Like marshmallow Peeps, the butter lamb is another Easter icon.
Lambs are symbols of the Lamb of God, the resurrection of Jesus, and are part of the Polish Easter tradition. But plenty of people just buy them for their good looks.
Butter lambs are usually made by hand or in a mold. For those not up to the chore, pre-made butter lambs are for sale in some grocery stores, produced by Keller's Creamery. We found this lamb chillin' in the dairy case at the Met Foods in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Look for lambs now . . . butter turkey and butter Christmas trees will follow in November and December.
Serving a Margarine Lamb, complete with raisin hooves and peppercorn eyes, would probably make you the black sheep of the family.
i think that margarine lamb is about the cutest thing i've ever seen. had i been enterprising enough, maybe i'd have made one for our passover seder this past monday (if i could figure out how to do it, of course)... not really sure how it would fit in with the holiday, but considering we used an elvis mug as elijah's cup, i'm guessing the family's up for some unconventional goodness.
view sara's profile
I've never seen this! Perhaps it's because my family's not Polish, but it's kinda fun.
thanks for sharing.
view kate's profile
My family is polish, and my grandparents always sent us sugar lambs for easter from New York (we were in Oklahoma). I think we've had some of those lambs for years at this point. I never saw a butter lamb untill a few years ago, when a local gourmet gocery started selling them. Mom actually found a mold, and now we make our own. All this easter talk has been making me crave ham and horseraddish, but now I want a suger or butter lamb as well. Looks like I need to have my grandfather send me my own.
view Christal's profile
Where can you buy this? I searched their site and it looks like it's not available in New York City.
view carla's profile
Go to Greenpoint. The local groceries will carry it, as will some of the specialty shops. Somewhere on Metropolitan Ave will have it.
view Christal's profile