I was talking to Liss on the phone as I do – one of our marathon 2 hour calls during the time in which her twins are eating or busy with something else and we were discussing among many other juicy things, what we were making over Easter. I knew what I was making but since I had just gotten back from a trip to New Zealand, I felt like a squirrel on a treadmill where I just wasn’t going to get there. I was originally inspired by Nigella’s Easter Egg nests that she made using shredded wheat and chocolate and filled with speckled chocolate eggs.
I was going to pipe a hen with meringue but would have had to have filled two piping bags with meringue mix, one with a big tip and one with a smaller tip and since the idea of doubling the work seemed insurmountable, when Liss suggested I use pre bought chocolates like Raffaellos and Rondnoirs I went for that immediately. They were ideal as they have that textured detail simulating feathers and since the nice people at Ferrero sent me a box that came up to my waist for Christmas I had some in stock. It is a fiddly process certainly, but the hardest part is the tiny eyes. You could of course use larger Easter eggs to make it less fiddly and substitute the almonds for pecans as wings.
I must admit I do have a little obsession with these chicks – take last year’s story on Easter Basket Cupcakes. I have a set of these chicks sitting on my bookshelf all year round and I add to my little collection every Easter. Be warned though that like Gremlins, never get these little chicks wet as it will be the cause of certain death. What I like about them is how each chick does seem to have its own distinctive expression and one of my favourite books is Sloane Tanen’s “Bitter With Baggage Seeks Same” as she is what I feel a kindred spirit in chickdom.
I even had a fluffy little real chick of my own when I was young (after my parents gave up on the goldfish which were sentenced to death by overfeeding). We called it Diana after Princess Diana. Whilst Diana’s time with us didn’t last that long as she would soon grow up what we didn’t expect was for her to become a Rooster. Our Diana ended up being a boy and we ended up giving her to my parent’s friends who called her Henry (and did she ever have gender identity issues?). Still, I like to think that she or he remembered us fondly.
So tell me Dear Reader, what was your family pet or pets growing up?]
And have a lovely Easter break Dear Readers! I hope it’s filled with wonderful times with family, friends and food. Drive safely and as always NQN will have stories all through the weekend 
This is my entry for the lovely Faith and Nutmeg Nanny’s Easter All through The Year Cheer event!
Lots of love,
Lorraine
xxx
Easter Chick Nests
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Makes 12 “Hens”
- 200grams milk or dark chocolate
- 10grams white chocolate
- 50grams white fondant
- 50 grams chocolate fondant
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 6x Ferrero Rondnoirs
- 6x Ferrero Raffaellos
- 24 flaked almonds
- A little yellow fondant (a small ball will do, they’re for small eyes)
- A little red or orange fondant for the beak and comb
- Speckled eggs
1. Line a baking tray with baking paper. First melt the milk chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler. Once melted and smooth, mix in the coconut and place rough circles on the paper to approximate nests. Place each of the Rondnoirs and Raffaelos in each nestling them into the centre.
2. Roll 6 balls of white fondant in a smaller size than the Raffaelo (this is for the head). Melt the white chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler. Affix an almond onto each side of a Raffaelo like a wing and attach the head to the body with white chocolate. Allow to set.
3. 2. Roll 6 balls of chocolate fondant in a smaller size than the Rondnoir (this is for the head). Melt the dark chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler. Dip the almond into the dark chocolate and then affix an almond onto each side of a Rondnoir like a wing and attach the head to the body with dark chocolate. Allow to set (don’t throw out the leftover milk chocolate, you can use it to make the iris of the eyes as you’ll only need the tiniest amount).
4. Roll a beak shape with your fingers and using water affix it to the front of each hen. Then shape a comb and using water affix it to the top. Then roll eyes and attach these using water. Re-melt the milk chocolate and using a toothpick draw the iris of the eye in. And don’t forget to add the fluffy chicks! 
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79 Comments | Add your own
These are too cute. I love the little yellow pipe cleaner type chickens and your edible chickens look even better. Is it your collection of barn yard animal toys in the background of the last photo?
The yoga chicks are hysterical! I love this idea, it looks great.
So cute chickadees!
We had a cat called P.P, short for Peter Peanut. My brother named him, heh.
Extremely cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
Very cute chicks Lorraine! I had some chicks, a turtle and a few goldfish. My sister microwaved the fish one day and my Mom decided that day it was time to get rid of the other “pets”. Then we finally got dogs. Happy Easter!
I love that book – I remember getting in trouble once for reading it when I should have been helping customers (back when I worked at a bookshop).
My first pet was a rabbit, but sadly she was one of those not-wanting-to-be-handled rabbits, so my dreams of cuddling for hours didn’t work out. Eventually my brother and I nagged our way into a dog… and I miss her a lot right now!
Do you and Mr NQN have any pets at the moment?
LOL…very cute! Have a happy Easter!
How cute are these. I don’t know how I would be able to eat them. I had a duck when I was little. We named him Norman and he was the best duckling. Then one day he turned. He started to chase my cousins and it was scary. Ehehe. Have a great Easter long weekend Lorraine..
Oh, these are darling, Lorraine! You’re a wonder.
I don’t know how you do all you do. 
They are very sweet Lorraine! We are all permitted to take shortcuts when time dictates – Nigella say so herself
The Easter chick nests are so cute – well done for being so patient putting it all together.
Your story reminded me of a friend who had to look after a baby chick for a week as part of a Science class. The silly girl that she was decided it would be really ‘cuddly’ to have her sleep in the bed with her. Of course she suffocated the little chick
Happy Easter!!
Those are too cute and marvelously creative… channeling your inner-Martha, are you???
Very very cute! In Sweden apart from all the hares and eggs and chicks, we have witches as well in Easter.
BTW, I know you like Zumbo, just in case you didn’t know, there is a Bandage bear cake on auction from Zumbo patisserie. It’s very cute too.
Happy Easter.
Lorraine
I especially love the yoga chicks photo!!
Have a lovely Easter
SSG xxx
Haha, I love the yoga chicken!
these are adorable Lorraine! (: The way you made the chicken, genious! Hope you’ll have a happy Easter weekend!
Oh they are really gorgeous. What a lot of effort you have put in there.
very cute!!!!
Sweet. We had cats, dogs, ducks, geese, chicks, roosters, budgies and even a cow. We also had cute little bantam chicks, and I had one called Fred that would sit on my lap when I practised the piano or watched television. Happy Easter!
These are too cute!!!!
You are sooooo girly, which suits me, as I had a chihuahua named Girly Girl. She was my favorite pet of my life. Now down to business. Looking at this and at your easter basket cupcakes, I’m going to make chocolate coconut and surround my cupcake and then pretend they are easter baskets. We’ll see if this turns out. I love peeps too.
What a sweet idea! We had several cats and dogs growing up. While I have a soft spot for all of them, the one that truly stole my heart was our sweet Basset Hound, Rosy. Those eyes would get me every time.
I love the yoga chicks..
I love that book! It’s so funny and very witty. And the chickie nests are very cute.
I had a veritable menagerie growing up: Cats, dogs, guinea pigs, birds, fish, a rabbit… My poor parents! After many years of not having a pet, my other half and I are now the doting parents of two beautiful Burmese cats – a chocolate (go figure) called Max and a blue tortoiseshell called Millie. Parenthood is highly recommended.
Wishing yo and Mr NQN a very happy Easter!
Kitty x
Your chicks and nests are so cute! I don’t have anything nearly so cute planned for Easter treats. I should think of something!
Adorable!
Awww, these are adorable!!
My childhood pet was a daschund, who became very fat and probably died from overfeeding – as did my goldfish.
Hehehe – the Ferrero chickens are just adorable – and yummy! They would not last long, no matter how cute they are.
I grew up with all sorts of pets (except reptiles) but dogs are my best pets.
Cute hens and chicks.
Happy Easter, Lorraine.
These are absolutely adorable, Lorraine! My favorite are the little hens on top…you’re right, they all look like they have a unique personality!
Ahhhh dying of cuteness!!! These are adorable!
the hens and chicks are so cute!!!! yoga chicks are funny hahah..
I still have some chickens running around in the garden in my M’sia home.. heehee.. Dad’s pets..
Love LOVE L O V E!! Oh so cuute!
Oh gosh NQN you have outdone yourself – these are adorable!
i also have an obsession with these chickens… i had a pair sitting on the dashboard of my car. i love their expressions too! now i just have one on the dash and he is much happier that way haha.
You are just way too creative! WOW…these look fantastic as usual…Happy Easter…can’t wait to see what hits my inbox next!
Too, too cute Lorraine! I love simple impressive ideas like these because I always have such grand plans for upcoming celebrations but by the time they roll around I realise I’ve run out of time.
After I killed off a few fish, my parents sort of went cold on the whole pet-owning idea (although I snuck some tadpoles in under my bed once
)
oh, they are so cute. Fantastic job!
Oh they turned out so cute! Love that you can do this with a shortcut! A good activity for teenagers this Easter I think (that’s if you can resist doing them yourself!)
Wow these are seriously amazing. Love the yoga chicks. So cute!! Happy Easter
These are too cute! Brilliant idea to use premade chocolates to make the hens/chicks.
SO adorable = )
Lorraine! How gorgeous. I contemplated making Nigella’s nests with eggs but was too frazzled so I made rabbit and duck biscuits instead.
I love that book. When it came out I was managing a bookshop and we had those little fluffy chickens everywhere – the national manager thought it was bizarre. Happy Easter. oh and we had a tortoise called touche who lived under our passionfruit vine.
How adorable! and I love the look of that book. I picked up some of those chickens with top hats this year
Will have to whip them out tomorrow!
Love that idea!
You know, the SAME thing happened with my pet chicks. We also had to give them away, seeing as it didn’t make us popular with the neighbours when two roosters decided to be their morning alarm at 6:00am.
C-c-c-c-uute! (attempting to sound like a chicken) You obviously have far more patience than me, I’m afraid mine would get eaten before they goy finished! And you still have FR left over from Christmas?! I could never show such restraint! Happy Easter NQN! xxx
Cute! I too love the yoga chicks – perhaps less for the ‘chickdom’ of it and more for the weird sense of humourdom. We were never petless as kids – it just depended what Dad had brought home with him that time – cats, dog, guinea pigs, rabbit, birds of varying sizes and origin, chooks. Generally speaking they stopped at feather or fur – no scales thank goodness!
adorable, lorraine. i even love the farm animals in the background, although i suspect they’re not edible.
we raised a generation of chicks one year, and that was so fun. they’re little balls of puff that squeak…and STINK.
Bite-sized pieces of adorableness. I don’t think the Ferreros would make it from their box to the chicks; some might accidently detour via my mouth
Oh using those chocolates was a great idea!
I am going home to make these as soon as I am finished work (for a full week!!!)
Happy Easter!
We had a little black rabbit when I was litte. However, said rabbit was “lonely” and “ran away – back to the zoo” (read probably caught by a foxy loxy)
Every time my brother and I went to the zoo after that we would point out the black rabbit (from about 10 black rabbits) and wave at him and tell him we missed him.
We were sheltered as children !
I am under the impression that you do not have kids of your own yet… and yet, you’ve actually made the effort to create this beautiful Easter Nest… I salute your enthusiasm!
They are adorable and not just because I have become chicken crazy lately. I love them!!
hey there chicky chica. it was good to catch up with you too. don’t overload on all the chocolate!
and give the boy a weekend off
bwahaha i love those fluffy yellow chicks you’re right they always have different expressions! happy easter!
Love the little chickadees, my daughter can’t understand my love for them but to me they’re a must have for Easter decorations.
We had her for 14 years and many litters, it was a sad day when she died of a tick bite. 
My very first pet was a stray cat we called Lola. She in fact belonged to someone down the road but after she landed on our doorstep and we gave her a saucer of milk she refused to stay with her original owners and would come back to us!!
Oh wow, those are just too adorable, so much so..it would be hard to eat them..well, not that hard considering they’re made of mostly chocolate!
That said, I started my pet years when I was 5 or 6 with goldfish and a tadpole that morphed into a frog – plus my dad kept two gorgeous tropical fish tanks. Then two hamsters that escaped from their Habitat and didn’t show up again until months later out of a pipe in the family room – just ran across the floor..lol Finally, we got a pup, and he was mine and my sister’s love for many years between preteendom and adulthood. When he passed, another dog, but he turned out to be vicious
Finally..my BF and I got a cat and guinea pigs, which reproduced like crazy lol Kitty died when the Red Sox won the WS in ’04 – I’m convinced his heart was broken 
Now I have two male kitties and they’re great. I want another dog but can’t have one in the place I live in, so it’ll have to wait. I also want a parrot or cockatoo. Let’s just say, I’m animal crazy! 
Wow..ths was a long one, eh?
These are adorable!
the shredded wheat Nigella version have been around a looooooong time – I remember making them in kindergarten when I was about 3 or 4 which was a…while? ago
– but they’re fun. Your version look rather easier to eat, though (being stabbed in the mouth by chocolate-coated wheat shards is a little painful!)
Too cute!
Mimi
Oh I was a HORRIBLE pet owner…I had fish, tortoises, two chickens, rabbit, a short stint with a cat…and they all kind of died. One ran away, actually…:-(
These nests and chicks are adorable. They wouldn’t be safe with me, either. Because they would be in my tummy.
These are sooo cute! great job.
I don’t know yet what I will make for Easter Day, My Father in law is cooking Turkey a L’Orange. I am brining the salad and the dessert.
I want something with fresh fruits , either a verine or mousse… they like cakes..
Chocolate nests, yum!
These are gorgeous Lorraine! Hope you have a lovely Easter break, see you next week
Hahaha I love the yoga picture!! You are way too creative!
How adorable! You are so amazingly creative!
Those are absolutely adorable!
I am crazy about chicks too! Love what you did with them ! I can always count on your creativity and sense of style! Great photos too, of course!
Lovely chocolate chicks nests, Lorraine!!
What a cute ensemble of all these litttle chicks & animals!!
A Happy Easter to you & your husband!
Heylo Lorraine! Those chicks are so cute!
I had a squirrel as my first pet. This was in India where a little village boy caught a little wild squirrel, named Jegly, from the forest and brought it to us in a can of coke. Barbaric really. So we got him a nice big luxurious cage with a swing (he never used it) and a fake plastic squirrel to recreate his natural surroundings (he didn’t fall for it). Since it wasn’t really working out between Jegly and myself we had to set it free after two weeks. We kept the cage though.
Those chickies look fantastic! Brilliant use of Rafaellos. Happy Easter!
love those chicks – both the chocolate ones and bitter – and your easter nests look adorable – I had some vague plans to make some but other ideas muscled in – have a great easter
Too cute! =)
Lorraine, you truly are inventive. I love this. So adorable. All your work is well worth it.
NGawww…these chicks are so cute! I always see them around easter, but have never bought them- they’d probably be left somewhere to collect dust after easter….=] I love the Raffaello idea- I was wondering what that was!
I never had any pets =[ My friend had a hen once- I didn’t know what was so interesting about it…..tehehe
Congratulations on your well deserved win with the Easter nest! I enjoy your blog.
Hi Mark-thankyou!
Heh well spotted! 
I bought them for this story-I don’t know if they’ll appear again though 
Hi Miss Emma Louise-aren’t they just! Thankyou!
Hi Sasa-Aww peter Peanut is such a cute name!
Hi Rosa-Thanks Rosa!
Hi Trissa-thankyou! Oh no, well that was perhaps a wise decision just in case. happy easter to you and D too!
Hi Hannah-Hehe you’d think that they’d like that you read the books! Oh no!
My first cat was the same. Aww sorry to hear that H! No pets sadly at the moment. I do dream of getting a teacup pig or an albino axolotl though 
Hi Celia-Thankyou Celia! Happy easter to you too!
Hi Katherine-thanks so much!
haha don’t worry they are very tasty 
Aww how cute about the duckling bit, not so much when he turned. You too Kath! 
Hi Krista-Thankyou sweetie! You are too kind!
Hi Amy-Thanks so much! Hehe this is very true!
Hi Heidi-thankyou! It was surprisingly easy
Oooh no! Poor little chick but I can imagine I would have done something just like that 
Happy Easter to you and your family! 
Hi deana-haha yes I think I am (although there were no pipe cleaners
)
Hi grace0Thankyou! Oh wow really? I had no idea. I’m fascinated by the Nordic/Scandinavian countries
Happy Easter!
Hi Sydney Shop Girl-Isn’t it gorgeous? I hope you and Mr SSG have a great one too!
xxx
Hi BuBbles-isn’t it cute!
Hi Lianne-thankyou!
I hope you have a wonderful easter weekend too! 
Hi Maryanne-thanks so much! I enjoyed it and it was so much fun
Hi sandra-thankyou!
Hi MrsDesperate-Oh that’s like a mini too! how fantastic!
Awww how sweet! Happy Easter to you too! 
Hi Lisa-Thankyou!
Hi Angela-Hehe how adorable and what a cute name! hehe sounds like a grand plan Angela!
Hi Cookin’ Canuck-thankyou!
Aww yes the eyes are hard to resist! 
Hi megan-hehe me too!
Hi Sian-Yes me too! Such a clever idea! You were so lucky!
Gorgeous stuff! I bet they are two very happy cats! Happy easter to you and your family! 
xxx
Hi lisa-thankyou! Aww I bet you do some fabulous things!
Hi http://www.brisbanebaker.bl-thankyou!
Hi Cakelaw-thankyou! Aww I totally understand the overfeeding thing. I was desperate for a sausage dog too!
Hi Belle-Thanks Belle!
Hehe yes they disappeared quickly 
Hi Tuty-Thankyou so much! Ahh yes dogs are such a favourite
Happy easter Tuty! 
Hi Faith-Thankyou Faith!
I think they are each squawking something different! 
Hi Julie-Aww thanks Julie! You are so sweet
Hi YW-Thankyou!
Oh some real ones-how very cool! 
Hi Toni-Thanks so much Toni! You are too kind!
Hi Alex-Aww I’m blushing, thankyou Alex!
Hi bec-hehe I totally understand! They’re gorgeous! Hehe yes I bet he looks happy!
Hi Tenina-thankyou Tenina! You are always so sweet !
Hi shaz-Hehe I came dangerously close I have to admit!
haha under your bed? too funny! 
Hi Ali-Thanks so much Ali!
Hi Liss-Thankyou! Yes shortcuts are always good, especially when you almost run out of time like I did
Great idea!
Hi bakingaddict-thanks so much! Happy easter!
Hi Su-yin-Thankyou Su-yin!
I wa shappy to use them as I was running out of time 
Hi Girl Japan-thankyou so much!
Hi Kristy-thankyou!
They looked amazing! 
Haha really? I think it sounds perfectly charming! 
Happy Easter! Touche the tortoise?Now that is cute! 
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-thankyou!
Oh top hats-they’re getting very creative! 
Hi jo-thankyou!
haha yes the morning crowing can be a problem 
Hi Angela-Haha you are so funny!
I swear they’re really easy! 
Hehe I know, it’s a sheer miracle really! 
xxx
Hi Red Dirt Mummy-Thankyou!
Oh your dad would bring home pets? Was he a vet? 
Hi grace-thankyou!
Hehe no they’re not 
I know, they’re smelly aren’t they!
Hi Emma-Thankyou so much!
hehe there’s that risk isn’t there!
Hi Fiona-thankyou!
Hi orla-fantastic!
Aww no! 
how sad but you kids sound so cute! Happy Easter! 
Hi shirley-hehe yes we don’t
Aww thankyou so much! 
Hi Bethie-hehe nothing wrong with that!
Thankyou!
Hi Anna-Hehe I won’t. You take it easy too! There’s so much goodness in those baskets! He got one!
Hi chocolatesuze-I don’t know how they do it! Happy easter!
Hi Matilda-Oh I would have thought kids would get their appeal!
Aww you must have been much nicer to be around! Aww yes, how sad!
Hi Lisa-Hehe yes the chocolatey-ness makes them rather alluring! Wow, what a fabulous pet career you had-very eventful!
Nothing wrong with loving animals! 
Hi wenchie-Thankyou!
Ahh I never thought that they’d be painful! 
You were so creative way back when!
Hi Mimi-thankyou!
Hi sophia-hehe but they all die Sophia! Don’t feel bad! Hehe no problems there, they’re meant to be eaten I promise
Hi Arlette-Thankyou!
They sound like great choices! 
Hi justJENN-thanks!
Hi Fig and Cherry-Thanks darling! yes see you soon!
Hi Avanika-It’s cute isn’t it! Thankyou!
Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-thankyou so much!
Hi Kristin-Thankyou!
Hi tasteofbeirut-thanks so much! You are too kind!
Hi Sophie-Yes Happy easter to you and your husband too! I know you had gorgeous Belgian chocolate right?
Hi Shmii-thankyou!
hehe what a cute story! I guess he was meant to run free but it was a sweet idea to get him a swing and a squirrel friend! 
Hi Sarah-Thankyou so much Sarah-Happy easter!
Hi Johanna-Thanks!
I hope you had a great one too! 
Hi angie-Thankyou!
Hi Julia-Aww shucks thankyou Julia! You are so sweet!
Hi Von-Hehe I keep them on a shelf held down by Blutack because they are so light and flyaway!
Thankyou! You are so funny! 
Hi Atholie-Thanks so much Atholie!
My kids would absolutely go crazy over all this fun Easter treats. I could never think up such wonderful ideas, amazing!
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