Roast Sirloin of Beef, Yorkshire Pudding. |
The sirloin of beef is the outer or upper part of the loins, covering the kidneys and separated from the tenderloin by a flat bone. It is known to American housekeepers as porter house, (the popular steak of the old New York porter and ale houses, hence its name). The cut usually palmed off on New York housekeepers as sirloin is a hip steak or roast, the proper name of which is a rump-cut, considered by New England people, to be one of the best joints. Select the middle cut of the loin of a good-sized animal, and see to it that the outer fat is at least a quarter of an inch thick; for if the top covering of fat be thin, and more like gristle than fat, the meat will be found very tough and unpalatable. Trim away most of the inner fat and a part of the flank; and as the tenderloin is more useful as steaks or an entree, it is best to cut it out; also turn the flank under, and if skewers are used, insert them in the flank only. Salt and pepper the whole joint liberally, and dash a little flour over the outer fat. Put it in a pan large enough to hold the joint and a pudding, and when the joint is half done add the pudding. While cooking baste the meat, and if the pudding is too dry, baste it also. At the end of an hour and a half, an eight-pound joint, if a good thick one, will be cooked; but, if a thin joint, a much shorter time is required. To make the Yorkshire pudding: Beat thoroughly 5 eggs, add to them a teaspoonful of salt, a pint of milk and a teaspoonful of lemon juice. Sift together two teaspoonsful of baking powder and three half pints of flour. Add the egg mixture gradually and make a stiff batter. Put it in the pan, not under, but beside the beef. [A Yorkshire matron suggests the addition of lemon juice to correct the two frequent ill-effects of so rich a dish.]
|
|