go north, young man

i officially have a new apartment.  i move in on january 1st.

i'll spare you all of the boring details about all of the new amenities that i'll get to enjoy.  i'll just say this:  one of the big selling points it that i'm upgrading from my current kitchenette to a fully furnished kitchen.  this is a pretty big deal because, well, i cook a lot.  a kitchenette just has 2 hot plates, a sink, and a cutting board.  nothing too luxurious.  the new place comes complete with 4 hot plates, oven, fridge, 2 sinks, microwave, and plenty of cupboard space.

the oven is the key factor here.  because i plan on cooking up some mean hot cross buns.  for those of you currently with an oven, here's a recipe you might enjoy for some fresh, steamy buns:

Traditional Hot Cross Bun Recipe Ingredients:

• 630 grams of strong white flour
• 130 grams of raisins and sultanas or mixed dried fruit
• 90 grams of plain sugar
• 50 grams of plain butter cut into small chunks
• 2 teaspoons of fast action yeast
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, mixed spices or even Chinese 5 spice
• 1 medium size egg
• 300ml of milk
• The zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange

Ingredients for the Topping:

• 2 tablespoons of plain flour for the cross
• 1 tablespoon of golden syrup for the glazing

Directions for Baking Hot Cross Buns:

1. Sieve the flour and ground mixed spice into a large mixing bowl, then rub in the butter using your fingertips. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and add the sugar, lemon and orange zest and yeast.
2. Add the milk and beaten egg to this mixture and stir until it becomes a soft but solid dough then mix in the raisins and other dried fruit.
3. Sprinkle a kitchen surface with flour and then knead the dough on the flour gently for around 3-7 minutes until it is smooth and workable.
4. Grease a warm bowl with butter and place the dough in a ball in the bowl. Cover this with Clingfilm or preferably a clean cloth tea towel and place the bowl in a warm place for about 2 hours occasionally working it and then replacing it in the warm bowl. This will help the dough rise slightly.
5. Again put the dough onto a floured kitchen top but this time split the dough into 12 equal bits and work the pieces into balls or bun shapes.
6. Grease a baking tray with butter and lay the buns out equally spaced. As with the dough cover the buns with a clean tea towel or Clingfilm and leave to rest again in a warm place but this time for just around 30 minutes. While the buns are resting preheat the oven to 250C (480F or Gas 8).
7. Also, while waiting for the buns, prepare the topping which consists of mixing the plain flour with a drop of water to create a smooth and slightly runny paste. Then when the buns are done resting use this paste to draw a cross on each hot cross bun. For best results use a piping bag for the crosses.
8. At this point the buns are ready to go into the over for around 10 minutes or just until they are golden, depending on the oven this may be quicker or longer. Once out lightly coat the buns with golden syrup or for an alternative why not try maple syrup which is just as sweet. Once cool the buns are ready to eat!

They can be served cold or toasted, with butter or jam and make a lovely breakfast treat. This recipe is tried and tested, making home made hot cross buns a piece of cake this Easter or any time of year! They will fill your house with a delicious, spicy baking aroma and are guaranteed to fly out of the kitchen.

i don't really know who measures things in "grams" and "milliliters," but they look like delicious buns.