The best part of Easter, aside from the 4 day long weekend is of course Hot Cross Buns. Chocolate is fantastic of course but it is available all year round, but the appearance of the Hot Cross Bun (that seem to appear earlier and earlier every year much like Christmas decorations in October), signify an impending 4 day long weekend!

I know people are divided with Hot Cross buns, some like no peel, some like a lot of fruit, some like a little spice, some a lot. And then there are those that don’t like fruit at all and go for the Choc Chip Buns. I wanted to do something slightly different this year though so I went to my cupboard and what jumped out at me were the wonderful Cinnamon chips that Barbara sent me. I decided to make Cinnamon Chip Chocolate Hot Cross Buns.

I always feel like the cross should be sweet, like icing I suppose and am always a little disappointed when eating the cross. I decided to make the crosses out of white chocolate and I hope that doesn’t violate some traditional Easter tradition but hey as the saying goes Jesus Loves You no matter what you do, right? I think that includes fiddling around with a Hot Cross Bun recipe which is a lesser sin than others. The smell of these baking is truly incredible and as for the taste, imagine a Norwegian cinnamon bun crossed with a Hot Cross Bun. Try to resist them, if you can. I wasn’t able to and ate my record in no time.

On another non-Easter note, big thanks go to the lovely Darcie from Zing PR and the very nice people from Lap-rap who gave me my very own Lap-rap which I heart very, very much. See their website for other cool designs or design your own as I did.

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I have sworn off New Year’s Eve parties. There’s always too much pressure and I’ve found that it always falls short of expectation. I’ve had memorable ones though, including one time many, many years ago Queen Viv, Miss America and some friends accidentally ate at the wrong restaurant from where we booked at, accidentally forgot to pay the bill and we lost Queen Viv (she was busy being sick from too much champagne a few streets away). And please believe me when I say that we have never skipped on a bill, eaten at the wrong restaurant or lost Queen Viv prior or since this incident.

Bleigießen figurines

This year we had intended to book into a restaurant and take advantage of Sydney’s spectacular harbour views and let someone else cook. But then my friend M told me about Austrian NYE traditions and I was instantly intrigued. In Austria they use tin ornaments called Bleigießen as Oracles.

You choose a tin shape (there’s a variety although they all weigh the same) and melt it on a spoon, and then cool it in a cup of water and you can tell your New Year’s fortune through the shapes. Call it a Teutonic version of tea leaf reading! M’s sister sent her 2 sets and M bought 2 sets on ebay. Sod the restaurant, we were having a party! Oops sorry, curse that word, we were just having a small get together.

Melting my little toadstool

Once melted it was poured into cold water sounded with a loud crack

We patiently burnt the red hot lead shapes and quickly poured the liquid into a glass of cold water and “read” our fortune using the key provided. My fortune, what sort of looked like a dragon signaled not to lose my temper (haha!); my husband’s was “Don’t get too full of yourself”; Queen Viv’s was a Demon who warned against seducers; M’s said that she was a good person; S’s said that he will be spoilt (haha too late!) and In’s said he needs to be patient for good fortune.

My husband’s bird shape fortune

I thought I’d combine this with a Japanese NYE celebration (Ohmisoka). Even though I’m not Japanese I adore Japan and I have lots of fond memories of NYE Hatsumōde celebrations in Tokyo walking through Meiji shrine after midnight in the brisk cold with several thousand Japanese, with clouds of cold breath and the rhythmic crunching sound of thousands of feet against the tiny pebbles that lay on the walk. Bells ring 108 times to help ring away the evils of the previous year. Everyone was jolly, after all for Japanese it is a time to forget the old grievances and start anew. The idea behind Hatsumōde is the idea of experiencing things for the firsts of that year and this would be the first sunrise.

Cold Soba, dipping sauce and wasabi

I recall reading in my trusty copy of Japan Times how noodles, longtime considered a good luck item in Asian cuisine, are eaten in Japan particularly the Toshikoshi soba noodle variety (Toshikoshi literally meaning “being close”). My Zarusoba (cold soba noodles with dipping sauce) was an attempt to combine the tradition of eating  Soba noodles with a weather friendly option. During Japan’s swelteringly humid Summer, cold Soba is the dish many turn to to cool them down. I know because I’d often eat this to help sustain me and it worked a treat.

Mochi sweet desserts

Ozoni soup, an item I had at Iron Chef Michiba’s fantastic Ginza restaurant is also served which is a clear broth with meat, vegetables and chewy mochi rice flour balls. Mochi pounding is said to be a holiday activity. Sadly the amount of the ultra chewy mochi eating over the break means that many elderly Japanese choke on it and in 2003 there were 6 people who died. The holiday mochi death toll is usually published in newspapers on January 2nd.

Tokyo Mart, Northbridge

Another New Year’s ritual is Susuharai, or soot-sweeping – that is cleaning of the house. This was a bit harder to convince Mr NQN that it was actually part of a tradition rather than a ruse to get him to clean up. For our supplies we visited Tokyo Mart in Northbridge and whilst they didn’t have any Toshikoshi soba or Kadomatsu (floral decorations for outside the house), we stocked up on ingredients for the Ozoni soup.

A NYE party, ahem… I mean gathering, always calls for a cocktail. A Pomegranate cocktail was on the order as with each year there’s a New Year’s Resolution to pay attention to health. The lovely people at POM Wonderful sent me some bottles, glasses and a cocktail shaker and I was more than happy to try these. Apart from the many health benefits (cardiovascular, antioxidant, erectile and prostate), I’d even spotted these in Rita’s refrigerator on Dexter (Season 3 Ep 1) and if it’s good enough for my favourite serial killer’s girlfriend, it’s good enough for me And as always Dexter was right, it’s a sweet but tart and almost syrupy juice, like cranberry’s healthier cousin (and better looking cousin-yes I’m a sucker for packaging).

As for the fireworks, we get a lovely view of all 4 sets of Sydney fireworks from our place. Happy 2009 everyone! I hope it’s a year filled with much love, luck, happiness and food

Lots of love,

Lorraine/NQN

xxx

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