This year is the first time since the children started school that the Japanese spring holidays have coincided with Easter. It has been a conflict trying to get the "Good Friday" holiday idea through to non Christians, and this year, at last, the kids are at home without any negotiations!
This evening we enjoyed exotic Fish and Chips, with beer batter of course, and extra tasting to make sure that the beer was OK. We're still not sure, so the tasting continues....
Hot Cross Buns (This years recipe!)
280ml of tepid Water
1.5 teaspoons of Dry Yeast
5 dessert spoons of Sugar
1.5 teaspoons of Salt
3 dessertspoons of Olive Oil
200 grams of Plain Flour
200 grams of Gluten Flour
20 grams of Walnuts
100 grams of Raisins
1 teaspoon of mixed spice
Mix all ingredients in a bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly and then knead for seven minutes (It helps if you are a potter!)
Cover with a damp cloth and raise in a warm place for 30 minutes, or half an hour, which ever comes first, until it is about twice in volume.
Measure the dough into twelve equal balls and arrange on a greased baking tray. Cover with a damp cloth again and raise for a further half to three quarters of an hour until doubled in size.
Brush beaten egg over the buns then drizzle a creamy mixture of plain flour and milk in a cross over the buns. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes.
Toast or reheat before serving.
Happy Easter to you all, more news when the bunny arrives!
Great photos of you guys!! All the food looks yummy too.
ReplyDeleteHey Ron!
ReplyDeleteThe food was great, looking forward to the egg hunt tomorrow!
Dear Euan,
ReplyDeleteI have just discovered your beautiful blog. So many insightful and informative entries, I will be exploring your world for some time to come, I can tell. I actually stumbled on your site during a search for information on shino, and in particular, shino fired without the use of saggars (oni shino, or "devil shino"). I am working on an article on oni shino, a brief history of this practice, and an overview of contemporary artists who fire their shino work naked, and I am wondering if you have any leads/info/ideas or if you know of any particular artists in Japan who produce oni shino work. Kumano Kureomon comes to my mind immediately, of course, but any other hints would be much appreciated! You have a beautiful family. Happy spring!
Sincerely,
Yolande Clark
Hi Yolande,
ReplyDeleteThe term Oni Shino was coined by a potter named Tsukigata Nahiko from Mino who passed away in 2006. Here in Mashiko the best shinos are being done by Ken Matsuzaki. Do you read Japanese? Most of the info here isn't in english.
Mashiko pottery festival starts tomorrow, so I need to go set up now.
All the best,
Euan
Hi Euan,
ReplyDeleteIt has been a number of years since our paths crossed. It might be time for a return visit to Mashiko. I continue to read your Blog and enjoy them so much. Your family and your work are wonderful. I retired from the corporate world last year and I am spending significantly more time in clay. I have a couple of not recent articles on my Blog about the building of my studio and kiln. http://claymanpv.blogspot.com/
I will use you as inspiration to update my blog.
Regards,
Paul Vernier (Student of George Dymesich)