Ireland: Potato Cakes

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     Title: Potato Cakes (Bakestone Recipes)
Categories: Breads, Breakfast, Vegetables
  Servings:  8
 

      1 lb Cooked floury potatoes
      1 t  Salt
      2 oz Butter, softened
      4 T  Self-raising flour
      1    Butter for filling

 
  Potato cakes are eaten with bacon and sausages.  It's easier to make them
  with hot, freshly cooked potatoes.  If using cold potatoes, melt the
  butter before adding it.  Choose a floury type of potato, and boil in
  well-salted water. -- Drain the cooked potatoes well, then return to low
  heat in the same pan:  put a dishcloth over the pan and allow the potatoes
  to dry for 5-10 minutes.  (This is called "drying in their steam" in
  Ireland.)  They should be dry and floury at the end of the process.  Sieve
  or rice into a mixing bowl with the salt.  Beat in the butter.  Work in
  sufficient flour to make a soft dough which is easy to handle.  Turn onto
  a floured board and roll or pat out to 3/4 inch thick.  Cut into rounds
  with a 3-inch scone cutter.  Place on the hot greased bakestone and cook
  over a moderate heat until golden brown underneath.  Turn and cook the
  other side.  Remove from the bakestone, split, butter generously, and
  close again.  Keep warm while cooking the next batch.  Serve hot.   (Re
  "self-raising flour":  in Ireland and the UK, this is flour which comes
  with baking powder/baking soda already included.  For this recipe, about
  1/4-1/2 t of baking powder mixed with a plain all-purpose flour will
  substitute nicely.)
 

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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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