Montauk Pioneer - April 10, 2009 -

The first sign of Spring for me are the Easter and Passover holidays. Easter has always been a fun holiday in my family. It's really a holiday about coming together and enjoying each other's company oh, and of course, there's food.

When I was younger, after my mom finished dressing me in my frilly Easter get-up, it was all about the food. My grandmother used to make elaborate Easter breads that she would spend hours getting just right. She would braid the bread and stick hardboiled eggs in it and bake it. I remember thinking it was the most beautiful centerpiece ever. I wanted to try and make Easter bread this year, but I couldn't find a recipe and in the end, I don't think I would have done it justice the way my grandma could. I'll stick to what I know and leave the bread baking to the experts (maybe next year I'll work up the guts, stay tuned!)

So what kind of food could you find at our holiday table? The customary pasta dish, of course, my favorite being my Mom's stuffed shells. A giant ham would be our main dish, with a loin of pork on the side. Although lamb is very popular this time of year, I can't recall seeing it on our Easter table - we're really pork people anyway, but I am a fan of lamb as well. They've been cooking it nonstop on the Food Network lately and it may inspire a future column.

So for me, when I was little Easter was all about the egg hunt and the chocolate. The egg hunt, of course, held the promise of filling up our piggy banks with loose change (or maybe even a whole dollar!) But then, oh the best part, the chocolate. Now I know Halloween is the official candy holiday, but I'd bet that Easter comes in a close second. Jellybeans, Peeps (who doesn't love microwaving a Peep?) chocolate eggs in various varieties and the giant chocolate bunnies that would be waiting for my brother and I in our baskets every Easter morning.

My Mom made Easter special, arranging our baskets perfectly on the kitchen table, and making sure she found just the right chocolate bunnies to fit our personalities.

My Mom had the idea for this column - I was tossing around so many different ones that just didn't inspire me, then she mentioned she used to make her own chocolates for Easter. Bam! It hit me. I'll make chocolate lollipops! Every family has its own traditions for this holiday feast, but one thing we all have in common is the sweets that represent the season - chocolate.

So get your chocolatier hats on, because we sure did. A few pounds of chocolate and a couple hours later, and we are covered in the sweet stuff (as was Mom's kitchen table) but we made some pretty amazing lollipops. It's a great activity to bring everyone together and it's one of those things where you truly are limited only by your imagination.

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

In a double boiler (or, if you don't have one, take a small saucepan filled halfway with water and place a heat resistant mixing bowl on top - instant double boiler!) melt about three cups of chocolate at a time. To make lollipops, place lollipop sticks in mold, and slowly drizzle your chocolate in, being sure to fill all the grooves of your shape. Chill in your fridge or freezer for about 30 minutes, until completely formed to your molds. Then heat your decorating chocolate in your candy heating plate in the microwave, and decorate to your liking.

Give to family and friends as gifts or as a festive centerpiece to your holiday table.