Hunt

I grew up with Easter hunts, as did most of us, but mine were never just collecting eggs in the garden. In my family you had to really HUNT for your eggs, with clues, and they become increasingly difficult and more cryptic as the years went by. We've continued the same tradition with our girls of creeping around after dark hiding clues all over the house and garden.



This year Leila is where Ella was when she started having a hunt - with pictures to guide her to the next clue. Now that Ella's a little older and reading a little, she had to sound out words on her cards and then find the right one of that particular item to find the next clue. At the end of their efforts they find a gift and a small amount of chocolate. It prolongs the pleasure somewhat, making it more than just the inevitable gorge on chocolate (although there was that too!).

You CAN have too much chocolate

Leila snuck two mini chocolate eggs this morning while we were distracted by Ella's more serious hunting. Ella didn't have chocolate until she was about 2 1/2, Leila is half that age and managed to down two. It's now almost 6pm and she has slept only half an hour all day - next time I think we'll wrestle it from her.

The hunt, which I LOVE preparing, is over quickly - our big girl is too clever, I think next year I'll have to over rather than under restimate her intelligence. We made clues (left by the Easter bunny) and with each clue was a few pieces of a homemade jigsaw. Once all the clues were collected and she had all the jigsaw pieces she put it together to lead her to hers and her sister's Easter surprise. I just love it, love the anticipation of Ella and knowing, or more hoping, that these memories will stay with her forever in the same way my parents made similar memories for me.

Sprouts

I saw these gorgeous little fellas on the babyccino site and had to make some for ourselves. You can't see very well in the photo but the sprouts, less than 24 hours later, are already sprouting - very cool. I have to get more eggs today to make more heads!

Can you have too much of a good thing?

I think not!

Hot Buns

I'm not religious, at all, so Easter holds no significance for me apart from the fact that it's time to make hot buns. I'm afraid I can't remember where I first found the recipe, it's been in my book for years - for some reason I think it was a recipe I picked up in Waitrose while we were living in London. I must check out that mag, Waitrose Food Illustrated, I used to really like it but haven't bought it in years - since we moved back here.