While we've been too busy trying to lose the last of the Christmas weight the seasonal aisles of supermarkets have long since surrendered to the mountains of brightly packaged chocolate eggs which signal that spring is, if not yet here, then at least vaguely appearing on the horizon.
A long weekend awaits, promising good company, great food and, let's face it, questionable weather. Having a couple of extra days either side of the weekend is the best excuse to get in the kitchen and indulge in some leisurely baking, whipping up treats for all the family which, temperature pending, can be enjoyed in the garden after a successful day of egg hunting. Alongside classic bakes such as hot cross buns and the mighty Simnel cake we've also collected some more unusual Easter baking ideas for breads, cakes and puddings. The all important Easter lunch, too, is well covered here, with tips for achieving the perfect roast lamb joint, traditions from around the world and ideas for vegetarian alternatives.
