Hot Cross Bun French Toast

I am a hot cross bun snob : supermarket buns are too sweet for me and any sort of hybrid is a hard no! Fair play if creme egg or marmite varieties float your boat. This recipe from The Orange Bakery is pretty straight forward and produces gorgeous, zesty spiced buns but you will need to get organised and prove the dough overnight.

For less effort, why not try making some hot cross bun french toast. Slightly stale shop-bought hot cross buns are perfect and their sweetness is well balanced with the dark chocolate sauce. This recipe is so easy and produces gorgeous pillows of custardy buns, perfect for breakfast on Easter morning,.

Ingredients

x6 hot cross buns

2 medium eggs

50 ml whole milk or cream

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla extract

100g dark chocolate

2 tbsp butter

Method

Whisk the eggs and spices together in a shallow dish.

Halve the hot cross buns and soak them in the eggy mixture.

Heat a frying pan with a tablespoon of butter and oil, fry the buns on a medium heat until golden brown.

Set up a bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt the chocolate.

Stir butter into the cooled melted chocolate.

Dip your french toast buns into the sauce and enjoy.

Happy Easter xxx

Linen Tablecloth in Wimbledon

Laying the table nicely

I can’t bring myself to use the ‘instagramable word’ for laying the table. It just seems a step too far for something that we do every day and many of us with great haste! However it does feel nice to put a bit of effort into laying the table especially on these very long evenings. At Poppy and Honesty, we have lots of different tablelinen however I have chosen to look at a few fabrics as they I think are perfect for your Autumn and Winter meals.

Ruffle Tablecloth in Florence.

Florence Linen and Rose Gingham

These two fabrics work so well together as they both feature warm terracotta and natural tones. Layer up either tablecloth with napkins and candles and create a cosy atmosphere to share a meal together. We make a ruffle tablecloth in Florence which is gorgeously decadent with it’s dropped frill. Napkins edged with crochetted lace add pretty detail and are available in both the Rose Gingham and Florence Linen.

Lace Napkins in Florence and Rose Gingham

Granny Smith and Rose Gingham

Our punchy green Granny Smith Linen will add some fun to your dining room table. As the green check is set against a natural background it works well with the smaller check Rose Gingham. Combine tablecloths and napkins in these two fabrics, add some candles and maybe some tiny bud vases (so people can see each other). Little sprigs of green from the garden or dried flowers are perfect. We don’t usually bother to use napkin rings as our linens can easily be tied in a little loose knot.

Large Linen Tablecloth in Granny Smith. Linen Napkins in Rose Gingham and Granny Smith.

I am not going to tell you how to lay the table but you don’t need a calligrapher or florist to make it look special. As much as I love long tapered dining candles, I don’t find them particularly practical when seating a mob and prefer tea lights or battery operated fairy lights. It’s important to make space for the main event, the food or more importantly ‘the pudding’!

Stay cosy

Sophie x

10% off all of the table linens featured above until 16th November.

Just to remind you that we are always happy to send out free swatches and make custom sizes in our table linens.