Holidays tend to be surrounded by tradition — the way we celebrate, the foods we eat. I'm Slovak (on the maternal side), so I keep to some Slovak Easter traditions. My favorites include food.

In Lent, we've fasted and prayed. So, to celebrate Easter, we get to indulge in all the things we've done without. It is a tradition to prepare an Easter basket filled with all of these wonderful foods. The basket is then carried to the church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. the food in this basket forms part of the meal on Easter Sunday. So, what's in my basket?

• Paska: a rich, wonderful Easter bread made with eggs and decorated with braids, crosses, or other decorations
• Dyed eggs: red is a traditional color
• Butter: molded into the shape of a lamb
• Salt: a sign of hospitality
• Chrin: a traditional relish made with beets and horseradish
• Chocolate: because yummmm

Other people may include ham or kielbasa or an egg and cream custard-like mixture or a bottle of wine.

I'll make the chrin and mold the lamb during the week since the lamb needs to solidify and the chrin tastes better if the flavors have time to meld. I'll bake the paska on Good Friday, letting it rise several times in the quiet of the day. After dinner that evening, we'll dye the eggs. Then, on Saturday morning, I'll gather everything into the basket, decorate it, and cover it with a cloth for its journey to the church.

I'll try to get pictures of the blessing, so check back later.