I’m excited for the approaching Easter weekend and the first bank holiday of the year (Friday March 25 – Monday March 28). Easter Sunday falls on March 27 and the day is an opportunity to do a basket-load of great things, whether you plan to hunt eggs, party all weekend or eat chocolate! Get cracking with your Easter plans now - and check out my favourite fun ideas:
The Hunt Is On:
Discover the Story of Chocolate!
If you love a great Easter Egg hunt, then head to Kew Gardens for an extra chocolatey Easter this year with chocolate-themed activities as Lindt gives you the opportunity to follow the Flavour Trail and solve clues with a free Lindt Gold Bunny at the end for everyone! Take part in the Bean to Bar Workshops and grab the chance to make your own chocolate, or enter the Palm House and discover how various plants have been used to improve the taste of chocolate over the years.
Make Your Own:
How to Make an Easter Egg
Ingredients:
300g/10½oz of good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) or milk chocolate
Icing for piping
Easter Egg Moulds
Favourite Chocolate and Sweets for decorating
Method:
1.Clean the inside of each mould then dampen a piece of kitchen towel with a little flavourless oil and polish the inside of each mould with the oil – this helps release the set chocolate from the mould.
2.Temper your chocolate – for this you will need a cooking thermometer, a heat-proof bowl and saucepan of hot water. Break your chocolate into small pieces and melt gently in a bowl over a saucepan of hot, not boiling, water. Place the thermometer into the chocolate and heat until it reaches 43C/110F. Take your chocolate off the heat and cool to 35C/95F. Now it’s ready to use. If you don’t have a thermometer don’t panic, tempering means you’ll get a smoother chocolate but if you’re not a perfectionist you can get away without tempering. But do let the chocolate cool before you fill the moulds!
3.Gently pour chocolate into each mould and swirl around until coated or use a pastry brush if necessary to paint the mould and cover with chocolate. Leave to set. Fill your opposite mould in the same way and repeat the process another two times to build up a good layer of chocolate in each mould (wait for about 20 minutes for the chocolate to set in between layers). After each layer draw the flat edge of a knife across the chocolate to ensure a clean edge every time so that it’s easier to fit the two halves together. Leave to chill until fully set.
4.Carefully remove the egg halves from the moulds and place on a clean surface taking care not to handle the chocolate too much so that it melts!
5.This is the time to add in any sweets that you want inside the egg before making the two halves one! To stick the two halves together, heat a tbsp. of chocolate, brush both edges then place the edges of two halves together and hold for a few seconds.
6.Decorate!
Top Tips:
- Use a tbsp. of warm chocolate and dab on the back of your favourite flat-backed chocolates or sweets to stick them to and decorate your egg.
- Use a piping bag for icing or cooled chocolate to personalise your egg with a name or message.
- Marzipan is a great option for creating cute decorations to add to your egg design, let your imagination run wild!
Party On:
Pick your theme whether it’s bunnies, chickens or eggs and get creative! Easter parties don’t have to be hectic, go for something relaxed, elegant and fun that both children and adults will enjoy. If the sun is shining an afternoon garden party is the way to go!
Decorate your front door and garden with your chosen theme, with cut outs, stuffed animals, Easter baskets and eggs, a ‘Happy Easter’ banner will give a lovely welcome to your guests.
Use simple empty jars and fill with spring flowers - daffodils and tulips look great and create a lovely spring atmosphere.
Make simple decorated eggs to use as decorations and create beautiful centrepieces.
Image courtesy of Obviously Sweet
Set up a table where your favourite sweets and desserts are available for guests to help themselves. Serve your chocolate eggs and bunnies!
Play a few games of ‘Egg Rolling’ - best played on grass, the idea is to roll your egg as far as possible without breaking it. Crack the shell and you’re disqualified! The winner is the person who succeeds in rolling their egg the farthest from the start line, while still keeping it in one piece. It sounds simple but can be great fun with a good level of hilarity!
Happy Easter!