From the Hip

Easter is my jam.  For the past 15 years, I've hosted a traditional Easter dinner after celebrating 40 days of Lent. It's the best of all the holidays: Fat Tuesday gluttony on one end. Chocolate bunnies and jelly beans on the other. It's my Spring Equinox. The day I say goodbye to winter and hello to the rebirth of green.  History of the event: A gal pal and I adopted an idea from a Huge Heffner thing during the height of the Girls Next Door reality show. There was a punch and we adopted the recipe. I had just bought the Thomas cottage and was looking for traditions to celebrate friendship.  In my experience, Easter is the friend's holiday. Since it's on a Sunday, people are less likely to have "family obligations." Peeptini was born.  Traditional dinner: Ham, crockpot scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, potato buns and the precious punch: Peeptini. It's family style. Everyone seated at the table with place cards  Som...