Easter

Easter bonnets
Aren't these pretty. I was leisurely flicking through a supermarket magazine at the weekend when the page fell open at these, my daughter and I both gasped 'Aaawww' 'Wow' and we decided they would be perfect for Easter.
So today, Good Friday, the kids and I are getting ready for Easter. We painted eggs, made Hot cross buns and these very cute Easter bonnets.



Easter bonnets:
150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
50g icing sugar
50g cold butter
finely grated zest 1 lemon
1 large egg, separated
For the bonnets:
12 marshmallows
1 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
juice 1 lemon
350g icing sugar, sifted
a few drops of pink and yellow food colouring
ribbons to decorate


Put the flour, icing sugar, butter and lemon zest into a food processor and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the egg yolk to the mixture. In a small bowl loosen the egg white with a fork and add half to the mixture. Briefly whiz adding more egg white if necessary.
Chill for half an hour.
Preheat oven to 180c /gas mark 6.
Remove the dough from the fridge, flatten slightly, then roll out on a lightly floured surface to 3-4 mm thick. Using a 3in plain cutter, stamp out as many biscuits as you can and place on a baking sheet, leaving at least 2.5cm gap between them.
Prick the top of each biscuit with a fork and bake for 8-10mins or until a light olden colour.
Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.
To decorate:
slightly flatten each marshmallow, spread a little jam on the underside of each and sit one, slightly off centre on each biscuit.
In a bowl, stir the lemon juice into the icing sugar, mixing to a smooth, slightly runny consistency, stir in a few drops of food colouring.
Spoon the icing over the biscuits and leave to set.
When set, decorate with ribbons and artificial flowers.



I must add that the photo really doesn't do them justice they are very cute and extremely simple, the biscuit dough was a joy to work with, it came together very easily and held it's shape time and time again even after the kids had rolled and re - rolled it. They were also very simple, especially for children, to decorate. Cant say I enjoyed eating them, not a fan of icing, but my children loved them, will definitely become a Easter tradition here.

We also made Easter egg nests, they were really good. Made with shredded wheat, child friendly milk chocolate and sugar coated eggs, which mysteriously vanished one by one....