La mia Pasqua alternativa/My alternative Easter
I love Easter so much that each year I celebrate it at least 4 times! First up on the calendar there's the Catholic Easter - which to me, is all about recreating my Nonna Angela's Cuzzupe di Pasqua recipe and ensuring that my little brother learns how to make it so that they can keep the recipe alive after me. There's the entire essence of my life's mission wrapped up into what get categorically clumped into things with the label "Easter Bread."
But this year is different. We are being ordered to #StayHome - as we should be. It feels insensitive to write about my nostalgic culinary qualms in such uncertain times. The bottom line is that I'm thankful to be alive, and that my friends and family are doing well, even if I can't be with them this year. I'm also extremely grateful for all of the "essential" workers out there who are keeping the world running and guarenteeing our safety.
The take-out and delivery options are a fantastic way to support local businesses at this time. Many of my friends have been attending virtual Seders which are also a heartwarming model to copy on Easter. I choose to cook, as always do, but this year my options are severely affected. The yeast I normally make the breads and Easter pies with is on back order (fingers crossed I get it by Saturday), the types and cuts of meat I normally make are sold out, eggs are increasingly hard to find, etc, etc.
I originally planned on posting traditional menus and recipes, as I do yearly, but then I realized that most people reading this won't be able to get the "right" ingredients, and that might cause undue stress, as it does me. I'm also concerned about saddening those who won't be able to be with loved ones this year. But then I remembered something that my dear friend Jonathan Bardzik told me when I was freaking out about not being with my family this year. During a phone conversation at the beginning of the quarantine he told me: "Amy, why don't you focus on the way your loved ones show up for you even when you are not together, instead of thinking about not being together." That was the best advice I could have heard. I took his words to heart. For the rest of the week, I was had so many meaningful "virtual" interactions with my loved ones, that I was too grateful to complain.
This Easter, I plan on celebrating spring, joy, beauty, rebirth, and miracles even more than ever.
I'll reflect on the warm traditions that my grandmothers shared with me and try to incorporate that sentiment, if not the actual ingredients, in what I am able to cook and bake for the holidays.
I hope to bake with my little brother via FaceTime, and to share our recipes and traditions for anyone interested in learning them.