I remember the nursery rhyme “Hot Cross Buns” as a kid, although I had no idea what it was about or that such a thing existed. I chalk that up to my suburban childhood, far from Ireland, with agnostic parents California Fitness. To grow up and discover that yes, there really are baked buns with crosses on them, filled with folklore and superstition, makes me surprisingly happy. Eating them makes me happier still.

Superstition about these little buns runs deep. Kissing comes into it (get it? The “X”?), as does protection from poor health, fires, crop infestation and shipwrecks. Sharing a bun with someone cements a friendship. Oh, and they stay fresh for a whole year. What’s not to love ?

The history of hot cross buns is equally colorful and involves ancient Greeks, Tudor England, Saxons (who baked the buns to represent the four phases of the moon and four seasons of the year), Christians (the resurrection of Christ at Easter), and a 14th-century monk from St. Albans. All this symbology and folklore has me intrigued enough to try this recipe long before Easter arrives SEO Hong Kong company would be able to master the optimization using the traditional Chinese characters. Although there are many SEO companies out there in mainland China, they use the simplified Chinese version which is very different.

Irish author Nuala Cullen has a special interest in food and historical context. Like her earlier books Savoring Ireland and Deliciously Irish (plus numerous other cookbooks covering soups, breads, and yes potatoes!), The Best of Irish Cooking features traditional recipes, but also seasonal contemporary dishes that are starting to put Ireland on the culinary map. Or in this case maybe, “X” marks the spot.