Spotted Dog Food

SPOTTED DICK

Steps:

• Set a round wire rack in bottom of a large stockpot. Set a 5-cup pudding basin or ovenproof bowl (or two 3-cup basins) on rack. Fill pot with enough water to come about three-quarters of the way up sides of basin. Remove basin; dry, and butter inside. Set aside. Cover pot, and bring to a boil.
• Butter a 10-inch round of parchment paper; set aside. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in butter until pieces are no larger than small peas. Stir in sugar, lemon zest, and currants. Stir in lemon juice, then eggs and milk; stir until combined.
• Transfer batter to prepared basin. Place parchment round, buttered side down, over basin. Make a pleat in center of parchment. Cover with an 11-inch round of foil. Make a pleat in center of foil to allow room for pudding to expand. Cut a piece of kitchen twine about 7 feet long. Wrap twine twice around basin over foil, just below lip. Knot to secure. Tie loose ends to twine on other side of basin, creating a handle.
• Carefully lower pudding into boiling water, and cover pot. Return to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and steam until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pudding registers 180 degrees, about 2 hours, adding boiling water occasionally to maintain level.
• Transfer pudding to a wire rack. Let cool 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of bowl to loosen; invert pudding onto a serving plate. Serve warm, with creme anglaise if desired.

SPOTTED DOG

Steps:

• Heat the brandy until it is just warm to the touch. Place the currants in a bowl and pour in the warmed brandy. Set aside for at least 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter four 1-cup pudding molds, custard cups or ramekins. Fill a baking dish (large enough to hold the molds) half-full with water. Place in oven.
• Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the sifted flour and baking powder and beat, Add the currants and brandy and stir.
• Pour the batter into the molds, filling them three-fourths full. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and place in the baking dish. Cook for 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle of a pudding comes out clean and they are puffed and golden,.
• Place the extra syrup in a small saucepan and cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes, until warm.
• Serve the Spotted Dog warm wirh cream and the warmed syrup.

SPOTTED DOG

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• In a large bowl, sift flour, baking soda, salt and sugar. Add raisins and toss well. Form a well.
• Break an egg in a 2-cup glass measuring cup and beat lightly. Add buttermilk to bring the volume up to 1 1/2 cups. Pour into the well in the flour. Using one hand, with the fingers open and stiff, mix the flour into the liquid. The dough should be soft, but not very sticky. DO NOT overwork the dough!
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Wash and thoroughly dry your hands; with floured hands, knead bread two or three times to clean up any shaggy edges. Pat into a round about 2" thick. Transfer to a floured baking sheet. Cut a deep cross in the top of the round, allowing the ends of the cuts to drop into the sides of the loaf. Prick the triangles thus formed several times with the tip of the knife.
• Place loaf in oven and reduce heat to 400°F Bake 35-40 minutes, until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when thumped. Serve in thick slices with butter and jam, or with cheddar cheese.

SPOTTED DOG

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Stir in the currants, breaking them apart (the flour will coat them and keep them from clumping together). Mix in the suet.
• Add the milk and eggs, and work the mixture thoroughly with your hands.
• Scrape the batter into a greased six-cup pudding-basin. Tie a well-floured cloth over the pudding. Put the pudding in a pot of boiling water, cover, and steam for two hours. Unmold and serve hot, accompanied by custard sauce.