Why buy plastic ones when you can make them?
OK â€" where’s the candied peel? Oh, out of date. But there’s some dried Papaya and we could use a bit of orange zest?
Right. Oh, and the mixed spice was beyond its BBE date! OK, make some.
Cinnamon, ginger, allspice, coriander, cumin, nutmeg. Got them. But WHAT PROPORTIONS ?
Please?? Not much time left!!
till it smells right ;D
Add seeds from a few cardamom pods, and a little star anise (not a lot as it easily overpowers)? ----- still until it smells right ;D
All best - Gavin
You've missed out cloves too - you can't have hot cross buns without cloves!
Good God - so I did!! But I'm not going out for anise!!
Love cardamom.
Another good eastery tip, to make your house smell of easter even after the baking smell has worn off, put some bun spice into hot water and leave in a hiding place somewhere, or sprinkle the water onto your welcome mat. When I looked after some bakeries one was in a shopping centre, we would go douse the mats in the main doorways to the centre in spice, then people would trample it all over the place making it all smell of hot cross buns, and our takings would go up nicely as everyones stomachs rumbled :)
Looked through my ancient college books and not a word on how to make mixed spice or what proportions, bit of a suprise, but I did find this and thought it would make you smile, would make for an interesting bun!!
http://www.moh.gov.my/fqc/reference/Food%20Regulations/Regulation333.htm
Or there was this from an American site http://www.recipelink.com/ch/2000/may/herbmixtures3.html which looks more promising! Hope this helps DP
This talk of hot X Buns got me thinking, Hubby from overseas grew up on a totally different recipe to me! The ones his Mum makes are sorta dense to the point of being stodeyish (think I just made up a new word!) No crosses on the top, just a slash, and made in a baking tray so they come out attached to each other and square..............might make a batch of both if I can find the in laws recipe just so he doesnt feel left out!
Natty - like chucking coffee granules on the AGA when you want to sell - or cover up smells. Crafty!
DP - great - that gives a good lead. Funny - couldn't trace anything on the net.
Comedy of errors??
Thanks, DP - great help. Added a little cardomom. That recipe made enough for about 40 buns.
What errors? Apart from the shortages mentioned, we also had no currants. So it was sultanas instead. And, careless reading of the recipe, brushed them with syrup before cooking rather than after!! And made them too flat.
But - took some over next door & went to bed. Shortly afterwards, daughter storms in saying 'I'll never buy shop ones again'.
So that's the way the cookie crumbled.
If only we had taste-o-vision :)