Hot Cross Buns {Cooking}

I made these Hot Cross Buns as a late lunch on Good Friday, they were so delicious the Mr devoured 3 in the first sitting (This seams to be a pattern with my baking). The rationale he stands by "It is never going to be as good as it is RIGHT NOW fresh from the oven".... Good call Hun, Good Call! They were rather delicious and so simple to make.

Makes: 12

Ingredients

• 4 cups plain flour
• 2 x 7g sachets dried yeast
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 2 taspoons mixed spice
• 1 taspoon Cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups currants (I substituted with Mixed fruit)
• 40g butter
• 300ml milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

Flour paste

• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 4 to 5 tablespoons water

Glaze

• 1/3 cup water
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar

Method

1. Combine flour, yeast, sugar, mixed spice, salt and currants in a large bowl. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add milk. Heat for 1 minute, or until lukewarm. Add warm milk mixture and eggs to currant mixture. Use a flat-bladed knife to mix until dough almost comes together. Use clean hands to finish mixing to form a soft dough.
2. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes, or until dough is smooth. Place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until dough doubles in size.
3. Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Punch dough down to its original size. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Divide into 12 even portions. Shape each portion into a ball. Place balls onto lined tray, about 1cm apart. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 30 minutes, or until buns double in size. Preheat oven to 190°C.
4. Make flour paste: Mix flour and water together in a small bowl until smooth, adding a little more water if paste is too thick. Spoon into a small snap-lock bag. Snip off 1 corner of bag. Pipe flour paste over tops of buns to form crosses. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until buns are cooked through.
5. Make glaze: Place water and sugar into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Brush warm glaze over warm hot cross buns. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe smended slightly from This one on Taste

Raw Brownie Balls {Cooking}

This amazing recipe has been Tried and Tested ! And by "Tested" what I really mean is having to stop ones husband from consuming more than three in one day {Yah they are that good}.

I varied the original My New Roots recipe a little by adding in Goji berries and chopped nuts instead of almonds and rolling into balls after being inspired by Table Tonic .

Ingredients:
2 cups whole walnuts
2 ½ cups dates, pitted
1 cup raw cacao
1 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup goji berries
2 Tablespoons of Tahini
1/3 Cup coconut

Directions:
1. Place walnuts, chopped nuts, dates and cacao in food processor and blend on high until mix resembles cake crumbs, stir through goji berries and Tahini.
2. Press into bite size balls, roll in coconut to your liking and Store in an airtight container.

Edited 23/3 to Add in Tahini