For our South Riding virtual afternoon tea, I could have taken a leaf out of Snaith's book and served "a covered hot-plate of buttered anchovy toast, an angel cake like a sugared snowdrift", or I could have tried to emulate Mrs. Beddows whose tea at Willow Lodge is quite something:
"The plates were piled high with bread and butter, currant loaf and queen cakes; the cheesecakes and lemon tarts lay on frilled netted d'oylies; the spice-bread was rich as buttered cold plum pudding..."
We may lack the frilled netted d'oylies but I have adopted the cheesecake idea and I've made a Yorkshire Curd Tart - you'll find the recipe here. I baked the pastry blind, but otherwise made it as instructed, and the result is very appetising with the nutmeg and lemon coming through well. That quantity made a 9" tart and two small ones from the leftover pastry and filling, by the way.
I'm pleased to see that the book itself is generating a lot of interesting comment, and I'm keen to find out how the current television series measures up. Are you watching it?
Couldn't find curd cheese as such so, with some trepidation at being condemned as daft southerners we substituted ricotta (cue outrage from Darlington to Doncaster). It was delicious!
Can I have another piece please?
Posted by: Mr Cornflower | 26 February 2011 at 02:23 PM
With reference to Mr. C.'s comment, I ought to point out that his father is a Yorkshireman, born and bred, and Mr. C. himself lived in the county for a time.
(He's already eaten two whopping pieces!).
Posted by: Cornflower | 26 February 2011 at 02:27 PM
That looks worthy of Betty's Tearooms!
Posted by: m | 26 February 2011 at 03:10 PM
I love Yorkshire Curd tart, thanks for linking to the recipe!
Posted by: Crafty Green Poet | 26 February 2011 at 06:34 PM
in reply to Mr Cornflower's comment, the restaurant across the road from where I live sometimes do an italian version of Yorkshire Curd tart, i've forgotten what they call it though....
Posted by: Crafty Green Poet | 26 February 2011 at 06:36 PM
I don't think that we in Canada have an equivalent of 'anchovy toast'. Have you ever made it yourself?
Posted by: Rachel | 26 February 2011 at 07:28 PM
I'm not reading the book but very much enjoying the series. Love those 30's/40's fashions. Beautiful photographs (as always) Karen!
Posted by: Nicola | 26 February 2011 at 07:56 PM
Yes, but just the quick way with anchovy paste.
Posted by: Cornflower | 26 February 2011 at 09:26 PM
Another recipe I found would have us curdling the milk and straining it overnight, so I went for the easy option!
Posted by: Cornflower | 26 February 2011 at 09:27 PM
You have hit upon something I recall wondering about years ago. I have happy memories of Yorkshire Curd Tart when visiting that part of Britain some years ago. The curd was very dry i.e. not what I would have called cottage cheese. I wondered if it is what we call 'crowdie' in Scotland, i.e. small dry curds but packed close together in a block or plastic tub when you buy it.
Posted by: Barbara MacLeod | 27 February 2011 at 09:34 AM
Yes, I should think crowdie could well be the sort of curd cheese used in Yorkshire, or if not exactly that then a fine substitute.
Posted by: Cornflower | 27 February 2011 at 05:41 PM
I remember sitting in the back of the family car with my parents, eating Yorkshire curd tarts, prior to visiting the Bronte Parsonage at Howarth so it already has strong literary associations for me. (plus excellent memory of how delicious they were) I am still re-reading South Riding so haven't picked up this reference to it, but shall be looking out for it now. As a matter of fact in my latest novel, The Butchered Man, http://wp.me/P16fEK-8J, a historical mystery set in a fictional Cathedral city in Yorkshire, curd tarts also make an appearance I think I had better try and make one now, though pastry is not my strong point.
Posted by: Harriet Smart | 28 February 2011 at 09:00 AM
A copy of this is winging its way to me as I write and I am so excited!
Posted by: Darlene | 28 February 2011 at 01:01 PM
Let us know how you get on with the tart and the book, Harriet!
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 February 2011 at 04:10 PM
I got an error saying "page could not be found" when I clicked on your link. Not sure if there is a problem here....
Posted by: Barbara MacLeod | 28 February 2011 at 11:00 PM
I was recently reading "South Riding" when I realized with pleasure that I was also munching on Yorkshire parkin--a lovely double experience.
Posted by: Erika | 01 March 2011 at 01:11 PM
Oh, parkin is very good.
Posted by: Cornflower | 01 March 2011 at 08:31 PM