WITH names like Marian’s impossible Pie, Sad Cakes and Queer Times Pudding, dishes that date back decades are intriguing to say the least.
Who wouldn’t be able to resist the lure of Matter O’ Money Cake or Ruby’s Quick Tart?
Earlier this year we featured a website created by Colin Neville, of Silsden, which brings together dozens of recipes not only from across the Yorkshire region, including local dishes special to towns and villages.
Now we are taking a second look at the website Traditional Yorkshire Recipes, which contains many mouthwatering and unusual concoctions that will intrigue and delight the reader.
You may wish to try Marian’s Impossible Pie.
‘Now, don’t ask me why it’s called ‘Impossible Pie’, as ‘Marian’ doesn’t tell us why,’ writes Colin. ‘And it’s certainly not a pie, more a pudding/sponge. It’s not ‘impossible’ either - in fact, it’s easy to make and tastes good, with a crunchy top and soft spongy centre.’
He adds: ‘Impossible’ perhaps, because it’s hard not to like it, with its more-ish blend of sugar, eggs, coconut with a good bash of vanilla - I noted that the author suggests a good splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream as an alternative to vanilla; so definitely a person after my own heart. The recipe was in a modern local recipe book, but I’m told it has been passed down through the generations.’
Then there’s Queer Times Pudding, ‘a cheap, tasty and easy steamed pudding’ which pops up in old recipe books across Britain.
Marian's Impossible Pie. Picture: Colin Neville (Image: Colin Neville)
Queer Times Pudding. Picture: Colin Neville
Most recipes outside Yorkshire use treacle, but this is a Wakefield variation, Colin states, replacing treacle with currants and using breadcrumbs in equal measure to flour. Why is it called ‘Queer Times Pudding? The original recipe doesn’t offer a reason, but there are very plausible explanations offered by readers, who can add their views on the nostalgic dishes. One offered that queer referred to poverty. ‘Queer Street is used to describe people living in financial difficulty. So this pudding, like spotted dick, is a very basic filling meal for people short of money.’
There’s the very unappetising-sounding Meat Rock Cakes, which made the most of leftover bits of meat from Sunday roast and made a tasty Monday evening meal without too much preparation, and the depressing-sounding Wakes Cakes, dating back to the seventh century.
Wakes Cakes. Picture: Colin Neville
Meat Rock Cakes. Picture: Colin Neville
‘Wakes days (and later weeks) in Britain were periods of localised celebration in honour of a patron saint of a particular church or parish,’ writes Colin. ‘It was traditional to keep watch, or ‘wake’, in church on the eve of the dedication day, but over time the wake became an evening of feasting, often in the churchyard.
This gradually degenerated into drunkenness and rowdy celebrations, and increasingly wakes became more secular in character as the churches condemned the behaviour on its premises.
Wake Days became linked eventually with fairs, holiday days, then eventually in the 19th century to short holiday periods for workers in the factory towns of Northern England and Scotland.’
The Fish Roast recipe, enough for three people - or two with good appetites - dates back to 1915 and the addition of stale bread suggests this was a wartime food economy recipe designed to pad out the fish.
‘But it’s none the worse for that, and in fact makes a tasty meal served with a salad or range of vegetables,’ writes Colin.
As well as the recipes, some which have been passed down generations, the website weaves history and culture into its evocative descriptions of the origins of the dishes. It contains links to articles about foods from the past, including Bradford Workhouse Food, The Oatcake Maker of Skipton and the Leeds Dripping Riot.
* Visit traditional-yorkshire-recipes.info
*Do you have any food memories? Email helen.mead@newsquest.co.uk If you have any pictures of your dishes, even better.