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BY SARI JORGE

Most of us think of mashed potatoes as the perfect partner for roast beef and gravy. And while that’s a tried-and-tested combination, you’ll be surprised that other pairings work just as well. Yorkshire Pudding, for example, is a staple in England and completes a proper British roast.

Similar to a popover, this savory pastry is made with a simple batter that uses equal amounts of egg, milk, and flour. Once baked, it becomes light and crispy. It’s best enjoyed with a meat course, complete with a generous amount of gravy.

Make Yorkshire Pudding as a special treat on the weekend or for an evening of entertaining friends. I receive so many compliments every time I serve it to guests! Kids and adults enjoy dipping the golden bites in the rich gravy, making the entrée even heartier. Try it; I promise it’ll remind you of great holiday dinners—even in July!

About the columnist

For Sari Jorge, food has always been instrumental in bringing her family together. Thanks to a doting grandmother who made sure her grandchildren knew their way around the kitchen, she has been cooking since she was 10 years old. These days, she channels this same love for cooking into a thriving business, 25 Mushrooms Kitchen, where she teaches cooking classes for household helpers. Aside from food, Sari is passionate about playing squash, collecting paintings and antiques, and traveling.

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YORKSHIRE PUDDING

Makes 12 Prep Time 10 minutes, plus chilling time Cooking Time 1 hour 30 minutes

1 cup milk 2 large eggs 1 cup all-purpose flour pinch of salt 1/2 cup vegetable oil or roast beef drippings

1 Combine milk and eggs in a bowl, and mix thoroughly. Set aside. 2 Mix together flour and salt in another bowl; make a well at the center. 3 Pour milk mixture into the flour mixture. Gently mix using a wooden spoon just until combined. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 4 Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease muffin tins, using about 2 teaspoons vegetable oil or roast beef drippings per muffin cup. Place muffin tins in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until oil is very hot and almost smoking. 5 Carefully take tins out of the oven. Pour or spoon pudding mixture into the muffin cups, filling about 2/3 of the way. Do this quickly while the oil is still hot. 6 Return muffin tins to the oven and bake, undisturbed, for 20 minutes or until puffed and golden. Remove pudding from cups and serve immediately as a side dish.

Quick Rice Hacks

Discover new ways to add fl avors to your simple cup of rice

Bring out the home-chef in you by whipping up new rice recipes. Whether you’re a pro or a newbie, you’ll fi nd these rice fi xes truly handy and really easy!

Match the right rice with the right viand

The star of the challenge: Rice. It’s a Pinoy meal staple, and we can’t live without a cup or two on our plates. That plain cup, however, is only as good as the savory ulam next to it. Make sure to match your rice with the right viand. For example, plain rice brings out the fl avors of savory dishes, while garlic rice is perfect for fried meat. Rice tossed with diff erent vegetable and meat bits (Yang Chow) should be balanced with single-ingredient dishes (stir-fried vegetables, pork siomai, or pork chops), while Paella and Bagoong Rice are two-in-one meals that need no sides, unless so desired. Make mealtime more interesting with the perfect pair!

Choose the right grain

Consider the diff erent types of grains and textures when doing your pairings. The traditional long grain and fragrant Jasmine goes well with savory Pinoy dishes. Non-sticky Basmati rice, on the other hand, is perfect for indian cuisines and shrimp. Brown and red rice are healthier grains that can balance your hearty viands.

Throw the spices in!

Upgrade plain rice by simply throwing spices or herbs into the rice cooker right after your rice boils. You can try throwing in fried minced garlic, pandan, cinnamon and cardamom, or bay leaves. You can also cook the rice with chicken broth or vegetable broth—just make sure that it’s 50% water and 50% broth so that the rice won’t become starchy. Another trick is to toast the grains on butter and olive oil before putting in the water and bringing it to a boil. With these tricks, you can turn your plain rice into an impressive dish.

Make cooking simple yet delicious

Want a simple rice hack that will make your rice dish ooze with just the right blend of fl avors? Try the McCormick Rice Cookers Recipe Mixes with Asian fl avors like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Biryani Rice, and Nasi Lemak Coconut Pandan Rice. Those are three tough rice recipes to master, indeed! But thanks to McCormick, these authentic fl avors are now made more accessible for your daily meals—no more guesswork, only amazing and perfectly blended rice treats every time.

Here’s how to prepare the perfect cup of rice for a hearty meal: pr rep e a

1. First, rinse two cups of rice under cold water to give it a good, clean fl avor. 2. Prepare three cups of water for your freshly washed grains of rice. 3. Mix in your choice of McCormick Rice Cookers Recipe Mix. 4. Cook using a rice cooker. 5. Serve hot, and enjoy!