As a devout Christian, preparing food for those in need is not just a charitable act, but a way to live out my faith and serve God’s children. When I cook these special Easter recipes for the homeless, I view it as an opportunity to share the love and hope of Christ through something as simple as a delicious meal.
With each ingredient I carefully select and each step I meticulously follow, I infuse the dishes with prayers of nourishment, comfort, and blessings for those who will enjoy them. From the honey-glazed hams to the coconut cream pies, every bite is a testament to the truth that all are deserving of joy and sustenance, regardless of their circumstances.
It brings me immense fulfillment to use my culinary skills as an expression of my Christian devotion, serving those who are often forgotten with the same care and attention I would my own family. For on this sacred Easter day, we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord.
1. Honey Baked Ham
Bold, sweet, and savory flavors come together in this juicy, glazed ham.
Ingredients: Smoked ham, honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, cloves
- Score the ham in a diamond pattern and stud with cloves
- Make the glaze by simmering the honey, brown sugar, mustard, and vinegar
- Brush the ham with the glaze every 15 minutes during the last hour of baking
Cook Time: 2-3 hours for a 8-10 lb ham
2. Roasted Leg of Lamb
Tender, succulent lamb permeated with herbaceous flavors.
Ingredients: Leg of lamb, garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper
- Pat the lamb dry and score the fat cap in a diamond pattern
- Make a paste with the minced garlic, fresh rosemary, thyme, olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper
- Rub the paste all over the lamb
- Roast at 400°F until meat thermometer reads 125°F for medium-rare
Cook Time: 1.5-2 hours for a 4-5 lb leg
3. Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken
Bright lemon and aromatic herbs create a flavorful, juicy roasted chicken.
Ingredients: Whole chicken, lemon, garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper
- Pat the chicken dry and loosen the skin
- Mix the zest of 1 lemon with minced garlic, chopped rosemary and thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper
- Stuff the herb mixture under the skin and inside the cavity
- Roast at 400°F until internal temp reaches 165°F, basting periodically
Cook Time: 1-1.5 hours for a 4-5 lb chicken
4. Glazed Ham with Pineapple Rings
Sweet and tangy glaze complements the salty ham with pops of pineapple flavor.
Ingredients: Smoked ham, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, pineapple juice, cider vinegar, pineapple rings
- Score the ham in a diamond pattern
- Simmer the brown sugar, mustard, pineapple juice and vinegar to make glaze
- Brush ham with glaze and stud with pineapple rings
- Bake at 325°F, brushing with glaze every 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2-3 hours
5. Garlic Herb Prime Rib
Robust prime rib loaded with intense garlic and herb flavors.
Ingredients: Standing rib roast, garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper
- Make a paste with minced garlic, chopped herbs, olive oil, salt and pepper
- Rub the paste all over the roast
- Roast at 500°F for 30 minutes then reduce to 300°F until desired doneness
- Let rest 20 minutes before slicing
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours for a 6-8 lb roast
6. Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Velvety smooth mashed potatoes enriched with garlic and cream.
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, garlic, butter, milk or cream, salt and pepper
- Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks
- Boil the potatoes until tender
- Mash the potatoes with butter, warmed milk/cream, and roasted garlic
- Season with salt and pepper
Cook Time: 30 minutes
7. Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
Bright green asparagus with a delightful crunch and nutty Parmesan notes.
Ingredients: Asparagus, olive oil, salt, pepper, Parmesan
- Trim woody ends off asparagus
- Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper
- Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Roast at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until tender
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan before serving
Cook Time: 15 minutes
8. Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
Caramelized carrots with a sweet honey butter glaze.
Ingredients: Carrots, butter, honey, salt, pepper
- Peel and slice the carrots into 1⁄4 inch pieces
- Toss carrots with melted butter, honey, salt and pepper
- Spread on a baking sheet
- Roast at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until glazed
Cook Time: 35 minutes
9. Deviled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs stuffed with a tangy, creamy yolk mixture.
Ingredients: Eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, paprika, salt, pepper
- Hard boil the eggs and peel when cool
- Slice eggs in half lengthwise and scoop out yolks
- Mash yolks with mayo, mustard, paprika, salt and pepper
- Pipe or spoon the yolk mixture back into the whites
Cook Time: 20 minutes
10. Spring Pea and Prosciutto Pasta Salad
Sweet peas and salty prosciutto tossed with pasta in a tangy lemon dressing.
Ingredients: Pasta, frozen peas, prosciutto, lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan
- Cook pasta according to package instructions
- Toss hot pasta with frozen peas to defrost them
- Make dressing with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Add prosciutto, Parmesan, and dressing to pasta and toss
Cook Time: 20 minutes
11. Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Fragrant rosemary coats crispy potato wedges.
Ingredients: Yukon gold potatoes, olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt, pepper
- Cut the potatoes into wedges
- Toss with olive oil, chopped rosemary, salt and pepper
- Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Roast at 400°F for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway
Cook Time: 40 minutes
12. Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Tender broccoli in a rich, cheesy sauce topped with a crispy crumb topping.
Ingredients: Broccoli, cheddar, milk, flour, butter, panko breadcrumbs
- Blanch the broccoli florets in salted boiling water
- Make a roux with butter and flour, whisk in milk to make sauce
- Add shredded cheddar and cooked broccoli to sauce
- Pour into a baking dish and top with panko breadcrumbs
- Bake at 375°F until hot and crumbs are golden
Cook Time: 1 hour
13. Buttermilk Biscuits
Flaky, buttery biscuits with a slight tang from buttermilk.
Ingredients: Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, buttermilk
- Whisk together the dry ingredients
- Cut in the cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs
- Make a well and pour in the buttermilk
- Mix until a shaggy dough forms, turn out onto floured surface
- Pat into a round and cut out biscuits
- Bake at 450°F until golden brown
Cook Time: 15 minutes
14. Spinach Strawberry Salad
Sweet strawberries complement the peppery spinach in this refreshing salad.
Ingredients: Baby spinach, strawberries, almonds, feta, balsamic vinaigrette
- In a large bowl, toss the spinach with sliced strawberries
- Top with crumbled feta and toasted almonds
- Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette right before serving Cook Time: 10 minutes
15. Lemon Blueberry Cake
Bright lemon cake studded with juicy blueberries and topped with lemon glaze.
Ingredients: Flour, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, buttermilk, blueberries, powdered sugar, lemon juice
- Make the cake batter with zest of 2 lemons
- Gently fold in the blueberries
- Pour into prepared cake pans and bake
- Make glaze with powdered sugar and lemon juice
- Pour glaze over cooled cakes
Cook Time: 1 hour
16. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Warmly spiced carrot cake with a tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients: Carrots, flour, sugar, eggs, oil, cinnamon, cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar
- Shred the carrots and mix into the cake batter with spices
- Bake the layers and let cool completely
- Make the frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter, then adding powdered sugar
- Frost the cooled cake layers
Cook Time: 1 hour
17. Hot Cross Buns
Slightly sweet yeasted buns marked with a cross on top.
Ingredients: Flour, yeast, milk, eggs, sugar, raisins, cinnamon, butter
- Make the yeasted dough and let rise
- Knead in the raisins and cinnamon
- Shape into buns and cut a cross on top of each
- Bake until golden, then brush with butter
Cook Time: 2 hours
18. Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb
Crispy herb crust gives way to juicy, tender lamb chops.
Ingredients: Rack of lamb, breadcrumbs, parsley, thyme, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper
- Make the herb crust by mixing breadcrumbs with chopped parsley, thyme, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper
- Season the lamb racks with salt and pepper
- Pat the herb crust mixture all over the lamb racks pressing to adhere
- Roast at 400°F until lamb reaches desired doneness, about 125°F for medium-rare
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing into chops
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
19. Glazed Ham with Cherry Sauce
Sweet and tart cherry sauce glazes the smoky, salty ham.
Ingredients: Smoked ham, brown sugar, cherry preserves, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard
- Score the ham in a diamond pattern
- Make the glaze by simmering the preserves, vinegar, mustard and brown sugar
- Brush the ham with the glaze every 15 minutes during the last hour of baking
- Serve the remaining glaze as a sauce on the side
Cook Time: 2-3 hours
20. Scalloped Potatoes
Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a rich, creamy cheese sauce.
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, butter, flour, milk, cheddar, parmesan, salt, pepper
- Peel and thinly slice the potatoes
- Make a roux with butter and flour, whisk in milk to make a sauce
- Layer 1/3 of the potatoes in a baking dish, top with 1/3 of the sauce and cheeses
- Repeat layers twice more, ending with cheese on top
- Bake at 375°F for 1 hour until potatoes are tender
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
21. Green Bean Casserole
Classic green bean casserole with crispy fried onion topping.
Ingredients: Green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper, French’s fried onions
- Blanch the green beans in boiling salted water until crisp-tender
- In a casserole dish, mix the beans with mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and pepper
- Top with a layer of French’s crispy fried onion strings
- Bake at 350°F until hot and onions are browned Cook Time: 30 minutes
22. Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Earthy roasted beets pair with tangy goat cheese and peppery arugula.
Ingredients: Beets, arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette
- Roast the beets by wrapping in foil with a bit of oil until tender
- Let beets cool, then peel and slice or quarter them
- Toss the arugula with the roasted beets, crumbled goat cheese and walnuts
- Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette
Cook Time: 1 hour (mostly beet roasting time)
23. Cheddar Chive Biscuits
Flaky buttermilk biscuits loaded with sharp cheddar and fresh chives.
Ingredients: Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, buttermilk, cheddar, chives
- Whisk together the dry ingredients including the shredded cheddar
- Cut in the cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs
- Mix in chopped chives, then pour in buttermilk and gently knead
- Pat into a round, cut out biscuits and bake at 450°F until golden brown
Cook Time: 15 minutes
24. Classic Bread Pudding
Rich and custardy bread pudding with a crispy edges and soft interior.
Ingredients: Bread, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, raisins, butter
- Cube the bread and place in a greased baking dish
- Whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon
- Pour the milk mixture over the bread, let soak 30 minutes
- Fold in the raisins
- Bake at 350°F for 45-60 minutes until puffed and set
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
25. Coconut Cream Pie
Velvety coconut custard in a crisp pie crust topped with whipped cream.
Ingredients: Pie crust, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, butter, shredded coconut
- Bake the pie crust and let cool completely
- Make the filling by tempering the eggs with the coconut milk
- Cook the mixture with the sugar until thickened
- Stir in butter and shredded coconut
- Pour into baked pie crust and refrigerate until set
- Top with sweetened whipped cream before serving
Cook Time: 1 hour
Conclusion
In the end, sharing these lovingly prepared Easter dishes with the homeless is not just about providing physical nourishment, but offering a taste of dignity, compassion, and the transformative power of God’s love. It is a humbling reminder that in serving others, we serve Christ himself – a truth that makes every bite that much sweeter.