Making Dutch traditional Easter food

We make this every year on Easter Sunday (both countries) and it is a tradition passed down from the Dutch side of the family. It isn’t all Dutch people who do it; apparently it originates from the area my grandfather (Dad’s side) lived in Holland.

My dad starts outside and he deep fries a special cut of bacon that can only be bought at a Dutch store. He then separates the bacon (which is now crispy) and the fat it was in (but keeps both)

He is wearing an apron for a reason; about 4 or 5 years ago he was cooking the same meal and was shirtless. He spilt the hot fat all over his stomach and got severe burns and went to hospital! Since then he is reminded at least 10 times to be careful while cooking this meal. The apron was actually made by my Nana (grandmother on my mom's side) who made it and sent it over from South Africa after hearing what happened.

While he does that my mom is inside and makes mashed potatoes and washes lettuce. The lettuce is then shredded and added to the mash potatoes and mixed in together. She also makes boiled eggs!

We then all sit at the dining room table and start to build the meal. First is the mash potato and lettuce mix. on top of that goes the bacon. We then peal the eggs and mush them up or cut them into slices. then pour the bacon fat over everything and mix it well!

It was awesome because halfway through the meal my sister said to her kiwi husband "you realise that when we have kids we are doing this with them right?" It just proves that the family tradition will follow with us no matter where we move to. It has gone from Holland to South Africa and now New Zealand!