Making Easter special at home

With the Easter holidays falling in the middle of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, fun getaways and events have to be put on hold. And since the SA government has declared a national lockdown, no citizen will be allowed to leave their homes from now to 16 April, unless it's for emergency situations or if they're buying essential items.

If this makes you feel like crying into a box of chocolate marshmallow eggs or looking sorrowfully at your hot cross buns, don't! There are many ways to enjoy Easter this year in the comfort of your home, and who knows, this may just become your new Easter tradition?

Easter is where home is

Make your garden a hunting ground

Those living in a home with a garden may be the luckiest ones during the lockdown period. And what's more, this space is perfect for setting up an Easter egg hunt especially if you have children. Setting up the hunt is hassle-free, all you need to do is place chocolate eggs in hiding spots around your garden. Remember to mix it up with easy and challenging spots to make the experience fun and not too easy. Place eggs on the open lawn, behind trees, tucked inside the mailbox, in a plant bed or in a tree stump.

Or take things indoors

Not everyone has the luxury of a garden, and even if you do, the weather may just rain on your "bunny trail". For this reason, planning an Easter Egg hunt indoors may be the best option. There's plenty of opportunities to make this exciting such as planning a room-to-room hunt. Hide eggs inside coat pockets, tissue boxes, under the bed, in the wardrobe, behind books on a shelf and in the kitchen draws. The hiding places are endless!

Your kitchen needs to hop into action

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home - and when you're forced to stay indoors - it becomes much more than this. It is here that most families will spend their time and it can be the centre of where the Easter fun takes place. You can bake creative treats together such as chocolate nest cupcakes, a chocolate easter egg surprise cake, bunny-shaped cookies, a carrot cake, and spicy hot-cross buns.

And since you will have plenty of time on your hands, why not cook full course meals inspired by the season. For starters consider asparagus and bacon wrapped in flakey pastry or classic deviled eggs garnished with pepper, chives and paprika. And for mains, why not try your hand at honey-mustard baked salmon with vegetables; roast leg of lamb with beets, carrots and sweet onions; garlic herb roasted chicken or a hearty spinach and feta home-baked pie.

Make it colourful through DIY

Get out your DIY hats and get creative with your children. It's time to make your home burst with the colours and decorations of the season. There are many colours associated with Easter such as purple, white and gold, and shades of pastel. You can incorporate these in your DIY masterpieces. There are many easy DIY decorations you can make with your children such as paper roll bunnies, paper roll chicks, easter bunny paper plates, easter bunny clothing pegs, and bunny rabbit handprints. Once complete, you can place these special pieces around your home and appreciate the memories attached to them.

This Easter, there's no better place than home - you can use it as an opportunity to connect with your family and friends by planning indoor and outdoor egg hunts, baking and cooking together, and getting creative. Make your home magical by creating memories that will last a lifetime.