Have you bought your Easter eggs yet? I went into panic mode at the weekend and loaded up my trolley only to get home and realise I had forgotten a couple of people. That'll be me back to the shops then.
I have to say this year I noticed a few things about the seasonal shelves.
Firstly- I think eggs generally are cheaper this year and seem to be better value for money gram for gram.
Perhaps producers have realised we are not stupid - we know what we are getting for our hard earned pennies. I'm sure I was not alone in choosing to buy better value chocolate treats in bar or box form rather than buy overpriced eggs with measly accompaniments last year.
When I were a lass (said in a dodgy Yorkshire accent) eggs were thick, and the sweets were usually inside in a fairly generously sized bag.
When my eldest boys were tiny there was less chocolate but more imagination invested in the gifts and packaging. Mugs, toys, torches and other treats made buying an egg much more enjoyable and more interesting for the children receiving them.
Then we went through the top dollar years. Eggs seemed to shoot up in price and I have to confess last year I refused to pay out- with 7 children it would have been a costly exercise. They chose other edible treats instead.
This year I am dubbing the year of the "Own Brand" as I think some of the best eggs I have seen have been supermarkets's own offerings.
Take Asda for instance (I know I keep going on about Asda but they really do have a great Easter range). I'm not sure if the #GiantHen is really laying all their eggs - if she is she has been a very busy hen!
Among their own offerings you can almost certainly find a chocolate treat for every member of the family.
For little people (and maybe some bigger people too!) there's an adorable Cheeky Monkey chocolate treat complete with his own yellow chocolate banana.
Containing 250g of chocolate Cheeky Monkey contains no artificial colours, flavours or hydrogenated fat and he costs just £4.
For a smaller treat check out the sophisticated 100g Extra Special Belgian milk chocolate egg created with Leith's School of Food and Wine.
Decorated tastefully with white chocolate and packaged in a gorgeous box with a purple ribbon and bow this would make a wonderful gift for an older child or an adult.
Glitz and Glamour the name of the game? Then you need Asda's Extra Special Belgian milk chocolate Golden egg with milk chocolate truffles.
Decadent and luxurious this egg literally sparkles with gold dust and is packaged in a beautiful shaped box with a gold ribbon - obvs!
Containing 225g chocolate this amazing egg costs £8 and will really bring the wow factor to anyone's Easter morning.
You can also pick up "free from" eggs - both gluten, wheat and dairy free (contains soya) and suitable for vegetarians. One comes with chocolate buttons, the other with orange chocolate discs and either costs just £3.
There are also branded eggs from your favourite chocolate producers and a whole host of Easter craft kits and accessories for cake or bonnet decorating or egg hunting.
Items are available online or in store - stock may vary and obviously we are very close to the big day now so don't leave it too long to buy your stash.
Disclaimer: I was sent three Asda chocolate Easter treats for the purposes of this review. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.
I have to say this year I noticed a few things about the seasonal shelves.
Firstly- I think eggs generally are cheaper this year and seem to be better value for money gram for gram.
Perhaps producers have realised we are not stupid - we know what we are getting for our hard earned pennies. I'm sure I was not alone in choosing to buy better value chocolate treats in bar or box form rather than buy overpriced eggs with measly accompaniments last year.
When I were a lass (said in a dodgy Yorkshire accent) eggs were thick, and the sweets were usually inside in a fairly generously sized bag.
When my eldest boys were tiny there was less chocolate but more imagination invested in the gifts and packaging. Mugs, toys, torches and other treats made buying an egg much more enjoyable and more interesting for the children receiving them.
Then we went through the top dollar years. Eggs seemed to shoot up in price and I have to confess last year I refused to pay out- with 7 children it would have been a costly exercise. They chose other edible treats instead.
This year I am dubbing the year of the "Own Brand" as I think some of the best eggs I have seen have been supermarkets's own offerings.
Take Asda for instance (I know I keep going on about Asda but they really do have a great Easter range). I'm not sure if the #GiantHen is really laying all their eggs - if she is she has been a very busy hen!
For little people (and maybe some bigger people too!) there's an adorable Cheeky Monkey chocolate treat complete with his own yellow chocolate banana.
Containing 250g of chocolate Cheeky Monkey contains no artificial colours, flavours or hydrogenated fat and he costs just £4.
For a smaller treat check out the sophisticated 100g Extra Special Belgian milk chocolate egg created with Leith's School of Food and Wine.
Glitz and Glamour the name of the game? Then you need Asda's Extra Special Belgian milk chocolate Golden egg with milk chocolate truffles.
Decadent and luxurious this egg literally sparkles with gold dust and is packaged in a beautiful shaped box with a gold ribbon - obvs!
Containing 225g chocolate this amazing egg costs £8 and will really bring the wow factor to anyone's Easter morning.
You can also pick up "free from" eggs - both gluten, wheat and dairy free (contains soya) and suitable for vegetarians. One comes with chocolate buttons, the other with orange chocolate discs and either costs just £3.
There are also branded eggs from your favourite chocolate producers and a whole host of Easter craft kits and accessories for cake or bonnet decorating or egg hunting.
Items are available online or in store - stock may vary and obviously we are very close to the big day now so don't leave it too long to buy your stash.
Disclaimer: I was sent three Asda chocolate Easter treats for the purposes of this review. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.