Easter
and all the delicious feasting
Hello friends. Can you believe Easter's here already? With its early scheduling this year and coinciding closely with the March public holiday and school breaks, it feels like everyone is away. Easter's a favourite of mine, especially for all the delicious food. I wanted to share a few recipes for you to try during the holiday. I hope you've got something delicious planned, preferably away.
I have a post on my website with my favourite Easter recipes, including my favourite Easter bakes, various lamb recipes and desserts. So this is a good place to start.
I have been going a bit crazy with decadent desserts recently and my take on a chocolate malva pudding is the best chocolate pudding I have ever made. I prefer it to Malva which is cloyingly sweet. This one is a keeper, a crowd-pleaser and a total showstopper.
I’ll be doing a few healthy autumn recipes after the Easter weekend to make up for this, including a delicious sushi salad you will want to eat every week.
Baking
I can’t imagine Easter without baking my all-time favourite stout hot cross buns which require two days but little effort. I like to make them into a loaf for easy slicing and toasting too.
My favourite carrot cake and a hummingbird sheet cake with cream cheese frosting are two easy and classic bakes that are perfect for this time of year and to feed a crowd.
Weekends away would not be the same without rusks or crunchies. Everyone loves these.
Starters & sides
My twice-baked make-ahead cheese souffle is perfect. Serve with a mixed salad and vinegary sultanas.
I love this Kale salad with Pecorino, sultanas, walnuts and toasted breadcrumbs. It’s a versatile side to so many dishes.
The best duck-fat roast potatoes are always a good idea. They are also delicious made with sunflower oil if you are vegetarian or can’t get hold of duck fat.
Roasted pumpkin with chilli yoghurt and coriander sauce is a hearty side dish from Ottolenghi.
Roast carrot & barley salad with pickled sultanas.
The main meal
Instant Pot lamb shanks with red wine and rosemary and now my other new favourite, lamb shanks Asian-style, with soy, ginger, garlic, honey and garlic are both amazing recipes that can be made in the oven or your Instant Pot.
A slow-roasted shoulder of lamb with harissa is always a good idea over Easter, as is a Greek lamb moussaka for something more Mediterranean.
Jamie Oliver’s fantastic fish pie is a comforting classic I make often.
The best roast chicken with white wine herbs & garlic
Desserts
Hot cross bun pudding with chocolate and orange.
The chocolate nemesis from The River Cafe in London is right up there amongst the best chocolate desserts ever created.
Easter breakfasts
For an indulgent breakfast over the Easter weekend here are a few delicious ideas.
Omelette with smoked salmon and chive crème fraiche is special and I adore feta fried eggs with chilli crisp.
Dutch baby pancake with caramelised apples & cinnamon, or a rendition with blueberries and lemon.
Have a very happy Easter if you celebrate, and thanks for being here.
Sam x