10 Tips To Help Make Sure You Have A Happy Easter
There’s nothing better than having delicious wholesome food over the Easter period. Lots of families get together at this time of year, so why not try making a fusion of classic Easter dishes and some new and different styles of recipes. Check out these cooking tips to help make sure you have a happy Easter.
Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns were basically made for Easter — no ifs, and, or, buts about it. They taste great with a cup of tea, or even better with some warm milk.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raisins
- 2 Eggs, large
- 1 cup 150g dark chocolate
- 3 tsp Cinnamon, ground
- 1/2 tsp Cloves
- 500 g Flour
- 5 tbsp Flour
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 pinch Salt
- 100 g Sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 20 g Yeast, dry
- 50 g Butter
- 250 ml Full cream milk
- 11 tbsp Water
Sweet and Sticky Apricot-Glazed Ham
Sweet and sticky is just the way we like it, especially when we’re talking about ham. This meat goes well with lightly crushed buttery new potatoes, or crispy roasted potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 (8- to 10-lb.) fully cooked bone-in smoked half ham, fully cooked bone-in smoked half
- 1 cup Apricot jam
- 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
- 1 cup Brown sugar, packed
Herb-Roasted Root Vegetables / Salad
Roast carrots, radishes, and baby potatoes with fresh thyme for an earthy side dish. This salad is ideal with fish or makes for a nice side dish with a tart or quiche.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Baby carrots
- 3 cups Baby spinach
- 2 cups Butternut squash
- 1/3 cup Cilantro
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Green onion
- 1/3 cup Italian flat leaf parsley
- 1 cup Radicchio, leaves
- 1 Red chilli, small fresh
- 1 Red onion, small
- 1 Sweet potato
- 2 Yellow potatoes
- 2 Kosher salt
- 3/8 cup Olive oil, extra-virgin
- 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
Spice-Roasted Carrots
The chopped pistachios give these tender veggies extra crunch — and delicious salty flavour. These taste great with chicken or as part of a healthy vegetable mix.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Aleppo pepper
- 2 lbs Carrots
- 1/2 Lemon, Juice of
- 2 Red bell peppers
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp Paprika, smoked
- 1/4 tsp Red pepper
- 4 tbsp Olive oil, extra-virgin
- 1 tsp Cumin seed, whole
- 1/2 lb Feta cheese
Vanilla Blossom Cake
Who needs a floral centrepiece when you have this stunning cake?! A simple slice is all you need.
Ingredients
Serves 16
- 6 Eggs, large
- 4 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
- 4 tsp Baking powder
- 1 lb Confectioners’ sugar
- 2 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp Kosher salt
- 4 tsp Vanilla, pure
- 1 Oil
- 2 1/2 cup Butter, unsalted
- 2 tbsp Heavy cream
- 2 1/4 cup Whole milk
- Edible flowers, for decorating
Lemony Herb Roast Chicken
Thanks to a little lemon zest and thyme, this roast chicken recipe makes your kitchen smell like heaven. Have your chicken with some fluffy white rice or with a seasoned pasta dish.
Ingredients
- 1 Chicken, approximately 2kg, large
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Lemon, zest of
- 2 Lemons
- 450 ml Chicken stock, fresh
- 1 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
- 30 g Butter
- 150 g Goats’ cheese, soft
- 100 ml White wine
- ½ x 20g pack tarragon leaves chopped, plus extra to serve
Spicy Sesame Sugar Snaps
Sesame oil and red chiles bring a burst of flavour to these snap peas. These taste great mixed in with broccoli, served with fish such as salmon, or simply just to eat on their own as a crunchy snack.
Ingredients
Vegan, Gluten free
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 Parsley
- 1 Red chile pepper, small
- 1 lb Sugar snap peas
- 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Sesame oil, toasted
Deviled Chicks
Does it get any cuter than this? Even kids won’t be able to resist these deviled eggs once you turn them into little critters.
Ingredients
- 2 Carrot, large
- 10 Eggs, Hard
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp Mayo, full fat
- 1 tsp Pickle, Juice
- 20 Peppercorns
- 1 Salt & pepper
- Piping Bag/Heavy Duty Sandwich Bag
- Tweezers
Herb Crusted & Stuffed Leg of Lamb with Mint Gremolata
Don’t think you like lamb? Bet you haven’t tried it stuffed with garlic and herbs. Serve this with chunky and thick home made fresh chips and some sauces on the side.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 lb Leg of lamb, boneless
- 10 cloves Garlic
- 1 Garlic clove
- 1 cup Herbs, fresh
- 1 1/3 cup Italian parsley
- 2 tbsp Lemon, zest
- 1/3 cup Mint, leaves
- 2 tbsp Onion or shallot
- 1 tbsp Capers
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 Pepper, cracked
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Salt and pepper
- 1 Salt if necessary
- 9 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Olive oil to coat
- 6-8 Cups variety of chopped root veggies – potatoes, carrots, celery, parsnips, sunchokes, leeks, onion, garlic cloves
Pavlova with Strawberries and Rhubarb
If you’ve never made pavlova before, Easter is the time to do it. Just imagine how gorgeous this berry-topped version will look on your tablescape. Enjoy a generous portion of this heavenly dessert with a glass of your favourite wine.
Ingredients
- 6 oz Rhubarb, fresh
- 8 oz Strawberries, small fresh
- 6 Egg whites, large
- 3 tbsp Honey
- 1 tsp Almond extract, pure
- 1 Confectioners’ sugar
- 2 2/3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 3/4 cup Superfine sugar
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract, pure
- 1 tsp Distilled white vinegar
- 2 tbsp Pistachios, toasted
- 1 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 3 tbsp Amaretto or other almond-flavoured liqueur
