Fri–Sat of Holy Week

Friday, April 22 We enjoyed Sarah's Hot Cross Buns for breakfast this morning.  She made them from a recipe in "Queen of the Castle" by Lynn Bowen Walker.  The whole community has been feeding the two visiting catechists this week, so we shared some buns with them for breakfast this morning after morning prayer.  The community had a service at 9 a.m. and then another one at 12 p.m. to celebrate different aspects of Good Friday.  Then a bell rang at 3 p.m. to remind us of the time of Jesus' death.  While our family waited for the bell, we made Easter basket cupcakes (thanks, Mama, for the ingredients).  Then the whole community gathered for a farewell for the two visiting catechists.  Just as we were leaving, Katherine knocked a flower pot off the porch rail.  Unfortunately, it was the pot with Chinese cabbage seedlings awaiting the end of Holy Week to be transplanted.  I was able to save about twenty seedlings, so I transplanted while the rest of the family went to sing and dance and say thank you.  Nothing quite like my three-year-old's voice sweetly asking, "Mama, will you please forgive me for climbing and knocking off your Chinese cabbage?"  We had hoped for an early bedtime, but the choir decided to practice since no evening prayer service was held.  So, our family was serenaded as we lay in bed and listened to our neighbors practice for Easter Sunday's celebration.

Hot Cross Buns
Dissolve:
    1 package dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)     in 1/4 cup warm water
Set aside.  In large saucepan, heat until almost boiling (small bubbles will appear on sides of pan):
    1 cup milk
Remove from heat.  Add:
    1 stick butter or margarine (can cut it in pieces) and stir till it melts.
Add:
    1/2 cup sugar
    1 1/2 tsp salt
Combine yeast mixture with milk mixture once the milk has cooled.  Add:
    3 beaten eggs
Stir in:
    4 3/4 cups flour
    1 tsp. cinnamon
    1 tsp. grated lemon peel
Stir until dough is smooth.  (Note:  dough will be very sticky; no need to add extra flour.)  Add:
    1 cup raisins, if desired
Cover pan with damp towel and let rise in a warm place until double.  When double, stir down.  Turn dough onto a floured board.  Shape into balls the size of eggs.  Place on greased cookie sheet, two to three inches apart, and let rise until almost double again. Brush tops with:
    1 beaten egg white
Bake at 375 degrees twelve to fifteen minutes, until nicely browned.  When cool, pipe frosting across the top in shape of a cross.  Makes twenty four.
Frosting:
In medium bowl, stir together:
    1 cup powdered sugar
    1 TBSP melted butter or margarine
    1/2 tsp lemon or orange extract
    enough hot water to make desired consistency (probably 1-2 TBSP)
Pipe a cross on each bun; with leftover icing, pipe a circle or two around each cross.  Use all of the frosting, especially if you've omitted raisins, because the buns benefit from the added sweetness. 

Saturday, April 23 I was just out lining up help for cooking food to bring to the community breakfast tomorrow.  As I walked in the door, Aaron asked me if I felt the earthquake.  He and Sarah were in the house when things started shaking, so they felt the motion, but those of us who were outside never felt a thing.  Just wanted to let everyone know we are okay!