Monday, April 5, 2010

Happy Spring!


Looks like we're finally going to have Spring in New York and hopefully its here to stay!

I'm a bit late in extending my Spring holiday wishes to you all, but nevertheless, I hope you've enjoyed whatever celebrations were on the menu for you last week.

Naturally, the Diva family and friends did some celebrating yesterday. We had our traditional Easter gathering in Brooklyn again this year at the home of my Divalicious sister-in-law H.

True to form, the festivities began with some nibbles. A selection of luscious cheese from Marlow & Daughters - and some marvelous truffle honey to go with, purchased from Chez What's Open Sky shop. The truffle honey was a huge hit and was spectacular when paired with the cheese, particularly that goat's milk blue that you see on the middle of the board. Some spicy Bloody Marys rounded out the pre-dinner pickings.

I'll be honest, The Diva was definitely off-duty yesterday ... both in terms of cooking and photographing. I made my signature mashed potatoes and our traditional Easter cake for dessert and that's about it. While I started strong with the appetizer pictures, my enthusiasm for photographing the day's events wained as hunger set in.

I got a shot of our Seven Hour Lamb before it hit the table and one of my lambie cake ... and that's about it!

We certainly enjoyed the feast. The table was loaded with: Seven Hour Roast Lamb, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, roasted brussels sprouts, spinach and asparagus quiche, an Italian sausage pie, dinner rolls, corn and carrot muffins and my cranberry blood orange butter.

The day was so sunny and warm, we decided to have our dessert up on the roof deck, with a view of the Williamsburg Bridge. Mama Diva provided a delicious selection of cookies and I brought our traditional lamb cake ... which looks more like a Labradoodle than it does a lamb! But that didn't stop us from hacking into it ... take a look at the "after" shot ...

Rather barbaric, isn't it? For those interested, the cake was made using Wilton's Stand-Up Lamb pan. It couldn't be easier and if you're more enterprising than I am, you can actually make it look like a lamb if you dust off your piping bag. I told you I was off-duty last week!

Many thanks to H. for hosting such a wonderful feast and to W. for bringing the wine and Easter treats! I may never eat again! ;)

So, how was your weekend? Celebratory Diva wants to know?

Happy Spring!

21 comments:

Wilma said...

Lambieeeeeee!!!!!!huh?.....what the....OMG! What did you do to that lambie????

The Diva on a Diet said...

I know, Wil, its wrong. Just wrong! LOL

Mini Baker said...

those flowers are gorgeous! and your lamb or rabbit cake is clever.
-Mini B.

Sook said...

Oh looks like you had fun! Look at all that food! Yum!

Daily Spud said...

Happy Spring to you Diva! I love the lambie labradoodle - now that's a cake with character :)

justjoycee said...

Nice post.....Happy Spring to you too!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Looks like a wonderful meal--I don't blame you for just wanting to eat and not take pictures! ;-)

Lisa said...

Holy crap..what an amazing Easter spread, Diva darling!I really, really wish I was there! I don't like lamb, but I know I could eat yours..well..at least try it. Also, that bunny cake, to damn cute! Happy belated Easter :)

pixelgal said...

The Diva doth protest too much. She spent a lot of time on the lambie and it definitely was worth it. The feasters made short work of it after walking around the neighborhood in the beautiful weather and working up yet another appetite. Thanks to H. and all who made this such a divalicious day! Love y'all.

Fresh Local and Best said...

All of this food looks incredible! Happy Spring!

SKIP TO MALOU said...

Happy SPRING to you too Diva! I hope it stays that way in New York, just as it is here in San DIego...
I love your cake lambie...but yeah you're right it sure looks like a doggie instead of a lambie... nevertheless it's cute!

stephchows said...

oh the humanity!! that poor labradoodle!! LOL :D

Mo Diva said...

Williamsburg, my old stomping grounds!

your lamb looks sooooo good... like literally dripping with juicy yummyness.

and the cheese plate alone sold me. Im gonna be goin gto the Divas family gatherings from now on!
My latest cheese find, sheeps milk truffle cheese... HO-Lee-Sh*t! $25 per pound but soooo incredible!

Jewels For Hope said...

Love the Lamb Cake!

The Diva on a Diet said...

Mini Baker - thank you! Have you ever done a mini lamb cake??

Sook - we sure did have fun. I might still be full! LOL

Daily Spud - Happy Spring to you too! He was tasty character at that. ;)

justjoycee - I hope you're enjoying a bit of Spring wherever you are as well!

Deb - sometimes I really need to take a break from documenting every single thing I eat! LOL

Lisa Michelle - funny, I don't much care for lamb either, quite the opposite. But this is the one lamb recipe I will eat. I should post about it someday.

pixelgal - we're still enjoying the oatmeal cookies. They reminded me of some granola bar we used to eat as kids. Do you remember those? It was a tasty feast on Sunday indeed! :)

FLB - Happy Spring to you too! :)

Skip to Malou - you're in San Diego?! Color me jealous! Aren't you famous for the best weather in the whole country? Enjoy it!

steph - I know, how sad is that last picture?! LOL

Mo - the Diva family really digs its cheese. I know that truffle cheese you're talking about it and man is it delicious! Totally worth the splurge.

Jewels for Hope - thank you! :)

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a nice weekend celebration! Happy Spring to you!

Julie said...

Love the lamb cake...so cute :)

LaFleur said...

I <3 the picture of the cheese, honey, nuts and the bloody mary! I think I might have to try that combination sometime ;) I made a stuffed chicken as Fresh Direct didn't have much in the way of ham (boo). That with mashed potatoes and butternut squash, and a nice gravy was our dinner. I forgot to do the green beans for something lighter. Oh well!

Delicious Dishings said...

Happy spring to you too!

7-hour lamb - wow! Looks amazing!

Tangled Noodle said...

7-hour lamb and a lamb-a-doodle: it's Lambapalooza!

What a lovely table setting and all the food looks delicious - the very pictures of a Happy Spring!

Dana McCauley said...

love your integrated lamb main course and lamb dessert cake. Fun!

Considering I made rabbit stew for Easter, it's rather obvious that you and I share a morbid sense of humour.