby Peterson, whom we lost 6 years ago.  Now, I'm not sure that the pregnancy was far enough along that we will meet that spirit in the life after this one, but if we do, I know she will have some loving siblings.  I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the reality of his atonement and resurrection!