Easter Hot Cross Buns

I thought it was time to try some sweet dough. The principles are the same though, but the dough is enriched with milk, eggs and sugar. The dough is a bit wetter than a standard white dough, so you need to persevere when you are kneading it as at first it seems like it'll never firm up.

What I liked about this recipe is the addition of orange zest, an apple and a good dose of cinnamon, probably my favourite spice in the cupboard. At the time of writing, I hadn't tried one yet as we are waiting for breakfast but if they taste as good as they look, I think we are onto a winner.

Bacon and Cheddar Loaf

Now my young daughter Phoebe is approaching her first birthday, she is starting to eat a lot of the same foods as her mum and dad, and that includes bread. So, each weekend Phoebe gets her very own plain loaf baked by her Dad. I am hoping she will grow to enjoy baking as much as I do. So, once Phoebe's loaf is sorted, it's time to bake something for Mum and Dad.

The pictures of this bacon and cheddar loaf in Paul Hollywoods book were so good, that was enough for me to give it a go. The final bake didn't dissappoint. Make sure you eat this slightly warm as you then get pockets of cheesy goodness dotted throughout the loaf. Also, use a good strong vintage cheddar if you can. Delicious.