While we’re on a food theme, this requires archiving and sharing because it works. A few years ago my sister Louise (based nr Pittsburgh, PA) sent this out, and I tried it, and it’s astonishingly effective at creating the kind of sticky syrup pudding that is needed as a substrate for custard. Ex-pat Brits should give it a go.

This is not to be believed.

Background:

On recent PEI trip, Mandy brought me a tin of lovely Lyle’s Golden Syrup (do not attempt this with Karo. Not the same at all. You can usually get LGS at Giant Eagle in the weird food section).

Attached to said tin was a small recipe sampler, including this:

Syrup Sponge

• 50g butter
• 40g self raising flour (not having any, I used all purpose and a tsp of BAKING POWDER)
• 30g (about a slice and a half of US skukbread blitzed in the food processor) fine white breadcrumbs
• 50g Tate and Lyle caster sugar (I used ordinary Domino sugar from GE)
• 1 large egg
• 3 Tablespoons Lyle’s Golden Syrup
• Microwaveable basin (the one I used was just the right size, and seems to hold slightly less than one US Quart, which is 32 fl oz.)

Put the BUTTER in the bowl and zap it in the microwave 30 seconds or so, until it just melts.

Add SUGAR, FLOUR (and BP if you don’t have self-raising), BREADCRUMBS (the recipe actually leaves out this important part, but I figured it out), the EGG and ONE TABLESPOON of the SYRUP.

Stir all around until it is smooth.

At this point, I would make a little well in the middle of it, because I think it would make the next part easier.

Spoon the other TWO TABLESPOONS of SYRUP into the middle (the well).

Shake the bowl gently from side to side so that the syrup disappears to the bottom of the bowl (this is why the well would make it easier, I think. My teeth were rattling before the syrup disappeared.)

Microwave for TWO MINUTES.

Leave to stand for ONE MINUTE.

You will end up with a sponge that has the texture of an old-time steamed pudding, with lovely golden syrup somewhere (middle, bottom, depending on how well you accomplished the shaking bit.

Now, I must work on the adaptation that will work for Spotted Dick!