Ostara is also known as the Spring Equinox. It's symbolic of growing new life and new beginnings (an example is new leaves budding on trees). Traditional foods to eat include seeds and sprouts, leafy vegetables and dishes prepared with flowers.
Serves 6-8
Soak lentils for one hour in cold water, then drain well.
Chop the carrot, celery, and onion into small chunks, then pass them through a food processor or blender until they are quite finely chopped.
Fry the vegetables gently in the butter for five minutes, then stir in the curry powder and cook for a minute. Cool.
Meanwhile, mix the soaked lentils with the nuts, vegetables, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, parsley, and water.
Grease and line the base and sides of a long, 2lb loaf tin with greaseproof paper or a sheet of foil. Press the mixture into the tin.
Bake for about 60-75 minutes until just firm, covering the top with buttered paper or piece of foil if it starts to burn.
Allow the mixture to stand for about 15 minutes before you turn it out and peel off the paper. It will be fairly soft when cut, as it is a moist loaf.
Serves 4-6
In small bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, juice from mandarin oranges and salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a large bowl put in baby spinach leaves, add thinly sliced red onions, orange segments and almonds. Add dressing and toss all together.
Serve immediately.
Serves 8-10
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9" springform pan with a removable bottom with non-stick cook spray
Combine ricotta, sugar, milk, flour, lemon juice, lemon peel, vanilla & salt.
Beat at medium speed until smooth. Add beaten eggs and beat again until well blended. Pour into a graham cracker crust. Bake 40 minutes or until center is set.
Cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.
Decorate the cheesecake with edible flowers, or flower decorations.
