It’s 2016 and I’ve got my fancy pants on. This is the year to whip out the white china, grab those long stemmed wine glasses, put on your favorite pair of dancing shoes and invite your fancy-schmancy friends over.
Okay so maybe I’m a little excited about the new year. There are so many things to look forward to and they will all soon be worth celebrating. Food can be the perfect way to bring close friends marking small accomplishments together or a way to get your whole family together to celebrate another milestone. Choosing the right foods to match those fancy wine glasses of yours can feel overwhelming — but don’t fret, I have the perfect solution.
Yorkshire puddings. Okay, it’s not a Triscuit but it can definitely be considered an over-the-top, sort of posh but still classy hold-my-cheese kind of cracker. These are perfect and a fun way to show off your party skills when having guests over, whether it’s just for a nosh or you’ve out done yourself, these can be perfect for pairing with many, many delicious components.
I wont judge you for having a small collection of cutting boards or serving trays, these can come in handy for when it’s fancy snack time. Laying out sliced fruit, cheeses and spreads alongside a small mountain of individual sized Yorkshire puddings on an oversized cutting board will surely impress your family and friends.
Now if you are a fan of the classic Yorkshire pudding I hope I do not disappoint for these are not quite as old fashioned as its ancestor. This recipe does not call for day-long beef drippings and is not flat, but as puffy as they come. They are simple, yet fancy and pleasing to the eye. Guests will enjoy noshing on these goodies you’ve so effortlessly supplied.
I prefer to pair my individual-sized Yorkie puddings with smoked salmon and a simple horseradish cream. You can top them with everything from cheese and jam to beef and gravy or if you’ve got your extra special jazzy pants on you can douse your Yorkies in homemade chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Your friends and family will seriously be impressed with your fancy-schmancy skills.
Now get out there and get fancy in 2016!
Yorkshire puddings
Yields: 12 individual
Ingredients
2 large eggs
100 grams (about 3/4 cup) all-purpose flour
100 ml (about 3.5 ounces) milk
Salt
Fresh ground pepper
vegetable oil, canola oil or lard
12-hole muffin tin
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put approximately 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in each of the 12 holes of a muffin tin. Place the muffin tin in the oven, heat for 6-7 minutes.
• While the oil is preheating, in a large bowl whisk together the eggs and milk. Add a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of fresh ground black pepper; sift in the flour and whisk all the ingredients together until well combined. Remove the batter from the large bowl and place into a spouted measuring cup, this will allow easy pouring into the hot oil.
• After the oil is heated remove from oven. Divide the batter evenly amongst the 12 muffin holes and place immediately into the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until puffy and golden brown.
Kayleigh Van Vliet Baig was born and raised in Riverhead, where she lives with her husband Tahir.
Kayleigh has been in the culinary industry for the last 12 years, working in kitchens on the East End. She also is a personal chef.
Look for In the Kitchen with Kayleigh every Saturday on SoutholdLOCAL.com.
Got questions? Recipes? Ideas? [contact-form-7 id=”27493″ title=”Write to Kayleigh”]
