Bommie night!!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Parkin and treacle toffee, now that takes me back a bit. An't 'ad them for years. Must dig out a recipe and get the missus to knock some together (I wouldn't be game as I'd probably start a bonfire in the kitchen).

If you want to drop me a PM, Dujon, I'll gladly sent a bag of treacle toffee over to you. I'm not sure that Parkin was designed to withstand long-haul (actually, my mother's probably would but that's another matter altogether), so yeah, just let me know and I'll happily oblige.

Fairly sure I've had some parkin that would sink a battleship.

Nice offer, btw, Bruce. Toothache gone off?

[Bruce Rioja]

Parkin and treacle toffee, now that takes me back a bit. An't 'ad them for years. Must dig out a recipe and get the missus to knock some together (I wouldn't be game as I'd probably start a bonfire in the kitchen).

If you want to drop me a PM, Dujon, I'll gladly sent a bag of treacle toffee over to you. I'm not sure that Parkin was designed to withstand long-haul (actually, my mother's probably would but that's another matter altogether), so yeah, just let me know and I'll happily oblige.

Fairly sure I've had some parkin that would sink a battleship.

Nice offer, btw, Bruce. Toothache gone off?

No, it's giving me shit, fella. Playing golf today seems to have introduced a little cold into the pain quotient to boot, but thank-you for asking.

[Batman]

Parkin and treacle toffee, now that takes me back a bit. An't 'ad them for years. Must dig out a recipe and get the missus to knock some together (I wouldn't be game as I'd probably start a bonfire in the kitchen).

If you want to drop me a PM, Dujon, I'll gladly sent a bag of treacle toffee over to you. I'm not sure that Parkin was designed to withstand long-haul (actually, my mother's probably would but that's another matter altogether), so yeah, just let me know and I'll happily oblige.

Fairly sure I've had some parkin that would sink a battleship.

Nice offer, btw, Bruce. Toothache gone off?

Had parkin and bonfire toffee at work yesterday, ate faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too much

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Parkin and treacle toffee, now that takes me back a bit. An't 'ad them for years. Must dig out a recipe and get the missus to knock some together (I wouldn't be game as I'd probably start a bonfire in the kitchen).

If you want to drop me a PM, Dujon, I'll gladly sent a bag of treacle toffee over to you. I'm not sure that Parkin was designed to withstand long-haul (actually, my mother's probably would but that's another matter altogether), so yeah, just let me know and I'll happily oblige.

Nice offer, Bruce. Toothache gone off?

No, it's giving me shit, fella. Playing golf today seems to have introduced a little cold into the pain quotient to boot, but thank-you for asking.

Doh! Have no magic recipe for toothache (although I'd recommend Ashton + Parsons powder for teething, it's not quite the same). Hope it gets better soon.

[Dujon]

That, Bruce, is a very fine offer and I thank you for it. Knowing local Customs (that's the gov't dept., not a corroboree) it'd probably be confiscated at the border. This country is very strict on all sorts of imports, including comestibles, and rightfully so. I'll ask my mother if she's got the necessary or I'll find a recipe on the 'net somewhere.

Incidentally, we only had parkin on bonfire night and to the best of my memory never at any other time. This could have been a traditional thing or the fact that we were still on rationing for most of my life in England. Any ideas?

[Bruce Rioja]

Our local Tourettes Society had a good time of it though by all accounts.

[Leyther_Matt]

That, Bruce, is a very fine offer and I thank you for it. Knowing local Customs (that's the gov't dept., not a corroboree) it'd probably be confiscated at the border. This country is very strict on all sorts of imports, including comestibles, and rightfully so. I'll ask my mother if she's got the necessary or I'll find a recipe on the 'net somewhere.

Incidentally, we only had parkin on bonfire night and to the best of my memory never at any other time. This could have been a traditional thing or the fact that we were still on rationing for most of my life in England. Any ideas?

Already off the shelves as far as I can tell so it seems to be tradition.

Was about to suggest that the Aussie customs probably wouldn't let it through - probably easy enough to find a recipe online though.

[Dujon]

Thanks, Matt.

I've asked my mother to look through her recipe collection to see if she has one. Mind you, she turns 88 next week so there's every chance she'll forget. I suspected it might be traditional fare - not unlike hot-cross buns and Christmas pud I suppose. What's this about 'off the shelves'? You don't buy this stuff down at the supermarket, man, it has to be home made for heaven's sake! Using your grandma's grandma's grandma's tried and proven methods and ingredients.

[communistworkethic]

or use the Mrs Beeton recipe.....

YORKSHIRE PARKIN Recipe 1

1/4 lb. flour
1/2 lb. medium oatmeal
1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
2 tsps. powdered ginger
1/2 lb. Demarara sugar ( Or Sugar in the Raw or light brown will do)
1/2 lb. beef dripping (or lard) (or low-fat margarine!)
1/2 lb. black treacle (molasses)
1 egg (optional)
Milk to mix
Sieve the flour, soda and ginger; add the other dry ingredients and the fat and mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warmed treacle and [then] beaten egg. Mix and add enough milk to give a fairly stiff consistency. Pour into a well-greased baking tin and bake in a moderate oven (350 F, mark 4) for about 1-1/2 hours. Cool
in the tin then cut into squares when cold.
The parkin, which will keep moist for a considerable time in an airtight tin, should not be eaten until 24 hours after baking.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

or use the Mrs Beeton recipe.....

YORKSHIRE PARKIN Recipe 1

1/4 lb. flour
1/2 lb. medium oatmeal
1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
2 tsps. powdered ginger
1/2 lb. Demarara sugar ( Or Sugar in the Raw or light brown will do)
1/2 lb. beef dripping (or lard) (or low-fat margarine!)
1/2 lb. black treacle (molasses)
1 egg (optional)
Milk to mix
Sieve the flour, soda and ginger; add the other dry ingredients and the fat and mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warmed treacle and [then] beaten egg. Mix and add enough milk to give a fairly stiff consistency. Pour into a well-greased baking tin and bake in a moderate oven (350 F, mark 4) for about 1-1/2 hours. Cool
in the tin then cut into squares when cold.
The parkin, which will keep moist for a considerable time in an airtight tin, should not be eaten until 24 hours after baking.

You'll make someone a lovely wife...

[TANGODANCER]

or use the Mrs Beeton recipe......

My wife has a copy of "Mrs Beetons Cookery Book" she got from her mother. Very old and about four inches thick. Some amazing things in there.

[TANGODANCER]

Nobody's mentioned baked spuds yet. My dad used to stick them in the bonfire and when they came out they were black as fxxk, hard as hell and the skins were like shoe leather. Everybody pretended to enjoy them but they were bleeding awful.

[Bruce Rioja]

That, Bruce, is a very fine offer and I thank you for it. Knowing local Customs (that's the gov't dept., not a corroboree) it'd probably be confiscated at the border. This country is very strict on all sorts of imports, including comestibles, and rightfully so.

Was about to suggest that the Aussie customs probably wouldn't let it through

This reminds me of the time that I turned up in Mexico during our Foot and Mouth epidemic. Mexican Customs officers went through every part of my (and everyone elses) luggage. One of them then explained that they were looking for dairy products. My "Oh of course, because we never go anywhere without a lump of Stilton and a pint of semi-skimmed" was simply met with a "Que?".

[communistworkethic]

Our local Tourettes Society had a good time of it though by all accounts.

is that the dyslexic tourette's society??

C U W T??

[Dujon]

Thanks, Commie, you're a scholar and a gentleman. I've printed it out and will attempt to sweet talk Mrs D into doing the deed.

Tango: Potatoes in their jacket is a right treat when done properly. I love 'em. I don't mind the 'charcoal' outer to be honest, but I do tend these days to wrap them in a bit of foil before committing them to the flames.

You lot have got me salivating now and it's only half ten.

[TANGODANCER]

Thanks, Commie, you're a scholar and a gentleman. I've printed it out and will attempt to sweet talk Mrs D into doing the deed.

Tango: Potatoes in their jacket is a right treat when done properly. I love 'em. I don't mind the 'charcoal' outer to be honest, but I do tend these days to wrap them in a bit of foil before committing them to the flames.

You lot have got me salivating now and it's only half ten.

Ours weren't so much baked as bloody cremated. My dad was no Jamie Oliver, more Oliver Hardy where cooking was concerned..

[Leyther_Matt]

Can't say I've ever thrown a spud on a Bommie, but there's little better on a cold winters day then a proper baked potato.

[Bruce Rioja]

Can't say I've ever thrown a spud on a Bommie.

Then you're missing out, Matt. Just wrap a couple in foil and sling them on there. Think on, every time you see a fire, garden waste, bits of old wood or whatever, what you're actually seeing is a baked tattie opportunity. Oh, and you'll need best butter, none of this Utterly Scutterly malarky.

[communistworkethic]

Can't say I've ever thrown a spud on a Bommie.

Then you're missing out, Matt. Just wrap a couple in foil and sling them on there. Think on, every time you see a fire, garden waste, bits of old wood or whatever, what you're actually seeing is a baked tattie opportunity. Oh, and you'll need best butter, none of this Utterly Scutterly malarky.

as that average butter or quite poor butter just won't do

[Bruce Rioja]

as that average butter or quite poor butter just won't do

Correct. Lidl and the likes need not apply.