Hot X Buntime

 

Easter is upon us and my shed building project is soaking up all my gardening time.  This is the current state of play. I have sown two rows of carrots and one of parsnips. Also a row of asparagus. It will be potatoes next.

My shorter term project is to bake HXB.  

HXB

In time honoured tradition it is time to bake the hot X buns!

 

Good Friday

 

As is the tradition, here is this year's batch of HXB.

Cold Night - Hot Cross Buns

 

After a settled period of above zero temperatures the overnight frost has returned.  Currently it is -2C outside and a snug +2 in my greenhouse.  I had the foresight to deploy the paraffin heater last night and am feeling rather smug about it.  

The other thing I did last night was to bake the annual batch of hot cross buns.  Just what you need on a cold Good Friday morning. The other Good Friday tradition of planting potatoes could be delayed this year.  The seed potatoes would be happy enough six inches under but why push it when I have other things to do.  (At the school the nursery class have planted a row of earlies this week already!)

Keeping Up Appearances

Here's the traditional Good Friday bake.  Who would have thought that it might have been at risk with the run on flour of late. Looking back over the years the last time there was a problem was in 2016 when our cooker broke.

Another Good Friday tradition is planting potatoes.  Three out or 4 nets have been planted already so I am ahead of the game.  I am holding off on the last one as  I have crops still to harvest (leeks and chard).  You have to think well ahead to avoid these conflicts.  In another area the carrot patch has followed on from the brassicas.  Kale and Purple Sprouting Broccoli are being cropped and uprooted all in one operation so that the ground can be prepared for the new crop.  Note to self: It helps if these late croppers are all grown at one end of the brassica patch.

Hot but not Cross

In time honoured tradition here is this year's batch of HXB.

The weather is roasting just now and the best bit is that the night time temperature is holding up well above freezing.  I have been pricking out flowers and sowing beans and squashes. If we were to get another frost forecast I would have to take seed trays indoors.  Some space has been freed up in the shed now that the potato planting has started.  That is another Good Friday tradition (planting potatoes).

HXB

In time honoured tradition

This year's batch.

Looking at the weather outside I don't think I will be keeping the other tradition - planting potatoes.  It is grey windy and cold (4C) in Edinburgh today.

Votive Offering - Delayed

 I made Hot Cross Buns today.  OK I know I am three weeks late, but I have a good reason- the oven was bust and took three weeks to get repaired (under guarantee). Of course by that time Easter had come and gone.  To make amends I bought some expensive hot cross buns on Good Friday from an artisan bakery at over £1 each.  Either by accident or design they had no fruit in them aside from some candied peel.  It didn't pass muster with family. So today I gave in to the request for "the real thing" and baked this batch.

I am happy to report that they passed the taste test.

The top picture also shows off our new kitchen table covering. Doesn't that hen look peckish?

Friday On My Mind

An Easter Rising

I'm still around despite being preoccupied with other matters of late.

 

Keeping up the tradition, here's this year's HXBs

 

Easter Bunnies - Spring Intentions

I've been somewhat sporadic recently about updating my blog. It's been winter, I've been experimenting with a new camera (a Digital SLR - only to revert to my handy compact which I find easier to master).  Blogger hasn't helped by going through a rough patch where it was virtually impossible to upload pictures.  This seems to have improved with the latest Windows updates. Work has been... busy. Now the clocks have gone forward, the evenings are light for longer,  the four day Easter Weekend has arrived and its time to honour the tradition of making hot cross buns - and posting the proof:

 

HXBs

 

 

Intentions? Rather rashly I have decided to replace my temporary plastic growhouse with something more permanent.  This was supposed to be ready for spring.  Below is the current state of play.  I've excavated the trench for the foundations and filled it ith rubble. That's all so far.  What are bank holiday weekends for?



 

 

Building Project

I might even plant some spuds, jerusalem artechokes and sow some parsnips and broad beans too! Wonders never cease.

Easter Catch Up

Tradition requires a batch of these:

We went sightseeing in the Cotswold Hills this Easter Sunday.  That's the White Horse in the distance:

In fact there was vicious driving rain and we had to beat a retreat (hence the poor quality picture)

In better weather on Saturday the lock at Buscot was in action:

And just in case you thought I had a complete break from gardening I did help my daughter tidy and plant up her vegetable patch.

Ran out of time before weeding the raspberry bed.  (The fleece tents are for courgettes carrots and beans)

Aside from the motorway driving, a great break.  Now its time to attend to the plot back at home!

Hot Cross Buns

Here's this year's batch of hot cross buns.

 I've followed Paul Hollywood's suggestions from the Easter Bake Off Masterclass in two respects - adding some apple and bunching them up close.  The first seems like a good idea, but don't cut down on the dried fruit like I did. The second makes piping the crosses easier when in mass production.  It looks more professional, but I think that mine are TOO close - and I don't have a problem crossing them individually and having more crust.  Home made HX buns are great!