England: Pikelets

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     Title: Pikelets (bakestone Recipes)
Categories: Breads, Breakfast
  Servings:  8
 

      8 oz Plain or unbleached flour
      1 t  Salt
    1/2 oz Fresh yeast*
      1 t  Sugar
      5 fl Warm water
      1 t  Butter
      5 fl Warm milk
      1    Egg, beaten

 
  *Or 1 1/2 t dried yeast.  -- These are similar to crumpets -- they are
  made with a yeast batter, but cooked without rings.  -- Sift the flour and
  salt into a warm bowl.  Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in the warm
  water.  Melt the butter in the warm milk and beat in the egg.  Stir the
  yeast liquid and then the milk mixture into the flour.  Mix into a smooth
  batter and beat well. Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2
  hours, until the batter is thick and bubbling.  Warm the bakestone and
  grease with a piece of lard on a fork (use a piece of fat back if you're
  short of lard).  When a drop of water sputters on the bakestone, it's hot
  enough.  Stir the batter, then use a ladle or a jug to pour it onto the
  bakestone in round "puddles|, leaving space in between so that the
  pikelets will be easy to turn.  The yeast batter will not spread as much
  as pancake batter.  Cook over a moderate heat until bubbles break the top
  surface and the underneath is pale gold.  Flip over the pikelets and cook
  the other side until honey-colored.  Keep each batch warm in a folded
  cloth in a low oven.  Serve with butter, honey or preserves, or for a
  savory dish, with cream cheese or grilled bacon, or little sausages.  To
  reheat, crisp under the grill.

 
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About the bakestone: The bakestone is a utensil commonly used in the home baking of many traditional European cuisines, especially English and Irish traditional baking.

It's not usually made of stone (though some that are do exist). Normally it's a flat, rimless circle of cast iron, with a hoop (often moveable) that allows it to be hung over a fire. On the bakestone, various kinds of cakes, pancakes and "small baking" can be produced. The steady, even conduction of heat through the heavy cast iron produces a very high quality of baking.

Bakestones work as well on a gas or electric stove as they do over a campfire or a cooking hearth. If you're interested in getting a bakestone, you can obtain one from:

Highland Marketing Ltd.
Unit 20
Atlantic Trading Estate
Barry
South Glamorgan
Wales CF6 6RF
UK
phone: (+44)446-744956

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