Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Yorkshire Pudding

A Very Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has had a fabulous Christmas. Ours was quiet, but lovely, apart from a tornado warning (What the hell? This is December!) at 7am on Saturday morning. Our weather has been all over the place this past couple of weeks. Last week, Sunday – Tuesday, we had night time lows of 0°F and highs in the low 20’s. On Christmas Day we had a high of 62°F, and on Boxing Day 72°F.

(For more info on Boxing Day, check out my other blog: http://grandlakeink.blogspot.com )

Saturday a cold front moves in bringing storms and wild winds, but fortunately, the tornado passed us by. Then the past few days, temps have been back in the mid 60’s. Weird weather! Anyway, here endeth the weather report for NE Oklahoma.

Today’s recipe is Yorkshire Pudding. Don’t be misled by the title, this is not a dessert it's a batter pudding, like a pancake batter, but baked in the oven, and served with roasted meats and gravy. In England, Yorkshire Pudding is traditionally served with roast beef, but it makes a great accompaniment to any roast meat. I made these to have with our turkey on Christmas Day, and they are totally yumptious. Hubby is a Yorkshireman, and even he admits that for a Lancashire lass I make a mean Yorkshire Pud.

Yorkshire puds are also great served cold. I use them to make sandwiches, which hubby calls "pudding pots," with any leftover meat and stuffing. Or they can be served as a sweet with jam, preserves, or lemon curd.

If you’re interested, here is a little history of the dish.

Hannah Glasse is credited with creating the first Yorkshire pudding in 1745, and the original recipe appears in her book The Art of Cookery made Plain and Easy. Back then, meat was cooked on a spit over an open fire and a tray was placed under the meat to catch the drippings. Hannah Glasse hit on the idea of adding a pancake batter to the drippings and Yorkshire pudding was born.

Yorkshire pudding became very popular among the working classes who served it with gravy as an appetizer ― in reality a filler ― because meat was very expensive.

Yorkshire puddings traversed the Atlantic to the USA with the early pioneers and settlers. In this country they became known as Portland Popovers, individual muffin-sized puddings, and so named because the batter swells over the sides of the pan during cooking. The original Yorkshire pudding, however, was cooked in a large, shallow-sided baking dish and then cut into slices for serving.

Today, in England, you are more likely to find individual, muffin-sized Yorkshire puddings ― more akin to their American counterpart, popovers ― than their larger ancestor.

Yorkshire Puddings




Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour.
1 pint milk.
2 eggs.
12 teaspoons vegetable oil.

Note: Most Yorkshire pudding recipes require half these ingredients, but I like my Yorkshire puddings to really "popover" during cooking.

Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Put flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Crack the eggs into the well and pour in half the milk. Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
  • Pour in remaining milk and beat with a fork, or whisk, until bubbles form on the surface. Place batter in refrigerator for 20 minutes.
  • In a 12 case non-stick muffin pan add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to each case, and place in the oven until the oil is smoking hot.
  • Meanwhile, remove batter from refrigerator and whisk again until bubbles form.
  • When oil is hot, quickly add batter to muffin cases, and return pan to the oven.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Do not open oven door during cooking as this will cause the puddings to go flat.

16 comments:

Paula said...

Yumptious! Love that term and love this recipe! I'm neither a Yorkshire or Lancashire lass, but I'd surely love to have one of these! How cool that the leftover puddings can be served with meat as well as sweets! Loved the history lesson, too!

You certainly are having some crazy weather! I like the snow, but I don't think I'd want the tornado warning (had enough of those growing up!). Hope you are staying warm and dry. How's the writing coming along?

Best wishes to you for a very Happy New Year!

Marjie said...

Paula sent me to see your history of Yorkshire pudding. I made one to go with my rib roast on Christmas (my first ever), and was told I have permission to make it again. Maybe next time I'll try muffin tins.

Hope you have no more tornado warnings this season! We got 3" of snow in an "Alberta Clipper" this morning, with more predicted for tomorrow. Plus, the temperature has dropped from 29F at 4AM to 15F at 4PM. I think the weather's crazy all over.

Happy New Year!

BanginFood said...

I've always wanted to try these! Yours look good! Thanks for posting this.

Pam said...

I wish I could come to your house for dinner...the Yorkshire pudding looks fantastic. I've never made it but this recipe easy to make so I will be trying it soon.

Happy New Years Jan!

Jason said...

Jan-What an interesting recipe, I've heard of Yorkshire Pudding before, but never knew what it was. I can't wait to try this out, it looks so simple to make!
Oh, and Happy New Years!

Lakeland Jo said...

Yorkshire pudding done well is to die for. There are lots of horrible frozen ones that are churned out in UK restaurants and pubs- visitors beware or you will be disappointed.
Done well they are heaven's food.
I have to say- the ones in the picture are the nicest I have ever seen. Can I visit soon please??
Very soon

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never had Yorkshire Pudding, but it looks delicious. Happy New Year!

test it comm said...

Happy new year!

Jennifer said...

Those look super delish, I make Prime Rib several times a year and have always wanted to maket these babies to go with!

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Happy new year. Glad to see you're still keeping up with the British tradition of weather talking!!

Pam said...

Oh dear me dear me! Those look scrumptious!!! The husband has done some but they don't look this puffy! Will make sure he sees this recipe.

I have enjoyed getting to know you via your blog this past year and am looking forward to more good blogging in 2009! Cheers to you.

The Blonde Duck said...

Just wanted to say hi!

Sara said...

Happy new year, these look perfect!

David Hall said...

Happy New Year Jan!

Oh, Yorkshire pudding. i could eat it every day, a true British classic.

Hope 2009 is a great one for you.

All the best
David x

nicole said...

My husband would have loved to have one of those. He lived in England for a while and I hear about Yorkshire puddings and fish and chips. I tried to make them once and the whole meal turned out horrible. Maybe someday I will try again.

Silverback said...

I know I'm a bit late with a comment but I've only just found your blog and have a lot of catching up to do. Living in Leeds for half the year I just had to read this post.

Sadly you've managed to make me a little homesick, just a little, and although I thought I knew all about the history of the YP's, I didn't know about the US popover bit.

Excellent blog, Jan, and I'm off to read more.........