Have you done your Easter dinner shopping yet? Shopping Tips and Recipe Ideas! #HormelFamily

Disclosure: I am a Hormel Extended Family blogger. As a HEF blogger I receive promotional items on occasion, no other compensation is provided.

Easter dinner! I love the chaos that ensues when family gathers, the din of little cousins enjoying one another’s company (aka: running amok). This weekend we’re headed to Texas to celebrate Easter with our Dallas, Fort Worth family members. We’re all so excited!

While I love Easter dinner, I’m totally terrified of preparing it. If you’re like me and easily intimidated by feeding masses of people, Brian Hendrickson, Curemaster for the Hormel Cure 81 Ham Brand has a few tips for a flawless Easter meal:

Know your numbers: Know the number of guests scheduled to attend. Once you know how many people to expect, plan to purchase about 1 pound of ham for every 3-4 people. Feel free to add a little extra for unexpected guests or for leftovers.
As Simple as heat and serve: Hams are typically sold already cooked, so when preparing, all you need to do is thoroughly heat it. Heat until the internal temp reaches 140-145 degrees.
A ham for every occasion: A variety of cuts and flavors of ham make great options for a variety of meals. Hormel Cure 81 ham items are also available in pre-diced, pre-cubed, or ham steak options.

Now for a few recipes. This is another area where I’m sadly lacking. Despite the fact that I love to cook and consider myself a fairly good cook, my mom rarely cooked these big holiday meals. I, therefore, haven’t the slightest clue where to start.

Here are some recipe ideas (courtesy of Hormel) that I love:

For your Main Dish:

Fruit and Nut Stuffed Pork Chops: I have to admit, I’d leave the nuts out. In general I don’t like nuts in my food. Plus we’ve got an allergic kid. But the Pork Chops stuffed with apples and raisins sounds divine!
Orange Glazed Ham with Pecan Butter Sweet Potato: Again, the nut thing, but the Ham glaze sounds so yummy!

For your Sides:

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham: This recipe is rated beginner so not only is it super easy, but if you’re a fan of scalloped potatoes, it is sure to be super delicious!
Southwestern Cornbread Stuffing: Simple, quick, and just a little different. You’ll be adding a little spice to your Easter meal with this one!

How do you and your family celebrate Easter? Will you be cooking Easter dinner this year?