When I was a teenager, I was filled with a burning desire for crumpets. I spent a couple of weeks calling bakeries, checking supermarkets and enquiring at Specialty food stores. I couldn’t find crumpets anywhere. I really wanted to know what they tasted like. Where they like donuts ? Where they like crackers ? Where they sweet or salty ? I had no idea but I wanted to know.
The notion had invaded my mind by way of a Shirley Temple movie. I believe it was “The Little Princess” . Arthur Treatcher sneaks Shirley crumpets up to her attic hovel, after her fortunes have turned. Little Shirley seemd so greatful for the tiny morsel. It must have been heavenly !
So, yesterday on my way back to the flat , I stopped in to the Margiotta to get newspapers and I saw a package of crumpets ! 89p ! I had to have them . I had no idea what to expect. They are like a combination of an English muffin and a Bialys. A lot of nooks and crannies. It never really gets toasted because it’s pretty moist. It’s round, and has the consistency of bread dough, which I guess it is. It was fine enough, but not the culinary orgasm I was expecting. Much like my senior prom . .. .
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Aha! The Secret of Crumpets is out!
Dot, this is one of the Many Reasons why we are Sassy Pals. I, too, have always had an overwhelming urge to Discover Crumpets. Can’t remember where I first heard of them, but considering the absurdly huge amount of Brit lit and Costume Movies I’ve indulged in since childhood, there’s really no telling.
Anyway, I, too, finally found some in a local fancy grocery store, bought a bunch (many of which are still in my freezer), and toasted’em some up. Sort of like a soggy English muffin was my opinion as well. I have found that you have to REALLY toast them – I mean, 2-3 pushdowns of the normal toast button. Then they get a LITTLE bit crunchy.
However, all those little crannies are quite swell for tiny pools of butter & lemon curd. Have you had a cream tea yet? Oh my gawd, the CREAM, Dot! The cream is a Sin.
NO really – at the Pearly Gates, Gawd will ask: “And have you had CREAM, JoAnn? Hmm? Oh, only 2-3 times…hmmm….well…that’ll cost you 5 years in purgatory,
scraping scum off the bottom step of the seawall….”
Speaking of food – crawfish season is over, and as expected, Tom went apeshit over them. He even sucks the heads! And makes Crawfish Monica BETTER than at the JazzFest.
Think about a winter visit, dearest heart….