Friends With Benefits, the Story of a Crumpet!

I normally bake on Monday's and Thursdays or Friday. I make bread, a quick bread or two and something else, often an experiment. This week, we made crumpets.

The recipe is O'Briens Crumpets. Probably the best one yet!
So, I had to discard my rings a few years ago. They were warped and a girl cannot form a good crumpet without a good ring. I have some silicone ones from Williams Sonoma that I use for eggs but they aren't deep enough. I moaned and groaned, lamented and searched the online stores. I mentioned the issue to a friend and lo and behold the mail came along with two boxes of rings! Friends, with benefits! People who cook collect tools, do-dads and ephemera, sometines we share. I am a happy camper. 

This recipe requires a three-hour rise. One "kneading" after the initial mix. I used my Kitchen Aid mixer, the dough is thick, sticky and raises beautifully. 
I used a small Le Cruset cast iron griddle. It is important that the cooking surface be totally flat so the batter does not leak out. 

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a beautiful bubbler here!

This scoop worked perfectly, 3 tablespoons at a time per ring.

On low heat, butter griddle and rings, cook one side for about 4 minutes, remove rings, flip and cook the second side for about 4 minutes.

A girl and her crumpet for tea with some peach preserves, warmed, and a cup of tea.

• On a cool Spring day, this is perfect.
• I like experimenting in the kitchen, sometimes it turns out well, sometimes not. Today was a winner!
• As a side note, I like scalding hot tea. This little cozy in the Le Cruset Stoneware pot  (a Birthday gift from my Son last year) is just that.