Special Requests?

The conclusion reached when I asked what arrangements were being made to celebrate Pascha, was "we'd better eat at home." I will need a few weeks to shop for all the special things and find the perfect lamb.

We have a service in the morning, so finding the correct time was the easy part. Eating at home will assure us of the concerns with our specific food allergies and intolerance and dietary needs. We pass on the ham as one member is allergic to all pork products, and several of us are on a low salt diet as well. You will not find any wheat or wheat products on our table. And "hold" the eggs, please, another allergy. Wheat and egg are usually found in most products. There is a custom with dying red eggs on Holy Thursday, symbolic of Christ Crucified, and once delivered to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday, they are opened by smashing one end with a partner, saying "Christ is risen," while the other says " Truly He has risen." It represents the coming out of the tomb. (That tradition after the Resurrection Service will be missed, that is, the eating of the egg).

Chocolate will be kept to a minimum, if we can find the "peanut free" variety. "Gluten free products are more readily available now, but the diabetic in the bunch needs if anything, whole wheat products. Looks like cake will not be on the list this year, I thought of "sugar free" jellow with cream, but it has hoofs in it. I'll probably have to come up with different varieties for the occasion, maybe rice pudding with cream, low-fat and sugar free would be good.

No matter what it will be, it will be great to be together. I'll come up with something. Ideas are welcome and appreciated. Would you believe even ice cream has egg yolk in it?