Behind all the other odds and ends, stacked up alongside some canned tomatoes, was this lone, canned Heinz Treacle
Pudding. Generally known as cake and not pudding on the US side of the Atlantic, this traditional British dessert is a
round of sponge cake that is saturated with a golden syrup known as treacle. Treacle is a type of light molasses that is left over during the sugar
refining process. It makes what would otherwise be a plain and fairly dry dessert moist and sweet, so the combination
of treacle and sponge is a time-honored British favorite. Come to think of it, the combination of treacle and
nearly anything is a British favorite.
The label on the cake promised that it was microwaveable, meaning that I could avoid a 30 minute stove-top steaming just to eat it. I put it on a plate, covered it with a microwave-safe bowl and hit "start."
The treacle pudding was caramel-flavored, surprisingly moist and quite good, especially considering that it came from a can. I worried that it might turn out dry after its long storage, but once the treacle heated up, moisture returned to the dessert, making it sticky and sweet, though the treacle had mostly been absorbed into the cake. It was a nice change of pace, given the convenience of having a warm, comforting cake ready to eat in only two minutes. Heinz puts out several other varieties of microwaveable cakes, including chocolate sponge and spotted dick. Look for them in stores that have large sections of imported goods.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-30-2006 @ 9:59PM
Andrew said...
"the combination of treacle and nearly anything" Indeed - treacle and bacon sandwiches are a well known classic but I pour scorn on those following the latest trend in matching root vegetables and treacle in risotto or muffins. Yep British cuisine - so misunderstood.
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3-31-2006 @ 2:27AM
Berkana said...
For a moment, I thought that can said "Heinz Testicle"
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