A Traditional British November Recipe for You!

[Queenie]

Here's a recipe for Parkin, a type of cake that is traditionally eaten at this time of year in the UK, particularly in the North where I live. It was Bonfire Night here yesterday so I thought I'd share it with you if anyone's interested in trying it out! It's very heavy and fattening, as with most northern UK recipes! When baked it should feel sticky to the touch at the top. Best served on a cold night whilst watching the fireworks along with toffee apples, flapjacks and treacle toffee!

Happy bonfire night from the UK!

Parkin Recipe

8 oz S.R. flour
8 oz oatmeal (I recommend crushing these)
2 teaspoonsful ginger
4 oz margarine
4 tablespoonsful sugar
8 oz treacle
1/2 pint milk.

Method:
Rub margarine into flour and oatmeal.
Add sugar and ginger, mix thoroughly.
Warm treacle and mix to paste, adding milk if necessary.
Put into a cake tin (I use one about 7 inches across for this amount of mixture)
Bake for about 1 hour in a moderately slow oven (I set mine to about 150 degrees Celcius)

 

[goofymom/pop]

sounds like a lovely dish....but whats treacle?

 

[JudithM]

Sounds interesting! Thank you for sharing the recipe. What is Bonfire Night? I know what a bonfire is, but I am imagining this is a special event.

As for treacle, I found this when I did a google search: http://www.sugarindia.com/treacle.htm .

 

[Queenie]

Ahh so that's what molasses is/are! I'd always wondered!

Bonfire Night is a night where Brits traditionally have a bonfire and set off fireworks to celebrate the capture of a man called Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up our main government building a very long time ago. Traditionally a scarecrow type figure is made by the local children (he is referred to as "The Guy") and he is burnt on top of the bonfire, not very nice really!! Many of these traditions have died off, mainly because people are stupid and end up getting injured by the fireworks or have bonfires get out of control. Nowadays most people go to professionally organised firework displays, which are often free, where they also build an enormous bonfire.

Here's a link to the full story of why we have bonfire night.

http://www.bonefire.org/guy/

 

[ljane1]

Hi Queenie,
Reading your post makes me miss England soooooo much, I'm going to try this recipe and if it works (ha, ha - there's a possibility it won't with me baking it), I'll make it for my parents, they would love it, I recall them talking about it when I was younger and I know for a fact my Dad LOVES treacle especially on toast (too sweet for me) they've always got a couple jars in the cupboard.
Thanks for the recipe

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Sounds yummy and just the thing to make for Saturday! My Girl Scouts will be trudging the streets collecting returnable cans as part of their fundraising for our trip to the UK in 2007 - we'll take a break for supper and this would be a fitting dessert.

Thanks for sharing! I have one question...anyone know about how hot an oven in farenheit? My oven doesn't do celsisus!

Deb

 

[bethbuchall]

Sounds yummy and just the thing to make for Saturday! My Girl Scouts will be trudging the streets collecting returnable cans as part of their fundraising for our trip to the UK in 2007 - we'll take a break for supper and this would be a fitting dessert.

Thanks for sharing! I have one question...anyone know about how hot an oven in farenheit? My oven doesn't do celsisus!

Deb

If I remember the formula correctly, F=32+1.8C, it would work out to 302 degrees. So I think a 300 F oven should be good.

Beth

 

[holycow]

Thanks for sharing the recipe and the history behind your bonfire night. I've dreamed of visiting England for the longest time and since we just had another little one chances are in my lifetime it will not happen! So I love living vicariously through others.


lisa
Holycow