Anna Sultana’s English Muffins / Quicky Bread Pudding / English Muffin Pizza

During Prince Charles and Camilla's recent visit to Winnipeg I posted Ma’s recipe for crumpets.

I also explained the difference between crumpets and English muffins.

You’re right, I should’ve included the recipe for English muffins.

Well, here's the recipe.

English muffins were also a regular part of my childhood.

Luckily they were easier to find in our German / Irish town.

So easy that a German neighbour introduced me to a quicky bread pudding recipe, which used English muffins.

English muffins are a little different from crumpets.

English muffins are similar to bagels in that they are split before serving.

But both crumpets and English muffins make use of those tuna tins.

Hints:

If you want to check the temperature of the liquids, warm means about 115º F.

If you want to store a few for later, allow them to cool before placing in plastic bags.

                              English Muffins

18 muffins

Have on hand

cornmeal

Place in a small saucepan

1 Cup milk

Heat it gently until it bubbles, then remove from heat.

Mix in

1 Tablespoon sugar 

Stir until dissolved. 

Let cool until lukewarm.

In a small bowl combine

1 Cup warm water (110º F)

1 Tablespoon yeast

1 Tablespoon sugar

Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl combine

the warmed milk

the yeast mixture

1/4 Cup melted margarine

3 Cups flour

Beat until smooth. 

Add

1 teaspoon salt

3 Cups flour

Stir in the additional flour.

Knead 10 minutes. 

Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour.

Punch down. 

Sprinkle cornmeal on waxed paper.

Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thick. 

Cut rounds with an empty tuna can (or a biscuit cutter or drinking glass).

Set the rounds on the cornmeal. 

Dust the tops of the muffins with cornmeal. 

Cover and let rise 1/2 hour.

Heat a greased griddle on medium heat.

Cook muffins on the griddle about 10 minutes on EACH side.

Keep cooked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. 

To use, split and toast. 

Great with butter, or cream cheese and jam.

You could also make a small pizza from the split English muffin.

All you need do is top each half with tomato sauce, cheese and salami.

Or anything you like.

Then broil a few minutes until the cheese melts.

Oh, about that quicky bread pudding recipe…

Sometimes Ma asked our German neighbour to babysit me.

She and her husband didn’t have children, so they didn't have kiddie type snacks.

Which was lucky for me.

Mrs. Kekelia would make a bread pudding, just for me.

                              Quicky Bread Pudding

Split 1 English muffin and butter both of the cut surfaces.

Place in a small saucepan

1/2 Cup milk

the buttered English muffin halves

Heat the milk gently until it bubbles, then remove from heat.

Place the English muffin in a bowl.

Pour the warm milk over it.

Top with

1 Tablespoon sugar (or cinnamon sugar)

Preparing more than one serving of Quicky Bread Pudding?

Nothing could be easier.