This Easter, instead of giving each other chocolate eggs, Melissa suggested we should bake each other some Easter inspired treats. I jumped at the idea - not only would we save money, but receiving a homemade gift means so much more than a shop bought egg that anyone can give. We had a week to plan our presents and budget of £4 each and the challenge was set.
I scoured all my recipe books and what felt like half the internet trying to search for something creative and Easter related, but with the glorious weather outside the last thing I wanted to bake was a big rich simnel cake. I spent 5 days humming and ha-ing, then I remembered the gorgeous Biscuiteers Book of Iced Biscuits that I was given as a Christmas present by my aunt and uncle and was inspired to make some Easter biscuits. When Melissa saw me making the biscuit dough and spotted the 'plain biscuit recipe' over my shoulder she cried out - "Is that all you're making for the bake off? Plain biscuits??" I sheepishly replied, "I'm putting vanilla in them," which she scoffed at, as she thought her creation was going to take much more effort and it didn't seem like I was trying very hard.
Oh how the tables turned the next day.
More than 3 hours of icing and dozens of piping cornets later, my Easter biscuits were ready:
I knew the biscuits would take a while but I really had no idea what I was in for with that amount of icing and all those colours. I'll remember to take a very deep breath before climbing that mountain again.
And in the green corner, Melissa baked up a cracker of an Easter chocolate tart from our trusty Rachel Allen Bake book which was absolutely divine (and this comes from a girl that doesn't even really like chocolate):
And hats off to her for managing to make it in a deep cake tin because we left our fluted flan tin round at her sisters.
PS Although we were both completely full from all the Easter treats, Melissa did have to eat her words afterwards about me not trying hard enough....
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