Saturday, April 14, 2012 Hot cross buns, a week late I was inspired to make hot cross buns yesterday, with some help from Alex. He's home as it's school holidays, and some days we just need something to do. They turned out quite well. The texture was beautiful and the only changes I will make next time is more spice, more fruit and more sugar. For the buns, I used 4 cups (600g) bread flour 1/4 cup sugar ( I will use 1/2 a cup next time) 2.5 tsp dried yeast 350ml milk (slightly warmed) 1 egg 60g butter 1 cup sultanas (next I'll use more) 1 tsp mixed spice (I'll try doubling this next time) 1 tsp cinnamon (I'll try doubling this next time) Mix the flour and spices in a large bowl. Rub butter into the flour (like you're making scones) Mix yeast, sugar and milk separately and leave to stand for about 10 minutes. It starts to get slightly frothy. Stir in the egg and mix with the flour mixture. Add fruit. Mix well and then knead for about 10-15 minutes. The dough should become fairly elastic. I do this in the Kenwood mixer but you can knead by hand if you wish. the results should be the same, but your arms will be more tired. Cover the dough with a clean tea towel and leave it to rise for about 45-60 minutes. The dough should double in size in that time. Then punch the dough down and knead it again. Break it apart into balls. Roll each ball gently and place on a baking tray. Leave a bit room between the buns so they have room to grow. This recipe makes about 12-15 buns. Cover the buns with the tea towel and leave them to rise. Pre-heat a fan-forced oven to 180 degrees. Before baking, lightly brush with a mixture of one beaten egg and 3 tablespoons of water. Mix 1/4 cup of self raising flour with water to form a thick paste. Fill a piping bag with this paste and pipe crosses on the buns. I didn't have a piping bag so I used a ziploc bag and cut a small hole in one corner. It works just as well. Bake for 10 minutes on 180 degrees, then turn the temperature down to 170 degrees and bake for a further 12 minutes. If you have bigger buns (only 10-12 buns) then bake for 15 minutes, but if you have smaller ones, then 12 minutes should be sufficient. Serve warmed with butter. Delicious! Posted by celia at 9:33 am   |   0 comments   Alex's first professional haircut He's 5 and half (nearly) and I have always cut his hair. Last week, Chris had his hair cut (no, I don't cut his hair - he refuses to let me!), and we thought that we'd get Alex's hair cut as well. He started out pretty shaggy looking: By the time we were done (and I do mean "we", as I had to hold him still for part of that time) he looked a lot neater: It was also the first time he had any sort of hair product applied. Not a bad look, though I doubt I'll be running out to buy a tub of the stuff any time soon. From this experience, we learnt a few things: - clippers and Alex are not friends - scissors are much better - hair that looks good with product through it may not look as good once it is washed (note to self: look at the hair do before they rub stuff into it!) Labels: Alex, hair cut Posted by celia at 9:17 am   |   1 comments   Join List Previous Next Random Join List Previous Next The Spinning Wheel Join | List | Previous | Next | Random Join List Previous Next Join List Previous Next Powered by RingSurf Previous Posts A little news My needles are on fire! Nupps and all Lace Knitting Set Up Knitting again Travelling Tea Box Hot cross buns, a week late Alex's first professional haircut Kaya means rich A taste of home Archives August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 September 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 January 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 April 2013 Current Posts     home   |   things i am selling on eBay   |   my recipes   |   my patterns (C) 2004 Celia Ng and Chris Hernandez. All rights reserved. This page designed by Chris Hernandez. Many thanks to Amy at www.IndiGirl.com for the original Project Progress Tracker. No electrons were harmed in the production of this webpage.