My Favorite Hot Cross Bun Recipe

I cannot imagine Easter without these. They are one of my favorite Easter traditions. It is so lovely spending the afternoon in a warm kitchen, surrounded by the fragrance of spices and yeast.

Hot Cross Buns:

Measure 1 cup of milk, 1/2 a cup of hot water and 2 tablespoons of sugar into a bowl.

Warm or cool to body temperature and add 1 tablespoon of yeast. Mix well and then add 2 cups of flour, cover and leave to rise in a warm place.

Meanwhile in another bowl cream 100g of butter with 1/2 cup of soft brown sugar.

Then beat in 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of mixed spice, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1 tsp of ground cloves, 1 tsp of vanilla and 1 cup of dried fruit. (I used sultanas and currants.)

When the yeast mixture has risen to twice it's original size, tip it into the creamed mixture along with an extra 2 cups of flour. Mix well and if you need too add in enough extra flour to make a dough firm enough to turn out on a bench top and knead.

Knead until the dough feels satiny and does not stick to the bench top. It should spring back when pressed with a finger. Divide the dough into four pieces and cut each of these into six. ( I made mine a bit larger than this.) Shape each one into a ball and place in buttered baking trays, leaving space between each one to allow for rising. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise until twice their original size.

Make the crosses by rubbing 60 grams of butter in 1 cup of flour and then adding enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll it out and cut it into strips. Brush these with a little milk so they stick and place them on the buns.

Bake uncovered for 10- 12 minutes at 225 C.

As soon as they come out of the oven brush them with a glaze made from 2 tablespoons golden syrup warmed with 3 tablespoons of water.

These are gorgeous! Serve them warm with butter.

'Deprez a Fleur Jaune' Against a Grey Sky

This beautiful rose caught my eye defiantly withstanding the bitterly cold wind in our garden today. So pretty. It has a perfume to rival it's beauty as well.

Jury Service and Juice Deliveries

Change is refreshing. These past few weeks have been quite hectic but fun. I have had two Mondays off from work; one to look after Briar while Mum was away and one to attend a summons for Jury Service! I really did want to get on the jury but with sixty to eighty people and only 12 places it was a slim chance: my name was not pulled out of the box. It was very intriguing seeing how it all works though.

I came out of the court after being dismissed and just as I was walking across the busy intersection in the middle of our city I saw my brother's new truck (he has just bought a juice franchise) parked across the street. I met a friend of ours just as I was getting to the pavement on the other side so off we both went and did a few deliveries with him. From being in a court to juice deliveries, it was definitely not a dull day!

Hope of the Hopeless

Thinking. I have been doing a lot of it lately. There are so many people in my life that are going through hard things and I am trying to keep up with the questions that come with the problems but I find myself more often than not just turning to Him and crying 'I don't know, help them Jesus'. Because at the end of the day? I just don't know why some people have to go through intense pain and suffering and others seem to glide through life with only a scratch or two. And I don't know how to solve the problems that confront and are confided to me. I may have an inkling of truth to offer or some small bit of encouragement but after that I feel so helpless. There is so much pain it overwhelms me and that is just in my own acquaintances and friends. So I cry to Him, my God and Savior. Redeemer. Healer. Lover of the broken people. And I know He will be answer my cry.

Blue Eyed Hayley

Last week I took some photos of my darling little God-daughter. She is such a delight, I feel so special when I walk in the room and she starts laughing and smiling at me. There is nothing like a baby to brighten up your day!

Coffee and Sour Cream Cake

My brother Ben first made this recipe years ago, one of the rare times he baked. I remembered it today as I was given some sour cream last week and needed to use it. So I made one for us and one for Ben and his flatmates. Yesterday they moved to a new house so I went around tonight to see it with the cake. It's such a cute little house, very old and with a lot of the original fittings. I liked it. And they liked the cake.

Clothesline Grapes

Growing along the fence and into the fir tree up above our clothesline is a big grapevine. In March when they ripen hanging out the washing is a real treat! But it definitely takes longer when there are delicious grapes distracting you from the task, as I found out this morning.