“I arose and am still with thee, Alleluia!” (Psalm 138:18) A glorious Easter Octave to you, dear friends!

A couple crumbs before we get to the bread and butter of today’s post:

I have decided that I need little hearts and hands in my life until I die because their blooming talents and heartful gifts are priceless.

And!!…for all of you who work the ‘magical’ transformation while the house slumbers; digging through boxes, changing liturgical tones and yawning through your labor of love to bring your home from this:

….to this:

…. I see you! Whether they all know it yet or not, your family appreciates and loves you for it!

The crumbs have been cleared.

Now to address the loaf at hand.

Bread naturally belongs to the triumphant celebration of the Redemption and Resurrection. Readings throughout the Sacred Triduum are rich in references to the workings of wheat and its symbolism. As if that isn’t enough, it takes little to no stretch of the imagination to draw correlations of your own between the requirements and life of the human soul, the Passion / Death / Resurrection of Our Lord, the season of spring and the process of bread making. All of the above offer more than mere morsels to ponder as you try out the following recipes!

Deciding that focaccia would be the highlight of our Holy Thursday supper this year vs our traditional flatbread left us begging for more. An edible canvas for delightful artwork, easily tailored for any occasion, this no-fuss bread is a delicious must-try. Exercise your agency, sift through the fun world of bread and find a recipe that suits you…. but a couple helpful tidbits: gingerly wetting tender stems and leaves in lemon water prevents them from burning while baking and yes, your dough is going to be very sticky so a little bit of water or oil on your fingers does the trick while working with your dough!

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“Mom, why do we only have hot cross buns on Good Friday? You should make them all the time.”

Can’t say I disagree.

In my childhood, hot cross buns were as inseparable from Good Friday as the Good Friday Liturgy. And so, the tradition continues in this home. (In fact, if there’s ever a Good Friday without hot cross buns someone, please, come check on us.) When weariness takes its toll during the Services, deeper reflection on the Passion AND the promise of hot-from-the-0ven hot cross buns upon the return home will surely grant fortification.

I fall in the category of people who contentedly follow the “if it’s not broken don’t fix it” path so I faithfully use my mom’s recipe, which is the recipe my grandma used and I’m going to guess so on and so forth.

Hot Cross Buns

Pour mixture into a mixing bowl. Add 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tbsp salt. Mix and let sit for about 10min. (Don’t ask me what it’s doing during this time but there must be some culinary chemistry working behind the scenes.)

While the above does its associating it’s the perfect time to get your leavening going!

If you start your leavening promptly it will be proofed (will look bubbly / foamy) and ready to use once your 10 minutes are up.

I like to take my dough ball out, give my mixing bowl the slightest spritz of oil, place dough back in and cover with saran wrap and towel for its proofing stage. Growing up we all played “chasing the sun”…. moving the bowl along the floor in front of the window to follow the rays. Feel free to give it a try. Otherwise place in a warm spot. In my experience it usually takes 2-3hrs for my dough to proof.

Once proofed, form into buns (roughly 24) and repeat the covering and proofing process. This seems to match the 2-3 hr timeframe. However, mine have sat for longer and work out perfectly.

Preheat oven to 350.

Cut cross on top of buns and bake for 20 min. Tops may vary in goldenness but bottoms should be lightly golden brown.

Glaze

Warning ~ I don’t measure!

Powdered sugar (organic yields best flavor!!), splash of vanilla and orange juice! May also use milk instead of juice though I find the flavor of orange goes very well with these. Mix well and adjust according to desired consistency.

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While not a bread, this last recipe does include a puff pastry, involves some rising (and then some falling as it cools) and is far too scrumptious not to mention! I give you a dessert that may leave you buying a {spring}form pan for all of your loved ones!

Simple Blueberry Basque Cheesecake. – Half Baked Harvest…no need for further words!

May each day ~ and any dough you give hand to ~ rise to the occasion of this blessed week!