Ostara / Easter Lunch
This Sunday, we dine.
As I noted last week, one of my favorite ways to celebrate Spring / Ostara is to host a gathering. This year, as it often falls, Ostara and Easter are just two weeks apart, so I am doing a single get together: a lunch on Easter for my family. This lunch will be secular and about gratitude and family, rather than a Christian celebration.
My menu for Easter is simple.
We'll have a succulent baked ham, symbolizing rebirth and fertility.
I’ll make my version of a classic mustard-y potato salad, as taught to me by my great grandmother.
I'm also making deviled eggs, even if they are old-fashioned. Eggs are a popular symbol of Ostara because they embody new beginnings and the cycle of life. They also represent fertility and rebirth, and are linked to the goddess Eostre, who inspired the name Ostara. (We will have dyed our eggs for both the potato salad and deviled eggs in advance, because decorating eggs is also a tradition for Ostara celebrations.
Of course, we also want to nourish our bodies, and fresh fruit and veggies represent spring like no other. So, we’ll have a medley of veggies and a fruit salad.
I’ll make baked beans just because they go well with ham and are a filler dish.
Dessert is usually provided by the guests (as we often do a pot-luck kind of meal), and I think this year’s contribution is carrot cake.
I’d like to share a recipe here, since I do intend to do that in this space, but there’s nothing on the menu that I am making that really has one. The closest is the potato salad, and it’s about the ingredients and getting the ratios right for your taste. My ingredients are:
Idaho or russet potatoes (I don’t care—the bigger they are, though, the less peeling I have to do)—boiled to softness preference, peeled, chunked
Hard boiled eggs (peeled)
Kraft mayonnaise
Sweet pickle relish
Yellow mustard
Salt and pepper.
You should use whatever mayonnaise that you like the taste of the most—for me, that’s Kraft. For all ingredients, you use enough to get a taste of everything in each and every bite. Generally, for 10 pounds of potatoes, I use 18 eggs, 1.5 big jars of mayo, two very large squeezes of yellow mustard, sprinkles of salt and pepper, and about two small jars of relish. Any time I go to make it, this is what I have on hand. Then, I add some and stir. Add some and stir. Add some and stir. I keep at it until every single bite tastes of every ingredient. Then, when I think I am finished, I add some more salt because generally my guests like a lot more salt than I do.
So that’s definitely not helpful if you’ve never made potato salad before—it’s not a recipe for beginners. If you have, though, you can use these notes to tweak your own if needed.
And if you want to get witchy with it, you can think about the process of cooking more intentionally. While some might think "witchy cooking" means adding exotic ingredients, it's really about infusing your food with love and intention. Some witchcraft traditions see significance in the direction you stir. They say,
Clockwise for Positivity: Stirring clockwise can give your meals a swirl of good vibes. This motion is associated with attracting positive energy, blessings, and growth, which is perfect for dishes meant to bring healing, love, or success.
Counter-clockwise for Letting Go: Stirring counter-clockwise can be used to banish negativity or break free from bad habits. Stirring counter-clockwise can symbolize releasing what no longer serves you, which can be helpful for protection spells or cleansing rituals incorporated into your cooking.
Here are some other ways to think about kitchen witching:
Mindful Ingredient Choices: Select fresh, high-quality ingredients, appreciating the nourishment they bring.
Gratitude is the Secret Spice: Express thanks for the food itself, the people who grew it, and those who will share the meal with you.
Intention is the Main Course: As you cook, focus on sending love and well-being to those who will be enjoying your creation.
Remember, the most important ingredient is your own intentions. I like to light a candle, crank up my favorite playlist, and stir in my love when I’m preparing for guests. As always, though, you do you.