A couple of years ago, I attended a fabulous 40th reunion of my year 6 class…
Somewhat surprisingly for folks who hadn’t seen each other in four decades, we became instant friends all over again and many of us have kept in touch ever since.
One of the best things for me has been reconnecting with my old girlfriends Jenny, Helen, Alison and Anita. Not only do we lunch on a regular basis, but we also cook together! Last Easter we spent a day baking hot cross buns, followed a few months later by a lesson in sourdough, which they all took to like ducks to water. As a result, I recently came home from Southern Cross Supplies with 62.5kg of bakers flour in my boot, having picked up a bag each for the girls…
This Easter Saturday, we got together again for a day in the kitchen.
While the hot cross bun dough was rising, my lovely friend Carol (who was also with us last year) taught everyone how to fold dumplings…
We produced a hundred or so dumplings…
…and then ate them all for lunch (Small Man helped)…
After the buns were shaped and left to rise again, I put my friends to work making dark chocolate eggs. Everyone ended up with one to take home, and Pete and I ate the rejects for dessert that night…
After baking, it was time to glaze…
In the end, we produced eight dozen hot cross buns…not a bad day’s work! Best of all, the whole lot fit into my big Smeg oven in one go. We had the perfect number of people for the space and time available…
I stole a few buns for my boys (but by that stage, I’d already baked eleven dozen, so we were pretty bunned out), and my friends took the rest home. As everyone had brought their own containers, we happily didn’t use a single plastic bag. It looked like a meeting of the CWA…
I think Easter Saturday bake day is set to become a tradition at our house! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Fabulous!
But just how big is your oven?????
Mo
Huge! Big 90cm Smeg freestanding cooker.
Must have a look. Smeg is available here in Canada but perhaps not that model. I made hot cross buns this year at a friend’s house in Tennessee on our way home from Florida. New recipe and I believe the best I’ve ever made. Been making them on Good Friday for about 36 years after a neighbour at our first house shred them and then her recipe. I grew up making bread so that wasn’t an issue. I keep trying new recipes every few years but my quest may be at an end. 😁
Oh, and I bought a clay baker at a yard sale so I can try your bread baking method. I sold the one I received as a wedding gift at a yard sale over 30 years ago….😏
Mo
With friends like that………..what a treat!
Fabulous! What a lot of baking! I made 4 dozen hot cross buns on Good Friday.
What a fabulous day – the laughter and chatter and cooking smells must have been glorious.
It sounds a perfect day… I do so envy people who are still close to their childhood friends and neighbourhoods.
So lovely to reconnect through food, sounds beautiful. I have serious oven envy right now!!! haha
Wow – 8 dozen in one bake. that’s some oven!
I would love an oven of that capacity but kitchen designed around a wall oven so no room for change unless whole kitchen changed……mmmmm mIght be a good idea….maybe a lottery ticket is called for. What a happy day you and your friends must have had.
I Love your Cooker! My daughter in law in Wellington cooked your Hot Cross Buns – the sourdough ones – I sent her the link – she said they were great! Thank you.. c
What a wonderful way to cook, together with friends. Beautiful food. Meg:)
What a lovely Easter.
Oh my … they are the best looking buns ever!
Those buns look delicious and I’m super impressed (and ever so slightly jealous) of your oven capacity. One day….
Instead of the CWA you can have the IWWA – Inner West Women’s Association!
Your hot cross buns look fabulous. We were just complaining about the lack of hot cross buns in the shops until the new year, should really try making some at home!!
How wonderful to reconnect with old friends! And what a delicious day. Holy cats, your oven is big.
What a magnificent day 😃.
What a wonderful way to spend Easter Saturday with friends….sounds like a great tradition to me!
What a great tradition and one worth keeping. An amazing effort really. I am surprised all those buns went into your oven. Did you rotate the shelves and also, does the oven cook evenly across each shelf? How nice to find your old friends again too. xx
I rotated everything – across and between two shelves. Our new oven isn’t bad across the shelves, but I always rotate mid-bake regardless.
Just read you post. How wonderful and what a fabulous way to stay in touch. I bet you all laughed a lot. You are amazing!
What an awesome time you must have had, baking and cooking the whole day and then to finish it off, enjoying the fruits of your labour.
What a joy to share your skills and hospitality with such good friends. Wonderful day. Wish I lived next door. LOL!
So lucky to have such a wide circle of friends and being able to share such joy. Everything look wonderful.