Devon Potato cake (County of Devon, south-west GB)
Potatoes have always been a major source of carbohydrate in the UK. These 3 recipes show the manner in which they were used as part of the modest working man.
Recipe 1
Devon Potato Cakes
6oz plain flour
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp baking powder (raising agent)
2 oz butter (Devon cows have always been the best ones for producing top quality dairy produce)
6oz mashed potatoes - of the floury type
4oz brown sugar
1/2lb currants
1/2 tsp caraway seeds - optional, not everybody likes them
2 eggs
Oven set at 400° F
Time: 30 minutes
Sift the flour with the spices and baking powder, rub in the butter and add the potato mash sugar, currants and caraway seeds
Add the beaten egg and mix wel; pour the mixture into a well-greased 1-2 in deep baking tin and bake. Once cooked, cut into squares whilst still hot, and serve.
This woud be served either mid-morning or mid-afternoon
Potato Apple Cakes Ireland
These were, and in many areas now encompassing the whole of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The tradition of serving them at Halloween has been resuscitated again.
1lb cold cooked potatoes, i.e. weighed without skin
1oz melted butter
4oz flour
1oz salt
4oz flour or fine oatmeal
1tsp baking powder
1lb peeled sliced and cored apples
4oz sugar
1 oz butter
Mash the cooked potatoes and mix in the melted butter and salt.
Sift the flour with the baking powder and work into the potatoes to make a pliable dough.
Roll the mixture out to a large round, about 1/2 inches thick. Next, cut into quarters and pile the apple mixture on two of the quarters. Top with one each of the remaining quarters, and pinch around the edges to seal firmly.
Bake on a hot griddle until brown on each side. Slice each cake along the rounded edge and turn the top back. Cover the apples with thin slices of butter. Sprinkle with sugar, replace the lid and bake in the oven until the sugar and butter have melted. Cool but keep them warm before eating.
These recipes are very nice in winter, easy to make, ecamonical, and very, very moreish.