Family get together

I was up and out early on Saturday morning, in town before the shops even opened. Needed to go to the market for fruit and vegetables. Needed to pop in the library and then Townsends looking for spring themed napkins - I managed to find bunny ones!

Dashed home to finish preparing a spring lunch for my family- just 9 of us!

 Made a courgette and asparagus Filo pastry tart.

 Aubergine and feta cheese salad

 Green lentil and blue cheese salad

 Plain salad decorated with borage flowers

 Sausage rolls

 Hot cross cheese rolls

Also made scotch eggs, both meat ones and vege ones made with chickpeas.  Also cooked a ham and new potatoes.

We ate lunch indoors, but then I noticed that the sun had come out so we had pudding in the garden

 Hot cross buns

 A rhubarb and custard cake

 Carrot cake cupcakes and chocolate nests

Phew!  All homemade!  Took my recipes and ideas from Good Food magazine, always find it to have good ideas and reliable recipes.

I like the Easter break, it is not all stressy like Christmas. Nobody asks if you are ready for Easter. The weather is usually better, with a bit of sun,  there seems to be less rushing around.  A good time to get together with family and some traditional treats like the hot cross buns and chocolate eggs- lovely!

GOOD FRIDAY

A bright, warm and sunny start to the bank holiday weekend, makes a change!
We spent the morning at the allotment. Things are beginning to grow.  Tiny little gooseberries cover the bushes, can't wait for them to grow.
Started a new strawberry patch this year and it is looking good, lots of flowers already, won't be long until we are picking them.  I put some straw around them before they get any bigger.
The first row of peas has flowers on them, the second row are not far behind.
I picked some sprouting broccoli, the first rhubarb and radishes. Also pulled some leeks. The rhubarb will be made into a cake!
I love having breakfast there. We had toasted hot cross buns and tea - delicious!

Weekend

My weekend started on Thursday last week. Alice arrived home on Thursday morning, which was very exciting as she had been away since the beginning of January. 
I had put up some Spring decorations, a twig heart on the front door that I had made with some willow twigs and green Raffia.  Decorated eggs were hung from some twigs and the dresser re-arranged with chickeny things.
I had crocheted a Spring wreath, which is hanging on the lounge door. The idea for this was taken from Lucy at Attic24, it is similar to hers but not copied completely.
The fridge was full, following a trip to Waitrose the day before.  I had planned the main meals including a big family get together on Saturday.  I had even made the Chocolate Easter Eggs!