Polish sausage soup, Easter egg hunts and more make for a fun, family tradition

One of my favorite gatherings is when my family gets together. This past Easter, almost everyone was able to come to the farm.

Even though the lunch would be here, I would not have to do all the cooking. Every family would be bringing a dish to share. To spread out the meal, a plan had to be set in place.

I was told that since I was hosting, I had to send out an email to everyone. I made a food list and instructed families to choose what they would bring.

I began the list telling everyone that I’d be making a pot of Easter soup. For some in the family, it wouldn’t be Easter without this Polish sausage soup. Rachel brought a spiral ham and hardboiled eggs. Her children colored the eggs. Those eggs would go into each soup bowl.

Others claimed fruit, vegetables, salads, beverages, and a dessert.

All was set. I had my ingredients for my soup, except for the pumpernickel bread that also went into each bowl. That meant a trip to the grocery store.

Since the bakery is at the front of the store, I could have grabbed the bread, paid and headed home. Instead, I stayed.

That very day, I had watched a cooking show that recreated a grape salad, with a sweet creamy dressing. This appealed to me so I set about getting the needed ingredients — grapes, cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and sugar.

I should never have gone to the store hungry. When I passed the pie display, a pecan pie called my name and there it went into my basket. Oh, well, it wouldn’t hurt to have another dessert.

It got busy in my kitchen when that family meal was coming together. Since everything couldn’t fit in my refrigerator, much of the food was stored in coolers.  

The desserts had been set on the dining room table, and some were already being sampled.

Most of the food could be set in place without much handling. When the ham came out of the oven it needed to be cut and wrestled into submission. Rachel took care of that. 

The food multiplied as it emerged from the coolers — almost like loaves and fishes. I wasn’t the only one who added something to his/her shopping cart. We could have fed an army and pretty well did.

After filling our bellies, the time came to pack the leftovers away. It was time to divide these into take-home portions.

I filled three quart jars with soup and sausage slices, leaving some for myself. The ham was further dissected, leaving me with the bone for an eventual batch of split pea soup.

I don’t know who was taking what, but I do know that I have too many leftovers for me: such a nice problem to have.

Most of my grandchildren are getting beyond the age of hunting for easter eggs, but that didn’t stop the hunt. Even the one with a learner's driving permit went searching for the filled plastic eggs. Besides treats and prizes, there was cash to be found.

It was fun watching everyone go every which way.

When all the plastic eggs were found, they were brought into the house where they were cracked open. Some trading took place, but most were happy with their found treasures.

It won’t be until Camp Manzke this coming August that this family will get together again. Of course, the campout will be different, but will have the added benefit of coming during Seymour’s Burger Fest, on August 9 and 10. I can’t wait.

Susan Manzke, Sunnybook Farm, N8646 Miller Rd, Seymour, WI 54165; sunnybook@aol.com; susanmanzke@gmail.com; www.susanmanzke.net/blog.