Temptation

I must be a traditionalist — while I love hot cross buns I really do not expect to eat them before Easter, or at least not for another ten days or so and the run up to Easter.
 
But now they seem to be in the shops virtually year round, and in some supermarkets I am convinced they were on the shelves as soon as the Christmas mince pies had been cleared.
 
I must admit the spicy sweet bun with currants or raisins and distinctive because of the cross on the top are appealing at any time. Some like them toasted; my preference is to savour them as they come, sliced in two and pasted with spread or butter.
 
Traditionally I was brought up to expect them on Good Friday or on Easter Sunday or Monday. More recently I have been happy to accept that has come to include the period of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday and leading up to Easter.
 
Mind you, I recall many years ago while at school, it was a regular routine to have a currant bun with morning milk, then available for anyone who wanted it, although I recall that the bun cost a few pence — or at that time pennies!
 
But that was altogether different from a hot cross bun which because of its Easter connection traditionally has slightly religious connotations. It’s like having roast turkey at any other time of year than Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving.
 

In the meantime, having bought the buns for the purpose of today’s Blip I must now break my traditionalist rule and make the most of them!