Hot Cross buns have long been a symbol of Good Friday. Today they are sold in bake shops and supermarket bakeries throughout the Easter season. Each bun has an icing cross on top to signify the crucifixion. In England, they were once sold by street vendors who advertised their wares with cries of "Hot Cross Buns! "Hot Cross Buns!" Their street cries became a nursery rhyme....| Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns! | If ye have no daughters, Give them to your sons. One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns |
Although they have been a Lenten and Good Friday tradition for centuries, Hot Cross Buns were not always associated with Christianity. Their origins lie in pagan traditions of ancient cultures, with the cross representing the four quarters of the moon. During early missionary efforts, the Christian church adopted the buns and re-interpreted the icing cross. In 1361, a monk named Father Thomas Rockcliffe began a tradition of giving Hot Cross Buns to the poor of St Albans on Good Friday. In years that followed, many customs, traditions, superstitions, and claims of healing and protection from evil and were associated with the buns. In the 16th century, Roman Catholicism was banned in England, but the popularity of Hot Cross buns continued. Queen Elizabeth I passed a law banning the consumption of Hot Cross Buns except during festivals such as Easter, Christmas and funerals.
I'm not Catholic but I do believe that I try to give a wonderful portion of my 'Friday Before Easter' and dedicate it to some good things. I admire my Catholic friends that made it through the Lent time and find their strength in their beliefs to be very refreshing. If I had participated in Lent - I would have given up complaining - so here is my list of 'non-complaining items'
1. Not complaining that my Visa just called me and said - you're over the limit - just how much do Peeps cost? Must send money right away.
2. Not complaining that I had tickets to take my mom to hear the MoTab Bells tonight and she chose to stay home and wave her arms in front of the people at the rest home that have their books upside down anyway.
3. Not complaining that there is absolutely no Pepsi in the house today.
4. Not complaining that I'm in a quandary about 'if I go to Wicked I'll be in trouble and if I don't go I'll be angry, and my Visa said - I probably shouldn't go.'
5. Not complaining that I have no idea how many people, if any, will be over for Easter Dinner and if I should use the old ham from the freezer or pluck a new one from the store.
6. Not complaining that my Grandson will be rolling his Easter Eggs in Washington.
7. Not complaining that my dad just keeps hanging on and I don't know why.
8. Not complaining that my mom keeps hoping that he recognizes her, and not being able to tell her that he doesn't and won't again in this lifetime, but she's beautiful and that would make anyone smile at her!
9. Not complaining that this 'picture of life' I've believed in, has some colors running here and there.
10. Not complaining ever that someone loved me enough to die for me, and believe in me, even when the road seems long and lonely.
Good thing I would only have to have lent once a year, I'm not very good at it. Gotta go make some 'Hot Cross Buns' Happy Good Friday.
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Preparation -
Place all the dough ingredients, except the raisins and fruit, in the bread machine pan. Set on the dough only cycle. Add the raisins and candied fruit at the bread machine's signal for adding extra ingredients. Remove the dough from the bread machine at end of dough cycle. Place it in a bowl, cover with a cloth and let it rest for 10 minutes.
**Divide the dough into 12 pieces. Shape the pieces into balls and place them 3 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place until almost doubled, about 45 minutes to an hour. Bake in a preheated oven at 375ยบ for 15 to 18 minutes, or until light brown on top. Remove from the oven. Place the baking sheet full of buns on a wire rack to cool. Prepare the glaze, then spread it over the warm buns. Let the buns continue to cool on the baking sheet. When completely cool, fill a cake decorating bag, fitted with a round tip, with icing. Pipe an icing cross on each bun. Or... simply spoon narrow stips of icing, in the shape of a cross, on each bun.
**To prepare this recipe without a bread machine, use this mixer method -
Mix the yeast, 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and other spices in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk and water together. Combine the dry ingredients mixture, the liquid ingredients, and the butter in a large bowl. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed. Add the egg and beat 1 more minute. Stir in the raisins, fruit, and enough of the remaining flour to make a firm dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 to 7 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Use additional flour if necessary. Place in a lightly greased bowl; turn over to grease the other side of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place. After about 15 minutes, test the dough to see if it has risen sufficiently and is ready to be shaped. To test, gently stick two fingers into the risen dough up to the second knuckle... take them out. If the indentations remain, the dough is ripe and ready. Continue to follow the preparation directions above, from the **.
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