Easter In Lockdown - How To Make A Special Family Feast At Home

Easter Sunday is likely to be a little different this year - as self isolation means that families aren't allowed to gather together for the typical celebrations. Although it won't be the same as usual, there are still lots of ways to make Easter a special occasion, with plenty of fun at-home activities, recipes and crafts to do as a family. Why not take a look at our guide for some fun things to do at Easter at home with the kids - which includes ideas for an Easter egg hunt and Easter bunny decorations, as well as instructions for making your own Easter eggs and a paper basket for collecting them in.

Food is a great way to bring joy to the day - and while self-isolation means that the extended family can't join you at the table, it does mean you will have more time and less stress on the day. Make the most of the opportunity - perhaps choose quick and simple recipes that give you more time to play Easter games in the garden - or get every member of the family involved with the food - preparing, chopping and cooking together.

Whilst the shops aren't guaranteed to have everything you need for a traditional Easter feast, we have put together some brilliant recipes, and some excellent alternatives, for a truly special Sunday lunch or dinner.

There are lots of ways to kick off your Easter meal - so choose a starter that the whole family will like. For fish fans, why not make a simple dish of smoked salmon - dressed with dill, capers, cucumber or lemon - served on crusty bread, or even home-made soda bread? Follow the BBC Good Food recipe for the full instructions.

Or why not make the most of the abundance of asparagus in the shops with this super simple recipe for asparagus wraps with lemon mayo, also from BBC Good Food? This easy recipe will save time - and stress - on the day, and the kids can get involved by wrapping the cooked spears in Parma ham.

Pea soup is a great way to use up frozen peas, and the kids are sure to like this tasty, bright green dish! Made with simple ingredients, the soup is quick and easy to make and it can be prepared the day before, so all you have to do is heat it up before eating.

If you have the time - and ingredients - to make bread, why not bake a loaf with the kids? A great way to get kids interested in food and cooking, home-made bread is a great addition to any Easter meal. Jamie Oliver's basic bread recipe is easy to follow, and makes a delicious loaf that can be eaten on the day - or sliced and kept in the freezer. There are a few steps to follow, and the dough needs to be left to prove/rest - but the kids will enjoy mixing the ingredients together, as well as kneading the dough and watching as the dough doubles in size.

Follow Nigel Slater's recipe for a loaf that is much quicker and easier to make. Made using bicarbonate of soda, and baked in a warm casserole dish - this bread doesn't need time to prove, and it doesn't have to be kneaded - so it can be prepared in under 30 minutes, and takes 10-30 minutes to bake - simple!

Roast chicken or roast lamb are firm favourites at Easter time - relatively easy to prepare, these roasts are  best served with lots of gravy and plenty of potatoes. Follow the Guardian's recipe for delicious roast lamb in only 1 hour and 20 minutes - and why not try their idea for an alternative to roast potatoes? Simply slice potatoes and onions - dressing them in olive oil, salt and pepper - before putting them in the bottom of the roasting tin, underneath the lamb, then covering with chicken stock and cooking for an hour. A true one-pot wonder!

For an easy alternative to the usual Sunday roast chicken, why not try a healthy tray bake? Save time - and washing up - by cooking everything in the oven, on a single tray. This roasted chicken, leek and mushroom recipe is sure to become a family classic, and the kids can lend a hand to prepare this simple Sunday lunch. Line your baking tray with baking paper for an even quicker clean up operation, then drizzle plenty of oil onto the tray. Next, place your chicken pieces onto the tray, and season with oil, chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Add chopped leeks and mushrooms - as well as small cubes of potato - and make sure everything is generously coated in oil and seasoning, then simply bake until the chicken is cooked and the potatoes are tender. Serve with salad or your favourite vegetable side dishes.

If you can't find a whole chicken or leg of lamb at the shops - or you fancy trying something new - there are also plenty of delicious Sunday roast alternatives including whole roast cauliflower. Olive Magazine's recipe for a sage butter-basted roast cauliflower only uses six store cupboard ingredients, it's easy to make and is gluten-free - but, most importantly, it is an impressive and tasty alternative to the traditional roast dinner. One cauliflower is enough for four-six people, and it also makes a great side dish or accompaniment to a traditional roast dinner.

The shops aren't guaranteed to have all the ingredients you might need for a traditional easter feast, so why not choose one of the easy, egg-free biscuit recipes on the Kidadl blog? The kids can get involved in making and decorating these biscuits - and why not use pastel coloured icing, or Easter-themed cutters, such as rabbits or chicks - or cut oval shapes which can be turned into alternative Easter 'eggs'.

If you want to make a more substantial dessert for your Easter lunch or dinner, then try the BBC's recipe for a chocolate hot cross bun pudding. A great way to use up hot cross buns and left over bits of Easter egg, this dessert makes enough for six, and takes less than half an hour to prepare - with another 30 minutes cooking time. Using left-over food and cupboard basics, this is the perfect recipe to enjoy after a Sunday roast.

For a show-stopping dessert, Mary Berry has a recipe for an Easter Lemon Pavlova. Filled with home-made lemon curd, and decorated with mini eggs, this pavlova looks beautiful and tastes even better. Whilst the meringues do need a long time in the oven, the dessert only takes 30 - 60 minutes to prepare, but for an easier alternative, you could always buy ready-made meringues and a jar of lemon curd. To cook this dessert from scratch, follow the recipe here, and for a healthier version, decorate the cooked meringues with greek yoghurt, and slice up lots of colourful, fresh fruits to scatter over the top.

Why not get the kids to create fun, Easter decorations for the dining table? Pick flowers from the garden and arrange them in a vase or glass jar, find candles to light, tie ribbons on the back of the chairs and scatter foil covered chocolate eggs around the table. Follow our instructions for making Easter bunnies out of finished toilet rolls or try dying eggs bright colours, which can be displayed in the centre of the table.  Why not have the kids design place settings for everyone in the family - or get making carrot-shaped treat bags using the template on DIY Enthusiasts. Once you have printed out the template, you only need orange and green card, plus a pair of scissors and some glue - and the finished treat bags bring fun and colour to the Easter meal. Fill the 'carrots' with chocolate eggs or other sweet treats and gifts, and use them to decorate the table - or hide them around the house for an alternative, indoor Easter hunt.