Bonus Recipe: American Popovers

Ogden Nash On Popovers

Let’s call Yorkshire pudding A fortunate blunder: It’s a sort of popover That turned and popped under

This funny American riff on the British Yorkshire Pudding, which were also called Laplanders, first appeared in a domestic cookbook published in 1856. I have baked quite a few varieties, including some lamentable hockey pucks. My favorite version comes from a stained green  brochure I have had for over 40 years, along with two wire-rimmed aluminized steel popover pans that we sold before the bakeware company, Chicago Metallic, pursued the deadly Teflon route. They have now switched to a safer silicone lined version.  My daughters are looking to inherit one each. There are some pretty good homey recipes on the tattered pages, but the one I am most afraid to lose is the popover recipe.  This particular technique, which includes the preheated pan with a bit of melted butter in each indentation, will give you a nice but not too thick crust and a yummy custardy interior, just like that proper pillow that is the stuff of our dreams . I grease the interior of each cup as well as the lip, as the batter balloons over while baking. The volume of each cup is a bit over 1/2 cup (120ml), and I put just over 1/3 cup(80ml) in each one. Straining the batter through a fine sieve makes for a poofier finish. Have your towel- or napkin-lined basket or tray ready, the butter and jam on the table and your hot drink brewed, as these lovely morsels wait for no man, woman or child.  

Recipe

Poofy Popovers

My favorite popover recipe, crisp crust but yummy middle just right for butter and jam.

Print Recipe

Prep 15 min

Cook 30 min

Yield 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup (120gr) white all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3 large or extra large eggs
• 1 cup (237ml)whole milk
• 1 tablespoon (14gr) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons (28gr) unsalted butter cut into 6 pieces,

Instructions

1. Grease metal (not ceramic) cups or muffin pan – each should hold about 4 ounces (113gr)nPreheat oven to 425F and set a single rack in the middle – these can rise high enough to hit the bottom of a second rack.nPreheat the pan while blending the flour, milk, eggs, salt and melted butter – can be done in a mixer, blender or food processor.nPull out the pan and add the butter pieces to each cup. – then return it to the oven until the butter has melted and is just bubbly.nStrain the batter before pouring some into each cup – they all should be at least half full.nPut pan in the oven, and time for a 20 minute bake.nAfter 20 minutes, reduce heat to 325F and bake for an additional 10 to15 minutes – you can check after about 8 minutes if you feel thay are browning too quickly.nRemove from oven, and put into a cloth lined basket, tray or bowl.nYou might have to take a paring knife to loosen them around the edges.

Details

Adapted from: Chicago Metallic Brochure

By the way, as a child, I loved reading, memorizing, reciting the short poems and  limericks of’ Ogden Nash. So  you might want to give a book of them to your children or grandchildren for a different sort of fun when you want your cell phone back. In the meantime, they might also enjoy the results of this easy-peasy popover recipe.