
What's the secret to great vegan yorkshire puddings?
I can never get my vegan yorkshire puddings to work – help!Traditional yorkshire puddings have eggs and milk to thank for their golden, crisp and puffy looks, so it's no wonder people run into bother in their absence. 'Vegan yorkshires are a mighty task,' says Lianna Lee Davis, who is behind the much-lauded vegan Sunday roast at Our Black Heart in Camden, London. Your first task is to decide on their replacements, and for that you have a few options. 'I use aquafaba and whisk it with apple cider vinegar, rapeseed oil, dijon mustard, unsweetened soya milk and water,' she says. She then combines plain flour, chickpea flour, salt and turmeric ('for a bit of colour'), and whisks that into the wet mix to make a batter.
Marc Joseph, of E3 Vegan, meanwhile, prefers a combination of soya milk, baking powder and self-raising flour: 'I've tried all sorts of things,' he says, 'and baking powder gives the best results.' Once mixed with the flour and popped into a really hot oven, 'they rise quickly like a cake at the start, so, by the time they're cooked, you have really crisp edges'. That's also Gaz Oakley's preferred route. For 12 yorkshire puddings, the author of Plant to Plate, published in May, combines 260g self-raising flour, one and a half teaspoons of baking powder and a teaspoon of salt. 'Add 480ml soya milk, whisk until smooth, then pour into a jug.' Just like the OG, vegan yorkies also benefit from a rest, Joseph says: 'Make the batter at least 30 minutes before you want to use it.'
On to the baking vessel, for which Davis favours a metal muffin tin: 'This is the really important part,' she says, 'otherwise your yorkshire puddings are going to come out like pancakes!' Both Oakley and Davis pour oil into each hole of the tin (about two teaspoons in total of vegetable oil for Oakley and 3-4mm rapeseed oil per hole for Davis), then whack it in a hot oven (210C-220C) until smoking. 'As soon as you open the oven door, quickly take out the pan and pour in the batter,' Davis says. 'Grab a spoon and make a small indent in the top of each yorkshire, so it has that natural collapse.' Oakley bakes his batter for 16 minutes 'until golden brown and nicely risen', Davis gives it about 30 minutes and Joseph opts for 45-50 minutes.
Shaun Rankin, chef/patron of Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall in North Yorkshire, has another tip: 'Make a little well in the centre of the mix with an oiled spoon halfway through the cooking,' he says. 'This allows the edges to rise further.'
Oakley serves his yorkshires right away, but Davis recommends giving them a rest: 'Vegan ones have more of a gooey texture than those made with egg, so you need to let them cool for at least 30 minutes on a rack,' she says. The proof, of course, is in the pudding, and Joseph ensures that his are 'even better' by pouring onion gravy into the well just before serving. And as we all know, everything is better with gravy.
Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com

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In the summer, you'll want to use your pruners to cut and harvest your leafy greens, and herbs here and there, according to Thomas. Around the fall when temperatures drop into the 60s and below, you can cut away plants that are going into dormancy or ones that have completed their plant life to allow fresh leaves and foliage to come through. What are the different types of pruning shears? Our experts list three main types of pruning shears to consider — anvil pruners, bypass pruners and ratchet pruners — each with their own unique benefits. They also mentioned loppers, which are garden shears that are similar to pruners but require two hands. Anvil pruners Anvil pruners have one blade that pushes down onto a piece of metal or plastic underneath. Since these tend to crush when they cut, they're best for cutting deadwood or making rough cuts on thicker, harder stems, according to our experts. Bypass pruners Bypass pruners have two different curved blades that pass each other as you cut — one of them is very sharp and the other is slightly more dull, according to Bawden-Davis. 'These pruners can be used for a wide variety of tasks, including cutting soft green plant materials, as well as harder plant matter,' she says. 'They tend to be less bulky than anvil pruners, which allows for more precise cutting.' Ratchet pruners Ratchet pruners are technically a subset of anvil pruners since they have one blade — however, they have a more 'catch and hold' mechanism where you're able to 'press down slightly and then press it again a few times to cut all the way through,' Thomas says. Ratchet pruners allow you to exert less force when cutting, which might be ideal for anyone with a hand injury or those who can't use a lot of force. Loppers To cut thicker branches, shrubs and bushes, experts told us you'll need to use a lopper. Loppers aren't technically pruning shears, though they resemble one another (and come in the same types listed above). Unlike a pruning shear, a lopper has a longer handle that requires you to use both hands. You can also use them to cut 'hard-to-reach places such as elevated plant parts or in the interior of a plant where you might not want to reach your hands, as you could get hurt,' Bawden-Davis says. How to shop for pruning shears Look for a pruner that can handle the job you're attempting to do. In addition to buying the right type of pruner for your needs, our experts also recommended looking at blade quality, ergonomic grip and safety features. Cutting capacity It's important to look for pruners that are equipped to cut different types of plant materials, such as stems, branches and leaves of varying diameters. Pruners that you can hold and use with one hand are used for cutting relatively thin or small foliage. Whereas, pruners such as loppers, are meant to be used with both hands. 'They are used to cut larger in diameter stems and branches and are good for getting into hard-to-reach places,' says Bawden-Davis. Whatever your case may be, make sure your pruners have the capacity to cut different types of stems. Blade quality and sharpness Blade quality is one of the most important factors to look for when shopping, according to our experts. In addition to cutting capacity, the quality and sharpness of the blades on pruning shears is equally important. This means that after using the shears over time, you'll have to sharpen the blades to make sure they maintain their effectiveness. If possible, try to hold the tool before purchasing. The pruning shear should have some heft and 'feel solid in your hands,' Bawden-Davis says. You'll also want to look for sharp blades. 'A sharp blade is very important because it's going to create that smooth, clean cut,' Thomas says. 'If you have a dull blade, then you're going to be hacking away at it and that's going to be a strain on your hands as well.' She recommended using a pruner sharpener or any other basic sharpening tool to keep your blades updated. Ergonomics Thomas recommends looking for models that have an anti-slip cushioning or grip. 'You need to be able to grip the pruner comfortably, especially being in the garden when you're around water and so many different types of substances,' Thomas says. This also minimizes the chance of your shears slipping and injuring you. Safety features Safety locks can keep a pruner shut when it's not in use to prevent injuries. Some shears also have a sap groove, which is a small detail on the lower blade that directs sap away from the blades to prevent them from sticking together. Thomas also recommends looking for pruners with handles (that you can attach to your wrist to help you keep track of them as you move around your garden), and bright-colored pruners (to ensure you're not losing them among your plants). Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Julie Bawden-Davis is the professional gardener behind Healthy Houseplants and is the author of several gardening books including ' Southern California Fruit Gardening ' and ' Indoor Gardening the Organic Way.' Why trust NBC Select? Mili Godio is an editor at NBC Select who has covered a variety of gardening and outdoor articles including garden hoses, indoor gardening kits and riding lawn mowers. For this article, she interviewed three gardening experts and researched dozens of pruners on the market that aligned with their guidance.