Hen Corner

IT’S Easter TIME!

Nelly Ali. Photograph by Pam Wade

Even though chocolate eggs have been in the supermarkets since Boxing Day, Easter is now well and truly on its way and, sandwiched between a pair of bank holidays, it’s the perfect opportunity to forget about the day job and focus on that which we hold dear. I like to follow the tradition of planting my seed potatoes on Good Friday, last year, following a tip from a neighbour, we tried the red skinned Desiree variety and were really pleased with the delicious floury potatoes that we harvested later in autumn. As a Christian festival, Easter is traditionally associated with symbols of new life such as eggs, flowers, rabbits and hot cross buns. Aside from the rabbits we are overflowing with everything else and usually we love to share it with the wider community. We are hoping to continue running our weekly micro-bakery, bringing real bread made with organic ingredients to our local community, but if we don’t get to

see you in person, I have included my recipe for hot cross buns on the opposite page. This year, Easter Sunday is also our 10th anniversary. I still can’t believe that a blog with a Twitter account and a label for a chutney jar, for that’s how Hen Corner began, has become the award-winning business it is today. Every day I’m thankful for the opportunities that I have to spend my days doing what I love most, baking, bee keeping and sharing skills with others. With more bank holidays just around the corner in May, I intend to plan in both seasonal jobs in the garden, we should be able to get young tomato plants in the ground by the end of the month, and some al fresco meals with family and friends. Let’s hope for another summer of sunshine.