I can't remember the last time the weather looked as good as this on Easter Sunday. I know it's a bad habit but I check my phone when I wake up, perusing all my social networks and clearing my junk mail ready to tackle the day when I sit down at my desk. On Sunday, I saw a photo of a perfect sunrise over Sunshine Beach, posted by a friend we'd be spending Easter with and I just had to go and see the perfection for myself. This photo hasn't been edited at all and I snapped it on my good old iPhone.
It was a quiet extra long weekend at mum and dad's house at the coast this year with my sister and her man on a little getaway to Fiji (he surprised her last week, he's a keeper that one!). Will and I made the trip up on Thursday night after work to get the full four days in. Friday morning I got a text from my sister 'has mum burnt the hot-cross-buns yet? It is tradition after all.' Literally a minute later mum yelled out 'oh no the hot-cross-buns' and pulled this tray out of the oven.
Don't think we're being mean to our lovely mother. It's a running joke in our house and it wouldn't be Eater without at least one extra-toasted batch. I have a feeling she does it on purpose now because we all find it so hilarious.
Will was in meat heaven arriving to a barbecue loaded with pork ribs on Thursday night. When mum said she was making slow cooked Mexican lamb for dinner the following night it was like all his Christmases had come at once.
Seeing as my sis was away Busta got to come to the beach too. You wouldn't think he was all that happy about it with this face would you? Don't feel too sorry for him, he has a lovely time up there.
After I saw the beach photo on Easter morning I jumped out of bed and opened the door to find that the Easter Bunny had visited and left us with quite a treat. Can you guess which side of the bag was for me and which was for Will?
It was about 7.30am that I emerged from my slumber and mum had already decorated the whole house and set the table for our Easter lunch.
Luckily she prepared the quail eggs the day before. I woke up at about 8am (I had some big sleep-ins for someone who's usually up at 6) and mum was leaning over the sink with a look of despair on her face. She'd been peeling quail eggs for 40 minutes and still had about 12 of the 48 to go. I jumped in to help her and we got those last ones done in record time but let me tell you, they're seriously fiddly. Mum soaked them overnight in a mixture of saffron and spices to make Easter eggs for the salad.
Because mum was so organised we had time for a stroll on the beach on Sunday morning and of course I took my phone for photo ops. I couldn't resist a photo of this cuteness. Don't worry I asked him if I could. He probably wanted to say no but seeing as I already had my phone shoved at him it was a bit hard to get out of it.
Kevin the sourdough starter had his first trip to the beach over Easter and actually his first big lunch. He performed brilliantly and everyone was very impressed with the homemade bread, even dad who is very particular about his bread.
Doesn't the table look beautiful? It just so happens that mum has an egg-shaped table. It's like it was made for Easter.
Now on to the food! Mum's never one to under-cater (which she passed on to me) so of course we ate very well. We feasted on mum's newly-created fancy potato bake (recipe below), smoked salmon, zucchini slice, filo wrapped stuffed chicken breast, freshly-baked sourdough and a two-colour quail egg salad.
For dessert, I baked an apple and blueberry frangipane tart and the best ever brownies with and Easter twist and one of our very clever guests made the adorable carrot cupcakes. After indulging in so much food it's a surprise I didn't retreat to bed for a nap but somehow we powered through and made pizzas for dinner. I'll admit I was a little surprised when I announced I was off to bed and saw that it was only 8pm. I think that's a sign of a wonderful day.
What about you, how did you spend Easter?
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 kg baby potatoes skin on
- 600 ml cream
- 250 g gruyere cheese cut into 2cm cubes
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C fan-forced.
- Lay the potatoes out in a single layer in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Scatter the cheese on top of and in between the potatoes.
- In a bowl, stir the cream, garlic and salt and pepper together then pour the mixture over the top of the potatoes.
- Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes or until the top is golden and the potatoes are cooked though (to test, skewer a potato, if it goes through easily then they are cooked).
Christie @ Fig and Cherry says
No slicing of potatoes for potato bake is genius! Big pat on the back for your Mum :)
Love the new design too!
Claire says
She is rather genius! Thanks Christie!
Jess says
It certainly is clear where you get your love of (and talent for) food and entertaining! What a gorgeous Easter brunch! And I LOVE those quail eggs in the salad!
Claire says
I will tell Mum Jess because she seriously slaved over the eggs! Definitely got my entertaining gene from mum!
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
What a perfectly heavenly Easter! You were really celebrating in style.. I see where you get your passion for food from, Claire! Your mom has shared a very cool recipe that I'd like to try for our next get together. What a great idea!! xx
Claire says
We were weren't we? She's a clever lady! x
lizzie - strayed from the table says
Looks like you had a wonderful Easter Claire. So much food and it all looks so good. How good was the weather for a swim over the weekend, I even went for a swim on the Friday. Love the look of your website too.
Claire says
It was lovely! Although the beach was a bit too rough for me. I'm a wimp. I did go in up to my knees though which was nice.
Maureen says
What a beautiful day and Busta is gorgeous. It was a perfect weekend up here and Monday was even better than Sunday.
Claire says
He does the 'bored' look well doesn't he? Such nice weather for Easter was a lovely change from the usual.
Hotly Spiced says
You captured the view at such a special time of day - great image. I love your table setting. And I think all mothers should be forgiven for burning things in the oven because we all have so much going on it's easy to overlook things like timing. Glad you had a lovely Easter xx
Claire says
Charlie what is my excuse then? I burn stuff all the time! We had a wonderful Easter thankyou. x
Katy Potaty says
I absolutely love your Mum's Easter-egg shaped table, how unique!
And I'm giving the potato bake a run this weekend, it looks delicious - thanks Claire's Mum!
Claire says
I will let her know Katy!
Erin @ she cooks, she gardens says
Yum! I love the simplicity of the potato salad - am definitely going to give this a try. Your break away sounds perfect, it sounds like you have a wonderful family and that spread is most excellent.
Claire says
I do indeed Erin! We had such a great weekend and it was long enough to really seem like a holiday.
milkteaxx says
i love a nice potato bake and your mum's one sounds amazing!
Claire says
It was!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
What a feast! And I liked how you carried the yellow theme through the whole thing :) BTW nice new design too! Love the header :D
Claire says
I could say oh yes I did that on purpose but I wouldn't be telling the truth. Thank you! We're having a few teething issues but it's getting there!