Continuing the Easter Celebration: Dishes for Easter Friday and Divine Mercy Sunday

We've gathered up recipes for some of our favorite celebratory dishes as we continue the celebration of the Octave of Easter.

The Church makes sure we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord with 50 days of festivity, and also with an eight-day celebration called the "Octave of Easter." Beginning on Easter Sunday and ending the next Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday), the Octave of Easter is eight days of Solemnities — and we are basically celebrating Easter on every one of those days.

Because of this, we are not called to abstain from meat on Friday within the Octave of Easter as we do on other Fridays in the year.

I usually treat Easter Friday as the last day to eat the leftover Easter ham before freezing the rest (why is the ham always so much bigger than we need?), and leftover ham makes terrific Breakfast for Dinner.

Enjoy a "Meat Friday"

Easter Ham and Cheese Bake

Here's a frugal recipe that kids can help prepare for this non-Meatless Friday.

Ham, Cheese, and Broccoli Muffins 

 Sr. Christina Marie Neumann, OSF, shares a fun, family-friendly recipe to use up the last of the Easter ham. 

Ham and Egg Salad 

With the addition of leftover Easter eggs to the ham, "free lunch" presents itself in the form of Ham and Egg Salad. 

Croque Monsieur: An Easter Friday Treat 

 Enjoy a festive and frugal Easter Friday sandwich recipe for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. 

Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday

Bake a Divine Mercy Shortcake 

Barbara Stein shares a recipe for a heart-shaped strawberry shortcake to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, 

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Copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz
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