easter is filled with tradition and the dinner table is no exception take a look at these great dishes to cook for your family this easter roast lamb ingredients lamb top round salt and pepper 12 cloves garlic 4 cloves chopped 1 tbsp chopped rosemary 2 tsp thyme leaves 2 pints grape tomatoes 2 tbsp olive oil divided chopped parsley for sprinkling directions heat oven to 180 c season lamb with 1 teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper and place in roasting pan in a small bowl combine chopped garlic rosemary thyme and 1 tablespoon oil rub over lamb and roast for 10 minutes toss tomatoes and garlic cloves with the remaining tablespoon oil and teaspoon each salt and pepper scatter tomatoes and garlic around lamb and roast until the internal temperature of lamb registers 125 f for medium rare 15 to 20 minutes more transfer lamb to cutting board and let rest at least 10 minutes before slicing serve with tomatoes and garlic and sprinkle with parsley if desired no peel braised carrots ingredients 300ml vegetable stock 300g baby topped carrots 2 tbsp butter 1 tsp caster sugar 1 tsp fennel seeds crushed directions heat the vegetable stock then tip the carrots into a deep frying pan add the butter sugar fennel seeds and the hot stock season to taste simmer uncovered over medium heat for 25 30 mins or until the carrots are cooked through and the liquid is reduced and glossy crispiest ever roast potatoes ingredients lamb top round 4 tbsp rapeseed oil 1 kg potatoes cut into quarters peelings reserved 50g butter bunch of lemon thyme 6 garlic cloves lightly bashed 1 tbsp sea salt directions heat the oven to 220c 200c fan gas 8 add the oil to a large flameproof baking tray and put it in the oven for the oil to heat up bring a large pan of salted water to the boil tip in the potatoes and the peelings to impart extra flavour and simmer for 8 10 mins drain the potatoes and discard the peelings leave to steam dry for 15 mins then return the potatoes to the pan put the lid on and gently shake to lightly rough up the edges remove the tray from the oven and put it directly on your hob over medium heat add the butter to the hot oil and using tongs add the potatoes to the tray one by one carefully turning them in the fat and leaving a little space between them reduce the oven to 200c 180c fan gas 6 nestle the lemon thyme in amongst the potatoes along with the garlic sprinkle over the sea salt and return to the oven to roast for 1 hr turning every once in a while until golden and crisp giant butter bean stew ingredients 4 x 235g cans butter beans 100ml greek extra virgin olive oil 3 small red onions finely sliced 2 large carrots finely sliced 3 celery stalks with leaves finely chopped 4 sundried tomatoes sliced 1kg ripe tomatoes skinned deseeded and finely chopped 4 garlic cloves chopped 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp tomato puree 1 tsp sugar small pack flat leaf parsley finely chopped small pack dill finely chopped 100g feta optional crumbled directions drain the canned beans reserving 200ml of the liquid heat the oil in a large flameproof lidded casserole dish and cook the onions carrots and celery until tender and the onions are soft and transparent but not coloured stir in the remaining ingredients reserving half of the chopped herbs and feta if using heat oven to 180c 160c fan gas 4 cook over gentle heat for a further 5 mins then pour over the reserved liquid cover the dish and bake in the oven for 40 mins check occasionally that the beans are not drying out add a little more water if needed remove the lid and bake for 10 mins more can be made 2 days ahead and reheated stir through the reserved chopped herbs season to taste then crumble over the remaining feta just before serving chocolate fudge easter cakes ingredients chocolate fudge easter cakes 140g soft butter 140g golden caster sugar 3 medium eggs 100g self raising flour 25g cocoa sifted for the frosting 85g milk chocolate broken 85g soft butter 140g icing sugar sifted 235g 1 5oz packs white chocolate maltesers mini foil wrapped chocolate eggs directions heat oven to 190c fan 170c gas 5 and put 16 gold cases into a fairy cake tin tip all the ingredients for the cake into a mixing bowl and beat for 2 mins with an electric hand whisk until smooth divide between the cases so they are two thirds filled then bake for 12 15 mins until risen cool on a wire rack for the frosting microwave the chocolate on high for 1 min cream the butter and sugar together then beat in the melted chocolate spread on the cakes and decorate with maltesers and chocolate eggs