By Mary Sanker
Enquirer contributor

Easter dinner is not as daunting to prepare as the Thanksgiving feast, with its stuffing and trussing of turkeys, but sometimes the cook still needs the day off.

If you don't want to glaze a ham, fix dessert and cook all those side dishes, you can pick up the phone and call for help.

WHERE TO BUY

Heavenly Ham: 1136 Montgomery Road, Symmes Township, 851-9500; 7561 Mall Road, Florence, (859) 282-6800. The HoneyBaked Ham Co.: Five locations in Greater Cincinnati. Kroger: Locations throughout Greater Cincinnati. Remke Markets: Seven locations in Northern Kentucky and Deer Park. Silverglade & Sons: 6660 Clough Pike, Anderson Township, 231-6483; 231 W. 4th St., downtown, 564-0600.

HOW BIG TO BUY

Writer Dorothy Parker said: "Eternity is a ham and two people," so you don't want to order too much. How large a ham do you need for Easter? A general rule is 1/2 pound per person at a sit-down meal and 1/3 pound for each guest at a buffet. Of course, the number of side dishes will affect how much ham you require for your dinner. If you like leftovers, plan for eternity.

Following is a sample of where to order an Easter ham dinner:

• Heavenly Ham stores offer an "Easter Feast" for $55.95. Dinner is a 7-pound spiral-cut ham with honey-spice glaze and a choice of two side dishes and dessert. Side dishes are casseroles, such as broccoli and rice; sweet potatoes; mashed garlic-redskin potatoes; summer squash; green beans and cinnamon apples. There are pies for dessert, including cherry, pecan praline, caramel apple walnut and pecan, and cheesecake. The dinner will serve eight people with leftover ham for sandwiches. Heavenly Ham stores ask for a few days notice for Saturday pick-up.

• The HoneyBaked Ham Co. sells items a la carte, but there are many options for assembling a custom dinner. They like several days advance notice for Saturday pick-up, as the stores will be closed Easter. There is ham, of course, at $5.29 per pound. (A turkey breast that serves 10-12 is $19.99.) Add what are called meal "completers": Frozen side dishes that serve six are $5.99 each; cold dishes such as potato salad are $3.49 per pound. For a sweet ending, choose from frozen desserts, including carrot cake, cheesecake or apple pie, $12.99-$24.99.

• Kroger delis guarantee a holiday dinner with only four hours notice. Order a fresh glazed ham with two traditional side dishes - yams, green beans, corn or mashed potatoes - get a dozen dinner rolls and your choice of pumpkin or apple pie and you'll have a feast for eight to 10. (Kroger also offers turkey or prime rib dinners with the four-hour notice guarantee.) Each holiday dinner is $49.99, with the Kroger Plus Card. Kroger stores will be open Easter.

• Remke Markets will be open Easter for convenient pick up. Remke offers a honey-glazed spiral ham with two side dishes for $44.99. Mashed potatoes, freshly cooked green beans and a dozen potato dinner rolls come with the ham. For dessert: apple pie from Busken Bakery. The dinner generously serves six to eight. (A turkey dinner alternative with dressing and gravy that serves 10-12 is $36.99.) Remke asks that you order your Easter dinner by next Wednesday.

• Silverglade & Sons wants 48 hours notice for Easter dinner and will not be open on the holiday. Plan on Saturday pick-up. Everything is a la carte, but they will help assemble a dinner to fit any size crowd. Purchase a whole or half ham with a honey-apricot glaze or just by the slice for $4.99 per pound. Side dishes, $3.99 per pound, include corn pudding; scalloped, mashed or au gratin potatoes, and a fresh vegetable medley. There are single-portion desserts ($1.25-$2.95). You might want to consider a dessert tray of mini-eclairs, cheesecakes and tiny fruit tarts. (Silverglade & Sons has pork loin for $6.99 per pound, whole or sliced.)