This or That! Easter Edition!

It is Easter this weekend, it seems to have came around so quickly even thought it is later this year. I thought it was the perfect time for some fun Easter related this or that questions.

Planning Easter a month ahead or last minute?

I am somewhere in the middle. We don't do much for Easter now that the girls are older. There are no Easter egg hunts, decorating Easter bonnets, decorating eggs or Easter crafts. I bought the chocolate Easter eggs earlier this week so that is my work for Easter done.

This year our Easter weekend is weekend is going to revolve around the wrestling, it's the WWE's big event, Wrestlemania. Becky and I have planned everything. We're going to watch Friday night's Smackdown during the day on Saturday, then watch Saturday's night of Wrestlemania on Sunday and then stay up and watch the 2nd night of Wrestlemania live. It will be a late one. Eek!

Easter basket or Easter egg hunt?

As an adult I would chose and Easter basket filled with lots of chocolate treats and goodies. When I was a child Easter baskets were not a big thing or at least my parents never did them for my brother and I so I feel like I have missed out.

Easter egg hunt with clues or just random hiding?

I think the random hiding is more fun! Doing it with clues can get tricky if little one's can't guess the answer to the clue.

Hide the eggs or find the eggs?

I used to love hiding the eggs for my girls! I always used to lose count of how many I had hidden though so we would always find a few days/weeks later. Oops.

Ham or lamb for Easter dinner?

Definitely lamb! I love it of course with lots of mint sauce! I don't think I have ever had ham or even thought about having ham for Easter dinner.

Hot cross buns or carrot cake?

Ohh! This is a tough choice, I love both. I think for over Easter I would have to go with Hot cross buns as carrot cake is more readily available for the rest of the year.

Easter cupcakes or Easter cookies?

Easter cookies especially if they are shortbread. Yum! Those type are my favourite.

Cadbury Creme Eggs or other brand egg?

Cadbury Creme Eggs!! There is nothing better when it comes to little, snacky type eggs although Cadbury's Mini Eggs come a close 2nd. A good few years ago I am sure they changed the recipe for Creme Eggs and I went right off them but over the last couple of years they have tasted good again! 

Bunny shaped chocolate or egg shaped chocolate?

I always feel bad eating bunny shaped chocolate. hehehe so I will go with egg shaped chocolate. Isn't it strange how chocolate always tastes better in egg form.

Pastels or bright colours?

For Easter pastel colours, bright colours are more for the summer time.

Tulips or daffodils for Easter flowers?

Daffodils! They are such a cheery flower. I always buy some with our grocery shop every week at this time of year. They only cost a couple of pounds for a bunch.

The Easter Bunny or Easter Chick?

Ohh! Easter chicks, they are ever so cute!

What would you chose for these questions?

Easter treats that you can make in advance!

Easter is a time for family, fun and of course delicious treats but let’s be honest nobody wants to spend the entire Easter weekend stuck in the kitchen especially when there are Easter egg hunts to supervise and chocolate to eat. That’s why make ahead Easter treats are an absolute lifesaver. 

Here are some of the best Easter treats you can make ahead of time!

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns are an Easter staple and the good news is they can be made in advance. You can bake them a few days before and store them in an airtight container or even freeze them for up to a month. Simply warm them in the oven or microwave before serving. If you’re feeling fancy brush them with a little honey or apricot jam for that freshly baked shine.

Easter Sugar Cookies

Decorated sugar cookies are a perfect Easter treat and they hold up well when made ahead of time. You can bake and decorate the Easter Sugar Cookies a week in advance and store them in an airtight container. For even longer storage, freeze the undecorated cookies and add the icing closer to Easter for a fresh look.

Chocolate Easter Nests

These adorable treats made with melted chocolate and cornflakes or Shredded Wheat are not only easy to make but also last for days. Easter nests were always my favourite treats to make and eat when I was a child. Simply mix the cereal with melted chocolate, shape into nests and pop them in the fridge to set. Once hardened add mini eggs for decoration. Store them in an airtight container for up to a week.

Simnel Cake

Simnel cake, a fruitcake with layers of marzipan is traditionally enjoyed at Easter and is perfect for making ahead. In fact like most fruitcakes it actually tastes better when given time to mature. Make it a week or two before Easter, wrap it well in parchment and foil and store in an airtight tin. You can add the final layer of marzipan decoration just before serving.

No Bake Mini Egg Cheesecake

A creamy, indulgent no bake cheesecake is a great Easter dessert that can be made in advance. Simply prepare the base and filling then let it chill in the fridge overnight or even up to two days. Add toppings such as fresh fruit, Easter eggs, or chocolate shavings just before serving.

Easter Rocky Road

Easter Rocky road is always a crowd pleaser and its make ahead nature makes it even better! Melt chocolate, mix in mini marshmallows, biscuits, and mini eggs, then let it set in the fridge. You can prepare it up to a week before and keep it in an airtight container for a fuss free Easter treat.

Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is a moist and flavourful cake that actually improves after a day or two. Bake it a few days before Easter, store it in the fridge and frost it with cream cheese icing just before serving. You can also freeze the unfrosted cake for longer storage.

Fudge or Chocolate Bark

Both fudge and chocolate bark are perfect for making ahead because they store well in the fridge or even at room temperature in an airtight container. Mix in some Easter themed sprinkles, mini eggs, or crushed biscuits for a festive touch. These also make lovely homemade gifts if you're visiting family and friends.

Tips for Storing Your Make Ahead Easter Treats!

Always let baked goods cool completely before storing to prevent sogginess.

Use airtight containers to keep treats fresh.

Freeze items like cakes, buns, and cookies if making them more than a few days in advance.

Add final decorations (like icing or fresh fruit) closer to serving time for the best appearance and texture.

Are you planning on making any Easter treats?

My top 5 favourite Easter movies

I wouldn't say I am a big movie buff but I do have a lot of favourite films and I have been listing them for a few months. You can read about my favourite action movies, Sci-Fi movies, my favourite Animated movies and my favourite musical movies and my favourite disaster movies. In the run up to Halloween I shared my favourite scary movies and the week after I shared my not so scary movies which were more up my street for the spooky season, in the run up to Christmas I shared my favourite Christmas movies and most recently my favourite sport movies!

This time it is all about my favourite Easter movies. I didn't think there was that many Easter movies until I really thought about it.

Peter Rabbit!

Based on the books by Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit, his three sisters: Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton Tail (Daisy Ridley) and their cousin Benjamin enjoy their days harassing Mr McGregor in his vegetable garden. Until one day he dies and no one can stop them roaming across his house and lands for a full day or so. However, when one of Mr McGregor's relatives inherits the house and goes to check it out, he finds much more than he bargained for. What ensues, is a battle of wills between the new Mr McGregor and the rabbits.

I love the Peter Rabbit movies! I went to the cinema to see both of the movies with my girls. I love how the voices of the animals are all one's we recognise and the stories are so funny. They're not just movies for kids, there's plenty of jokes for the adults.

Watership Down!

No Peter Cottontail here and certainly not one to watch with little kids. This movie, based on the popular novel by Richard Adams and offers a slightly more ominous  perhaps, realistic take on what it's really like to be a rabbit out in the wild. Eek! A group of rabbits must find a new home after their warren is threatened by humans. This classic tale is best suited to tweens and teens as it explores more mature themes like democracy, power, and nature.

Jesus Christ Superstar!

Adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Broadway rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar" recounts the last days of Jesus Christ from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene. After Jesus has an outburst in a temple, Judas turns on him.

Hop! 

He was destined to be the Easter Bunny, but all he wanted to do was rock! When teenage E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream to become a rock star drummer, he meets Fred, an out of- work slacker with his own lofty goals. Together the two encounter a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures and in the end help each other recognize the importance of family. This family friendly film from the creators of Despicable Me blends animation and live actors to spin the tale of the Easter Bunny and his son, E.B.

Miss Potter!

Get to know Peter Rabbit in a whole new way. "Miss Potter" tells the story of Beatrix Potter, the author behind the best-selling children’s book “The Tale of Peter Rabbit." With an overactive imagination, Potter finds comfort in drawing and writing about the animals that she's adored since childhood. But after her attempts to find a publisher for her novels are unsuccessful, she soon finds a small firm that turn her luck and her entire life around.

I saw this for the first time a few weeks ago and it was such a wonderful and beautiful movie.

What are your favourite Easter movies?

Creme Egg Brookie Traybake - Recipe!

Are you looking for idea's for an easy Easter treat? Well here you go!  A Creme Egg is an absolute must for a British Easter and sharing this Creme Egg Brookie Traybake with family and friends is a great idea for using up leftover ingredients. The best news is that this recipe is actually very simple to bake regardless how spectacular it may appear.

 This Creme Egg Brookie Traybake is made with only a handful of ingredients and kitchen equipment. It's perfect for baking with the kids and using up leftover Easter chocolate (if such a thing exists!).

The Creme Egg Brookie Traybake is made with just 8 ingredients and 5 pieces of equipment, perfect for fuelling those Easter egg hunts!

This recipe makes 12 Brookies!

Ingredients

250g of unsalted butter, melted.

300g of granulated sugar.

3 eggs.

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

300g of plain flour, split into 50g and 250g.

A quarter of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.

200g of dark chocolate chips or a chopped up bar, split into 150g and 50g.

.6 Creme Eggs, halved.

Equipment

2 mixing bowls (one should be microwaveable).

Teaspoon.

Spatula.

20 x 30cm traybake tin, lined with parchment.

Microwave.

Method

Preheat your oven to 160°C (fan).

In the microwaveable bowl melt 150g of the dark chocolate in 30 second increments, being careful not to burn it. Set to one side.

In the other mixing bowl combine the melted butter and sugar with the spatula followed by the eggs and vanilla. Mix until everything is combined.

Pour 350g of this mixture into the melted dark chocolate and mix thoroughly before folding in 50g of flour. This is your brownie base, pour this into your lined tin and spread evenly using the spatula or the back of the teaspoon. Pop this in the freezer while you make the cookie topping.

To make the cookie topping add the rest of the plain flour (250g) and bicarbonate to the remainder of the butter, sugar and egg mixture. Combine with a cleaned spatula until smooth then fold in the leftover 50g of dark chocolate chips/chunks. Take the brownie base out of the freezer and spread the cookie dough evenly on top.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until risen and golden on top. Allow to cool slightly before gently pressing the Creme Egg halves into the baked Brookie.

Once the Brookie has cooled completely in the tin, remove it and cut it into portions.

This recipe is from the Easy Peasy Baking campaign, launched by UK Flour Millers, making baking simple. You can find more Easy Peasy Baking recipes and information on the campaign over on the FAB Flour website.

Easter adventures with the National Trust in Lincolnshire!

Taking place in the run up to Easter and the bank holiday weekend there are more than 195 National Trust Easter trails to choose from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Every single National Trust Easter trail is different and celebrates nature, history and beauty. Follow winding garden paths, crash along muddy woodland trails or time travel with adventures to castles and mansions.
 
Designed with families in mind each National Trust Easter trail features activity stations, showcasing the cheery signs of spring, from bursting buds, daffodils in bloom to frolicking lambs and spring birdsong. 

These are the one's in Lincolnshire!

Every trail ends with a chocolate egg, or a vegan ‘Free-From’ chocolate egg, made here in the UK using cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. National Trust Easter egg trails cost £3 per child, plus normal National Trust admission/free admission for National Trust members.

Belton Estate, Grantham

Easter adventure trail - 27th March until the 14th of April.

  

Home to the Brownlow’s for three centuries, spring is the ideal time to explore this beautiful 17th century house and gardens. Wander through the Pleasure Grounds and discover this space transformed with blankets of daffodils and bluebells as far as the eye can see.

Discover ‘A Gardener’s World’ and give Belton’s gardens team a hand preparing for spring on the Easter trail, with a range of activities inspired by nature, wildlife, and gardening. Enjoy a wheelbarrow race, learn bird calls, look after the many plants in Belton’s care, and learn some garden yoga poses!

Normal admission plus £3 per trail, includes a chocolate egg, or a vegan ‘Free-From’ chocolate egg, both made using cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens, nr Spilsby

23rd of March until the 14th of April.

 

Where will your Easter adventure take you?

An ‘egg-citing’ time awaits you at Gunby this Easter. Explore eight acres of garden and discover ten spring and daffodil themed family fun activities along the Easter Adventure Trail. Who will be the best at the wheelbarrow race? What music will you create on the ‘Spring tune maker’?

Sandilands, nr Sutton-on-Sea

Easter adventure trail the 23rd of March until the 14th of April.

Free entry. 

As part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, the National Trust is embarking on an exciting project to transform the former golf course at Sandilands to create a year round nature experience for everyone. Come and discover the beauty of spring on the Lincolnshire coast. Listen to the sound of waves crashing on the shore, watch the rolling clouds over the Lincolnshire Wolds, and enjoy an Easter Adventure at Sandilands.

Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. Enjoy an egg and spoon race, build a giant bird's nest, learn bird songs and have a go at welly wanging!

Tattershall Castle, between Spilsby and Sleaford

23rd March until the 14th of April.

Rising proudly from the flat Lincolnshire fens, Tattershall Castle with its huge Gothic fireplaces and church like windows, was designed to impress. Built by Lord Ralph Cromwell, Treasurer of England, it was designed to show off his wealth, position and power, and the Great Tower offers many rooms to explore as well as secrets to uncover.

This Easter Tattershall is inviting visitors to make their way along our exciting outside trail and find a range of nature inspired activities which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, pencil, and bunny ears.

Woolsthorpe Manor, Grantham

Try something a little different this Easter and head to Isaac Newton’s childhood home for some science activities. The knowledgeable volunteers will be hosting activity days based on the electromagnetic spectrum on Thursday the 4th and 11th of April. Guess which x-ray belongs to which animal, paint a plate, recreate Herschel’s infra-red experiment, and measure the speed of light using a microwave and some chocolate! There will be two sessions on each day, running 10.30am until 12.30pm and 1.30pm until 3.30pm. £3 per child, book on arrival. Continue the fun by joining an interactive family tour around the Manor House and enjoying the UV trail.

Have you got anything planned for the Easter holidays?

A little Easter Tag.

 I have blogged for over 10 years and I can't believe that I haven't done a tag about Easter. Now is the time to do it. I found this on YouTube and changed a couple of the questions and they were not really relevant to me and my family.

1. Do you celebrate Easter?

Sort of. We are not religious so there is no going to church. We don't do much apart from buy and eat Easter eggs and maybe a bit of baking.

2. What is your favorite thing about Easter?

The chocolate and a few lazy days.

3. What are your plans for Easter this year?

Stu has the day off on Good Friday so we might go for a walk out to see my dad with the girls. Easter Sunday will just be like any other Sunday and with Monday being a bank holiday I think my dad might have plans for a day out.

4. Do you go hunting for Easter eggs?

No, not anymore. My girls are too old and too cool for fun things like that. It's been a few years since they last hunted for eggs. The last time they did it was so cold I had to hide the eggs inside. lol I often think if I just hid the eggs they would have a great time looking for them.

5. Do you like Hot Cross Buns?

Yes! I love them but not the fancy flavoured one's. I am more a fan of the traditional one's with the spices and fruit in.

6. Do you have a special roast dinner over Easter weekend?

Roast lamb is a traditional Easter roast dinner but my family won't eat lamb. Hmmf. They think they don't like it but will eat it when they don't know it's lamb. I love lamb but don't fancy cooking it just for myself. I am going to keep an eye out locally to see if anyone is serving it on Sunday for Sunday lunch.

7. Do you do any baking over Easter?

Yes! We usually do. Ellie wants to make cornflake krispie cakes with mini eggs in and I am planning on making a Creme Egg cheesecake. Not really baking, more mixing things together but the thought is almost there.

8. What Easter eggs have you got this year?

I have a Galaxy Ripple one. As much as I love Cadbury's chocolate Galaxy has my heart. Becky has the same, Ellie has the M&M one and Stu has a Twirl one.

9. What is your best Easter memory?

When my girls were little I used to love all of the crafty things that they used to do. Decorating Easter bonnets, decorating eggs and things like that for school. Most years they never won anything for the best decorated whatever at school but the girls really enjoyed taking part with only a little help from me. I miss them being little and doing things like that but we have some good memories from those years.

10. What is your favorite Easter treat?

Up until a few weeks ago I would have said Mini Eggs but recently I have got back into eating Cadbury Creme Eggs. I went off them years ago when it tasted like they changed their recipe but they are tasting more like they used to now.

What are your plans for Easter?

10 Easter Eggs that I want.

Easter is coming up and for my family it is all about the chocolate. I bought our Easter Eggs a couple of weeks ago. A Galaxy Ripple each for Becky and I, a Salted Caramel M&M's one for Ellie and a Twirl one for Stu. I think I got them when they were 2 for £8.

Even though we have our Easter eggs it hasn't stopped me looking at other one's a few of the more expensive and fancier one's. I was looking at the really fancy shops like Fortnum & Mason and Harrods and the prices, wow! Some were over £50 just for a chocolate egg, they were pretty but I couldn't pay that type of money for something I was just going to eat. I bet the chocolate would be so fancy that I wouldn't even like it. hehehe

These are some of the best that I have found which are more to my taste!

M&S White Chocolate Hedwig - £9.00

Sainsbury's Sticky Toffee Chocolate Easter Egg - £8.00

BAILEYS Easter Sundae chocolate egg - Amazon - £17.00

Extra Thick You Crack Me Up Easter Egg - Hotel Chocolat - £30.00

Toblerone The Edgy Egg Milk Chocolate Easter Egg - Tesco - £12.00

Popping Candy Milk Chocolate Easter Egg - Aldi - £3.49

Lindt Gold Bunny Milk Easter Egg - Asda - £12.00

Lindt Milk Chocolate Egg With Lindor Milk Truffles - Tesco - £15.00

M&S Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Bun Egg - £6.00

After Eight Dark Mint Chocolate Premium Easter Egg - Iceland - £8.00

I think my favourite one's have to be the one's from M&S. The Hedwig one and the hot cross bun one. They are something a bit different for Easter than the normal chocolate eggs.

What Easter egg would you choose for yourself?

Easter with the National Trust - Lincolnshire!

Easter always seems to come around so quickly once January has ended and the Easter holidays start for us at the end of this week. Horoay! 

Bring the whole family together this Easter and treat your loved ones to a spring adventure with the National Trust. From getting active in the great outdoors, to spotting the signs of spring, and experiencing nature bursting into life at the places the National Trust cares for there are over 190 Easter trails to choose from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Every single National Trust Easter trail is different and celebrates nature, history and beauty. Follow winding garden paths, crash along muddy woodland trails or time travel with adventures to castles, towers, and mansions. And of course, each National Trust Easter trail ends with a chocolate egg.

To discover your nearest National Trust Easter trail you can visit their website.

Belton House - High Rd, Belton, Grantham NG32 2LW.

3rd - 16th April.

Spring into action this Easter at Belton and discover an energetic trail through the gardens. There are ten different activities to enjoy, including locating the animal footprints and working out who they belong to and taking on the rabbit racecourse. The trail is £3 per child, and there is a chocolate egg to collect at the end.

Explore an estate with endless playing opportunities. Burn off some energy in the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playground or put your feet up in the indoor play area, while the children discover a miniature version of Belton to climb.

Delight in the colours of spring, with a wander through the Pleasure Grounds at Belton. Discover the grounds transformed with blankets of daffodils and bluebells, providing a stunning springtime walk. Follow the path up to the lakes and take a moment to pause and listen to nature.

Visits to Belton should be prebooked in advance for the Easter holidays. This can be done through their website.

Woolsthorpe Manor - Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth, near Grantham, Lincolnshire.

3rd - 16th April

Science workshops: 3rd, 6th, 13th, and 14th April.

Enjoy some science fun at Woolsthorpe for the Easter holidays. As a child, Isaac Newton used to observe the world around him and question everything, follow in his footsteps at his childhood home. Take part in the free alchemy trail running throughout the Easter holidays or get hands on with science workshops where you can make playdoh, bouncy eggs or even try making butter! These should be pre booked in advance as there is limited capacity, and this can be done through the website. 

Step inside the Manor House and discover more about Newton and the place where he was born. Take a moment in nature in the orchard, and marvel at the iconic apple tree where he watched an apple fall. A photograph here is an essential part of visiting Woolsthorpe Manor, made even more special by the arrival of blossom.

There is no need to book your visit to Woolsthorpe Manor. The Manor House will be operating a timed entry system and you will be given an entry slot on your arrival.

Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens - Gunby, Spilsby PE23 5SS.

1st - 17th April

Head over to Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens from Saturday 1st to Monday 17th of April (10am – 4pm, last admission 3pm), where the Easter adventure will lead you through bountiful gardens bursting with life and special activities perfect for families on their Gunby explorations.  While you’re there, take advantage of the new 7 days a week opening of the house, meaning there’s even more opportunity to see inside this homely hall. The site and house are open 7 days a week. The trail costs £3. Check the website for opening times and more information.

Tattershall Castle - Sleaford Rd, Tattershall, Lincoln LN4 4LR.

3rd - 23rd April.

The Easter Trail at Tattershall Castle will be taking place from Monday 3rd to Sunday 23rd of April (10.30am - 4.30pm, last admission 3.30pm), which is the perfect time to take the family on explorations around the castle ruins where the grounds give wonderful views of the great tower. While on your adventure, make sure to climb the steps all the way to the top of the tower. There are medieval games to play as you go up all the way to the battlements. The site is open 7 days a week in April and the trail costs £3. Check the Tattershall Castle site for more information.

Are you planning any days out during the Easter holidays?

Leftover Easter Chocolate Cookies - Recipe!

Easter is over and I know that we still have a ton of chocolate left over despite me only buying the girls 1 big Easter egg each much to their annoyance. I have spoilt them in the past buying several but this year I was the mean mam who said one large egg is more than enough. Other people didn't get the memo though and gave them eggs, hehehe We are grateful for them and it just means that we have plenty of chocolate left over to do some baking in the last day of the Easter holidays.

Leftover Easter Chocolate Cookies

Makes 10 Cookies

Ingredients

120g of unsalted butter, softened.

180g of demerara sugar.

1 egg.

300g of plain flour.

1 tea spoon of bicarbonate of soda.

Half a teaspoon of salt.

200g chopped Easter chocolate and extra for topping.

Equipment

Electric hand mixer.

Mixing bowl.

Baking tray, lined with parchment.

Teaspoon.

Cooling rack.

Method

Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan).

Cream together the butter and sugar in the mixing bowl before the adding the egg and mixing until combined.

Add in the flour, bicarbonate and salt. Mix together until a dough begins to form. At this stage, add in your chopped up Easter chocolate and continue to mix until the chocolate is evenly distributed. 

Weigh the dough into 80g balls and place on the lined baking tray (gently push some whole mini eggs into the dough balls now if you have them). If you only have one tray, bake these 4 or 5 at a time as they will need space to spread.

Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the tray and bake for a further 4-5 minutes until just golden. The cookies will continue to bake for a while as they cool.

Let the cookies rest on the cooling rack until warm to the touch before topping with any other leftover chocolate you have to hand. The chocolate will melt from the warmth and solidify again by the time the cookies are cool enough to eat.

Do you have any Easter chocolate left over?

This recipe is from the Easy Peasy Baking campaign, launched by UK Flour Millers, making baking simple. You can find more Easy Peasy Baking recipes and information on the campaign over on the Fab Flour website.

(Ad - Gifted) Sweet treats from HARIBO this Easter!

I love all of the yummy things to eat over Easter and as much as I love all of the hot cross buns and chocolate treats on offer I sometimes fancy something a bit different, something a bit fruity and that is where HARIBO comes in.

We love all things HARIBO here and we don't need an excuse to eat them but the Easter treats are something a bit of a novelty. HARIBO have a great range of treats ready to buy for Easter and some would be great for an Easter egg hunt you are organising and some would be great for decorating cakes.

HARIBO Eggs Galore

The HARIBO Eggs Galore are fun, themed and delicious! Coming in share bags or multipacks they feature a multicoloured mix of Easter Egg shaped jelly pieces, alongside everyone’s favourite Fried Egg, it’s the perfect sweet for Easter hunting. The Fried Egg is probably my favourite HARIBO sweet so these seemed like a real treat.

The multipack includes 10 mini bags and is an ideal choice to get Easter hunts underway this Spring. You’ll have bags of fun hiding these sweets in and around the home and garden.

HARIBO Jelly Bunnies

HARIBO Jelly Bunnies are back in store. Featuring jelly bunny shaped pieces, with the popular texture found in Jelly Babies, they’re super tasty, perfect for sharing and super cute too.

We love these, they are like Jelly Babies but without the powder coating. They say these bags are for sharing but I almost ate a full one myself. hehehe In fact none of the sweets lasted long at all. I guess I will have to buy more for Easter.

HARIBO is a great alternative for those people who can't or won't eat chocolate. These are all available to buy now from all of the usual places which sell Haribo.

I was sent a selection of HARIBO products in exchange for this blog post.

(Ad - Gifted) Easter cupcakes and Dino Egg Doughnuts from Bradfords Bakers.

Easter is coming and to me and my family Easter is all about the yummy treats that we eat. There is of course all of the Easter eggs, chocolate and hot cross buns but over the last week we were enjoying some delicious Dino Egg Doughnuts from Bradfords Bakers and Easter cupcakes from Send Them Cupcakes.

I asked the kids if they wanted to try the doughnuts and cupcakes and they looked at me like I was mad, it was such a stupid question, of course! We love sweet treats here! Everything arrived in beautiful packaging, I was a little worried about them surviving the delivery but I needn't have the boxes are just the right size to keep everything secure from moving about. There was just one cupcake where the icing looked a little worse for wear but I could tell that was from the journey here and through no fault of the bakers.

The Easter Fun Box of 9 Cupcakes from Send Them Cupcakes costs £25.90 and they are just adorable, they almost look too good to eat!

Each unique box contains nine hand finished Easter cupcakes all bursting with flavour. A mixture of chocolate and plain sponge cupcakes each topped with a delicious thick icing and finished with an Easter decoration.

These cakes are amazing. The cupcakes are moist, so soft and the icing is just perfect. They are full of flavour and I particularly loved the lemon one. I was not a fan of the purple one as it tasted like Parma Violets, the one sweet that I cannot stand. The kids argued over that one, they ended with half each and said it was the best cake and icing ever! 

The decorations on the cupcakes really impressed me. They weren't just thin pieces of chocolate they were whole chicks, bunnies and eggs. It was a nice surprise. 

The cakes are all freshly made to order and measure around 6cm in diameter. They are delivered in a satin gift box alongside a free gift card.

The box of 9 Dino Egg Doughnuts from Bradfords Bakers costs £17.90 and I have eaten some doughnuts in my life and these are up there with the best. I didn't think they would taste as fresh as they did with them being delivered through the post but I must say I am impressed. Opening the box was a fantastic experience, they smelled so good. 

A colourful array of delightful donuts. Enjoy a mix of chocolate dipped Doughnuts, each one topped with a sprinkle of vibrant edible confetti and a foil covered hollow milk chocolate egg.  Foil decorations include a mix of dinosaur, prince and princess designs. Aren't they so pretty! 

The doughnuts are carefully packed into a Gift Box with Ribbon and every delivery also includes a free gift card for that personal touch.

I feel so lucky to have tried these tasty treats and with Easter coming up they would make a fantastic gift for someone. They look great and taste even better! I was really impressed with how long they stayed fresh too. They were delivered on the Thursday, I hid a cupcake away as a treat and forgot about it until Monday and it still tasted so good.

I was sent these cupcakes and doughnuts free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

(Ad - Gifted) Dino Yogurt Eggs from Fruit Bowl - Recipe!

 Easter is coming, it's next month and when I think of Easter I think of chocolate but there are alternative Easter treats out there which are healthier and that's where Fruit Bowl comes in with their Dino Yogurt Eggs.

Fruit Bowl are all about making sure the snacks that end up in little hands are packed with fruity goodness, and not an ounce of anything else.

Dino Yogurt Eggs are made with real fruit and feature juicy raisins covered in a creamy yogurt shell, with red, green and blue speckled yogurt dinosaur egg shells made using all natural colours. We love them here, even when my girls are not that keen on eating fruit they will eat these. They are so good and they are such a treat.

Individually wrapped and great for outdoor Easter Egg hunts, each bag features T-Rex, Pterodactyl, Velociraptor, or Triceratops characters on the front. They are perfect for when your mini dinosaur is peckish to prehistoric proportions or topping an eggstra yummy Easter baked treat like the scrumptious Dino Egg Rocky Roaaard recipe below.

Dino Egg Rocky ROAAARD.

Total cooking time: 25 mins

Cooling Time: 3 hours

Servings: 20

Ingredients:

300g of milk chocolate, roughly broken into pieces (cooking chocolate or one with at least 35% cocoa solids works best).

60g of golden syrup.

125g of butter or baking spread.

140g of Fruit Bowl Dino Yogurt Eggs (7 packs).

90g of mini pink and white marshmallows.

3 x 16g of Fruit Bowl Raspberry Peelers, chopped into approximately 1cm pieces (Any other flavour would work too).

2 x 18g of Fruit Bowl Strawberry Fruit Flakes (Any other flavour would work too).

100g Nice biscuits.

Method:

1. Line a 20cm x 20cm springform cake tin with greaseproof paper.

2. Put the biscuits into a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin to break them up. Pieces should range from dust to up to 2cm.

3. Put the chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a small heatproof bowl and melt over a pan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Cool the mixture for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, put the broken biscuits, chopped peeler pieces, fruit flakes, 4 packs of the Dino Yogurt Eggs and the mini marshmallows into a large bowl and lightly mix with a spoon.

5. Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the top and mix until the chocolate coats the mixture. Be careful not to over mix it.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top with the back of a metal tablespoon. Scatter the Dino Yogurt Eggs from the other 3 packs over the top and press them in lightly with the back of the spoon.

7. Pop in the refrigerator to set for 3 hours.

8. Once set, cut into 20 square pieces and enjoy with your friends and family!

Dino Yogurt Eggs are available to purchase from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Tesco stores nationwide, as well as online at Ocado and Fruit Bowl’s website for RRP £2.00.

 

I was sent some Dino Yogurt Eggs in exchange for this blog post free of charge. This recipe belongs to Fruit Bowl, you can find out more information on their website.

Some different types of Easter eggs to enjoy!

Easter is nearly here and for my family it is all about the treats. We love Easter eggs. Chocolate always tastes better when it is shaped into an egg. There are thousands of different types out there now. I think every single type of chocolate bar comes with an egg now and each year there are plenty of new one's to try.

These are some of the stranger Easter eggs that I have seen lately:

Heston from Waitrose The Chocolate Scotch Egg - Waitrose - £4.80.

A British picnic favourite is sweetly reinvented: meet the chocolate scotch egg. Milk chocolate maple crunch replaces breadcrumbs, the meat is now a rich milk chocolate caramel ganache while a zesty mango and yuzu fondant forms the golden yolk at the centre.

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses Cheesealicious Cheddar Easter Egg - Asda - £2.50.

This new Easter egg made entirely from creamy cheddar. Enjoy this Easter treat by spreading onto oatcakes, with a little dash of chutney, spread it on your toast or simply cut off a piece and nibble away!

Mini Ostrich Chocolate Easter Eggs - Choc In Choc - £12.00.

If you’re looking to treat a loved one to a novelty chocolate gift, this is just the right handmade chocolate for you. Who could possibly resist such silky smooth Belgian dark chocolate, or the beautiful, blue marbled surface on the eggs? Both eggs are finished with a beautiful golden feather design, dusted with edible gold and lovingly packaged in a box for the perfect gift.

Joe & Seph's Milk Chocolate Popcorn Easter Egg - Amazon - £18.99

A delicious milk chocolate Easter egg encrusted with salted caramel popcorn! A Chocolate Egg with a twist! Indulge in a luxurious egg made with seriously smooth milk chocolate. There’s so much more to discover though, crack open to discover the award winning Salted Caramel Popcorn encrusted in the shell. A delicious combination of sweet and salty to offer something unique this Easter. Perfect for gifting to friends, family or children. 

Eggstra Porky Easter Gift - Snaffling Pig - £14.00.

Easter Eggs are all well and good - but until now there has been little in the way of a springtime treat for those of a savoury pork based snack loving persuasion. Behind the shamelessly egg-shaped facade sits a large 275g jar of premium pork crackling, each brimming with an awesome flavour and cooked to utter crunchy perfection.

Flutter and Bloom Egg - Aldi - £14.99

Aldi’s utterly elegant Easter offering features 700g of thick milk chocolate, a mini blonde egg hidden within and 3D butterflies and flowers for decoration. It’s weird and wonderful and I really want it! 

Guinness Dark Chocolate Easter Egg - Very - £16.99.

This indulgently dark chocolate Easter egg is served alongside 6x mini pint liqueurs filled with dark and white chocolates with a Guinness flavoured centre. Everything comes presented in a smart gift box, making it the perfect choice for Easter gifting.

Do you fancy any of these?