|
|
 |
 |
Seasonal Fare from The Chough |
|
Although Easter is now a Christian Festival there is much evidence to suggest that originally it was a pagan festival to celebrate the coming of spring. Easter falls on the first Sunday on or following the spring equinox after the full moon. The date has been calculated this way since 325 A.D.
There are many traditions linked to Easter, the cross, lambs, rabbits, Easter bonnets, eggs, from decorated boiled eggs, more recently chocolate eggs, even to elaborate jeweled eggs that are given as gifts.
Within the bakery industry we also have our traditional bakery to celebrate this time of the year. All have a history as to their origins.
Firstly the hot cross bun that, in years past every Good Friday morning the baker did brisk business regardless of history or Christian aspect, but looking at his profits and tradition. Historically the Baker only made hot cross buns on Good Friday.
Hot cross buns are one of my favorites, full of fruit and spice; fresh from the oven of a local bakers shop you cannot beat them. Unfortunately we now see mass produced buns as early as January in the supermarkets somehow losing that special feeling for me.
The cross on the bun now is to pay our respect and reflect of the day Jesus was crucified. There is evidence that the cross was used on buns prior to this “to ward off the devil”. In fact, some food historians claim the origin of a bun or cake marked with a cross can be traced back to Saxon times, when an “ox horn symbol” was carved into ritual bread for the pagan festival of Eostre (also know as Ostara ) She was the goddess who symbolized both the re-birth of the day at dawn and the rebirth of life in Spring.
Then we have the Simnel cake again rich in fruit and spices with the distinctive layer of almond paste both as a layer between the cake and a coating on the top. That and the 11 balls to represent the disciples (excluding Judas Escariott) My theory is that after the period of lent when people gave up eating various foods the Simnel cake with its intense sweetness was prepared for the Easter feast.
There are also some theories that the Simnel cake was linked to “Mother in Sunday” and the word Simnel was derived from the Latin word “simila” meaning fine wheaten flour. It is said that as “Mothering Sunday” was one of, or the only day maids in service had off. They would bake a cake to take to their mothers. These cakes were decorated with primroses and violets gathered from the hedgerows. This cake was not eaten until Easter proving how good a cook the daughter was. The fourth Sunday in Lent is still known as Simnel Sunday in some areas.
Often these cakes are not as we know them these days but more like a biscuit, which gives, rise to another Easter goodie “The Easter biscuit.” There were many local specialties made to different recipes and shapes, made in large quantities in places like Shrewsbury, Devises and Bury. The Shrewsbury biscuit was the one that became widespread.
Well that is the theory and a little history as to why we bake these special goods at Easter time. I hope you find a local baker or just have a go at home to make your own Easter goodies to keep this tradition alive and well. If any of you want a recipe or help just pop in the shop & have a word with Ryan.
Here is a little story for you. After I won a competition for our Cornish Pasty we were invited to go to New York to represent bakers at the New York fancy Food Farye. It was a huge event with foods from all over the world represented.
Luisa, my daughter & myself attended a reception at the British consulate when the Consulate General out of the Blue asked if Elaine Ead was there. Only to announce that it had come to his attention that not only did we made really good Pasty but he has it on good authority that we made the best Hot cross buns in the world.
How did he know I wondered? Well one of our customers who has been holidaying in Padstow for years had seen our display and spread the word. What a small world it is.
ELAINE EAD |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Authentic Site
Secured by Thawte |
|
|
We accept the following Credit Cards
    |
|
