Hot Cross Buns and some blog love

One of my absolute favourite blogs is Tea for Six.

Whenever I feel in need of some inspiration for ideas to cook I head straight over there and guaranteed I'll find something amazing.

Natalie is an accomplished cook, takes pretty amazing photos and has four beautiful children. On top of this she's building a house...and she still manages a smile!

We often try out her recipes in this house and her lemon lentils have become a real favourite dish for all occasions, even gracing the Christmas table last year.

When I saw that she had made Hot Cross Buns I just had to try them. I've been more and more disappointed with the shop bought ones and even though at this time of year there's nothing better with a cuppa I don't really buy them as often any more.

Tea for Six Hot Cross Buns with my morning coffee



They are not something that you can whip up whilst the kettle is boiling,

but I am so glad that I made them - they are the BEST!

(Can you say that about something that you've baked yourself?)

Just the right amount of mixed spice and cinnamon to flavour without being overpowering,

not too sweet,

light and fluffy inside,

...just delicious.

I'm not going to give the recipe here - you'll have to link over to Natalie's blog to get it

 Tea for Six - Hot Cross Buns recipe.

You'll be there a while so I'll just leave you with another shot (please don't compare mine to Natalie's!).

I'll be making some with Chocolate chips next...wonder how long they'll last?

Right, it's morning tea time here and it's school holidays so Sibs and I can hear the call of a hot cross bun!

Calon Lan - Only Boys Aloud

Every now and again something will happen that makes me proud of where I came from.

A couple of weeks ago I was proud to be Welsh when the national rugby team won the Grand Slam.

Apart from rugby, one of the other things associated with Wales is of course singing. (Quite often these two things go together and if you've ever been to a Welsh rugby match you'll know what I'm talking about).

There is a Welsh song called Calon Lan that is familiar to all Welsh speakers

- it's often heard at rugby games, I remember singing it as a child, I even chose it for my wedding.

 Roughly translated it means 'Pure Heart'.



A happy heart...a pure heart.



I'm 10,000 miles from Wales but there is a bit of Welsh slate hanging by my front door with those words. 

It was a generous gift from some very dear friends from home and greets me every single day

- diolch ffrindie. 

Anyhow, back to the singing...

Last week I picked up on a YouTube clip of a boys choir singing this song on the show 'Britain's Got Talent'. It stopped me in my tracks and I'm not ashamed to admit that I welled up listening to it...

The choir is called  Only Boys Aloud and the musical director Tim Rhys Evans is the very talented man behind the vocal group Only Men Aloud of which we are very big fans in this house.

Have a listen to this...

Pretty inspirational stuff...

I wish them all the luck in the world in the competition

and thank them for showing their incredible talent to the masses.

Pob lwc bois!