Easter Recipes and Their Stories

By now, you may have accepted your yearly Easter dinner of ham or lamb, plentiful breads and rolls and celebratory cakes and Easter eggs without giving much thought as to why families across the country and many around the world come back to these very same items year after year. While each family inevitably has their own twist and their own food customs, we explore some of the most common Easter food traditions and how they came to be.

From Easter eggs, which represent fertility, to pretzels, which served as the original "Easter baskets," learn the meaning behind each Easter favorite and some great recipes to amp up your Easter dinner this year.

Check out the slideshow above for our favorite Easter recipes and the story behind some of the most common dishes.