Money blog: Top Yorkshire chef shares Yorkshire pudding secrets - including mistake you're almost definitely making (2024)

Every Wednesday we ask Michelin chefs to pick their favourite Cheap Eats where they live and when they cook at home.This week we speak toJames Mackenzie, chef and owner of East Yorkshire's only Michelin-star restaurant - the Pipe and Glass in South Dalton.

Hi James,can you tell us your favourite places in East Yorkshire where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?

You can't beat brunch at Drewton's Farm Shop and Kitchen. Nestled in the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds, they serve a fantastic all-day breakfast using local ingredients, including their own craft sausages and Doreen's black pudding. It certainly sets you up for a busy day.

My second choice is Laveracks, a butcher/deli with shops in nearby Holme on Spalding Moor and Pocklington. They make great sausage rolls that hit the spot if I'm out and about - they're a generous size wrapped in delicious home-made pastry. The pies are chunky too, they don't scrimp on the filling and the flavours are fab. They also offer a top-quality selection of meats - everything that a great butcher should be.

What is your go-to cheap eat to cook at home when you have a night in?

You can't beat a family Sunday roast complete with all the trimmings and a sky-high Yorkshire pudding or two.

Yorkshire pudding is the first recipe that I ever made. I was about five or six, and I can remember cracking the eggs and whisking like mad, and my mum saying, "Carry on, they need more air" - but I think this was just a ploy to keep me occupied and had nothing to do with her recipe.

This recipe is simple and it uses an excessive amount of eggs to create the biggest Yorkies you've ever made.

And make sure you don't make the common mistake of seasoning your batter too early.

Make sure you let it rest before adding salt at the last minute before cooking - otherwise it affects the rise.

Ingredients (makes 10)

• Six eggs
• 300ml full-fat milk
• 260g plain flour
• Goose or duck fat or beef dripping, or rapeseed oil if preferred
• Salt and freshly ground white pepper

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4;
• Place the eggs and milk into a mixing bowl and whisk together, sieve the flour in and mix with a hand blender until you've got a smooth batter. Leave to stand for at least 10 minutes;
• In a 12-hole baking tray place a tablespoon of fat into each mould and put in the oven until smoking hot;
• Season the batter immediately before you pour it into the smoking hot tray - this will stop the salt breaking down the egg and your puddings will rise really well;
• Fill up 10 moulds nearly full around the edge of the tray, leaving two moulds in the middle free to allow the heat to circulate evenly;
• Bake for 35 minutes and don't be tempted to open the oven door earlier or they will collapse.

We've spoken to lots of top chefs - check out their cheap eats from around the country here...

Over half of fashion retailers now charge customers for postal returns, new research shows.

The consumer choice website Which? found that 12 out of the UK's 20 biggest online retailers no longer offer free postal or courier returns.

PrettyLittleThing, H&M and Boohoo are among the stores charging the lowest return fee at £1.99 while MandM Direct charges customers between £2.99-£3.99.

Also among the retailers Which? looked at were JD Sports, Matalan, New Look, Next, River Island, Sports Direct, TK Maxx and Zara.

When Which? examined the pages for Zara, River Island and New Look it found the stores outlined their fees on product listing pages, but many of the other retailers did not explicitly state during the checkout process that customers have to pay for returns.

And apart from Sports Direct - which only accepts online returns via post - all of the retailers in Which?'s research that have physical shops do offer free in-store returns.

Gurpreet Chokar, Which? consumer law expert, said that it was becoming "increasingly common" for customers to foot the bill if they couldn't return their item to a physical shop as many online retailers were now shifting away from free online returns.

"While some shoppers will be able to return items at physical stores without any extra charges, retailers must ensure that any return fees are clear upfront so that customers can make an informed decision before they place their order," Ms Chokar said.

What are your rights?

Regulations state that consumers have a right to return an item they have purchased online.

The product doesnot have to be in its original packaging, but a company is entitled to ask for some form of proof of purchase.

Companies are not allowed to charge you for items that were placed in your online shopping basket as a result of a pre-ticked box.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, consumers also do not have to pay for returns if their item is faulty or not as described.

The first £1 coins featuring King Charles have entered circulation, with collectors encouraged to look out for the historic addition to the nation's change.

Nearly three million of the new designs will be making their way into pockets and tills across the country this week, via Post Offices and banks throughout the UK.

The £1 coin has a pair of British bees on the "tails" side, in honour of the King's passion for conservation and the natural world, and Charles' official coin effigy on the obverse, or "heads".

The other designs, which will be introduced in line with demand, are the 1p showing a hazel dormouse, the 2p red squirrel, the 5p oak tree leaf, 10p capercaillie grouse, 20p puffin, and the £2 with the national flowers - rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock.

Giving workers the "right to switch off" is key to productivity and could boost economic growth, Downing Street has said.

Labour has promised to give employees the right to ignore work-related calls and emails out of hours, so homes do not become "24/7 offices".

Ministers are looking at models in other countries where there is already a right to disconnect, such as Ireland and Belgium.

The prime minister's spokesperson said the plan was about making sure "we're not inadvertently blurring the lines between work and home life".

The plans were not a "one size fits all" and would recognise companies vary and people have different roles, she added.

The number of firms in England and Wales going bust last month rose by 16% year-on-year, according to official figures.

Commentators said the 2,191 company insolvencies showed how many businesseswere still recovering from the impact of high inflation and borrowing costs, despite growing optimism about the UK's economic outlook.

The figure was 7% down on June's total, but insolvency levels remain much higher than those seen during both thepandemic and in the years following the 2008/09 financial crisis, officials said.

Rebecca Dacre, a partner at advisory firm Forvis Mazars, said the data was "a strong reminder that many businesses are still a long way off from recovery".

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business reporter

BT's share price has fallen, wiping off an estimated £1bn from the company's value.

One share now costs £134.45, a low last seen 10 days ago.

It comes after an internet network rival CityFibre struck a deal with broadband supplier Sky.

This means that Sky will now use CityFibre's network to offer its services starting next year.

It's a hit to BT as Sky customers are hosted on BT's Openreach network. Under the plan, Sky aims to connect so-called "hard-to-reach areas".

CityFibre reaches 3.8 million homes and aims to expand and reach "at least" 8 million premises in the coming years, it said.

"This partnership with Sky is a huge vote of confidence in our business and has cemented CityFibre's position as the UK's third digital infrastructure platform," said company chief executive Greg Mesch.

Formerly British Telecoms, BT is worth roughly £14.44bn, based on the number of shares issued and the share price.

The head of financial analysis at investment platform AJ Bell Danni Hewson said the CityFibre detail may not be that significant.

"BT shares came under pressure on fears of an enhanced competitive threat for its Openreach broadband operation amid chatter Sky might start partnering with CityFibre in 2025.

"However, CityFibre's modest scale and focus on rural areas suggest it shouldn't be a huge issue."

Sky is the owner of Sky News.

UK citizens will need to pay a €7 visa-waiver charge to travel to Europe from next year after the EU revealed its timeline for the introduction of new entry requirements for some visitors.

The additional charge, which is similar to the US ESTA, is part of a series of new border checks and entry requirements the EU is bringing in.

They'll apply when entering the Schengen area, which includes 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The waiver will last for three years or until your passport expires.

Its official title is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and its implementation will follow the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). The latter will require people to have their fingerprints registered and their pictures taken on arrival to airports.

Addressing the rollout, EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said the EES will enter into operations on ­10 November while the ETIAS will follow shortly after that in 2025 - likely May.

However, it is thought there could be a six-month grace period before the visas become compulsory - taking it to November next year.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

The price of gold has soared to a record high of more than $2,522 (£1,938) per ounce today.

It comes after months of the precious metal steadily rising in value.

Many factors are thought to have played a part, but analysts believe the latest leap is largely down to the weaker US dollar and growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month.

Lower rates tend to make a country - and its currency - less attractive to investors, because they end up getting lower returns on bonds, shares and other investments.

There are also general worries about the status of the US economy, amid rumblings it could enter a recession this year or next - although some commentators have downplayed the likelihood of this.

But it is not just the US that is on the cusp of reducing the cost of borrowing.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England both recently cut interest rates - and are expected to do so again this autumn - which may also be off-putting to some investors.

What has all this got to do with gold?

It's largely because of its perceived status as a "safe haven" investment.

Gold is seen as solid and dependable - both literally and in its value as a commodity.

It has been prized and sought after since ancient times - and its valuable status seems certain to continue long into the future.

So when things seem uncertain - and when interest rates are being seemingly cut everywhere - putting your money in gold may seem like a good bet (or so the thinking goes - of course, many would argue there is no such thing as a sure bet in the financial markets).

This "safe haven" status also helps explain why the price of gold may have been steadily rising in recent months, as fears have grown over an escalation of the wars in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine.

Tesco is hiking the price of its meal deal from Thursday.

Those using a Clubcard, which Tesco says is 80% of customers, will now pay £3.60.

This is up from £3.40, which had been the cheapest meal deal available at one of the traditional supermarkets.

Those without a Clubcard will now pay £4 - up 10p.

A Tesco spokesperson told the Money blog: "Clubcard members will pay just £3.60 for a main, snack and drink, meaning our meal deal remains great value and the ideal way to grab lunch on-the-go.

"With millions of possible combinations across our stores, our recent improvements to ingredients and more than 20 new mains introduced this summer, the Tesco meal deal has got something for every taste."

The cost of the premium meal deal is unchanged at £5.

How does this compare?

Waitrose has the most expensive meal deal at £5 for the main, snack and drink combo.

In July, Sainsbury increased the cost of its lunchtime meal deal by 25p from £3.50 to £3.75.

AMorrisonsmeal deal costs £3.50, which is the same asCo-op members - though non-members pay £4.

Asdadoesn't offer a fixed price for its meal deal. Instead, it operates a 3 for 2 system, which gives customers the cheapest item for free.

If you read the Money blog on Friday you'll remember Gail's bakery chain came under fire for repurposing unsold pastries into croissants and selling them for almost £4 the next day.

We reported how the retailer lists the "twice baked" chocolate almond croissants as part of its "Waste Not" range, which means it is made using leftover croissants that are then "topped with almond frangipane and flaked almonds".

The scheme was criticised online, with many pointing out the £3.90 price tag is 95p more than the original croissant.

It's worth reiterating that the practice was not invented by Gail's - almond croissants were originally created by French boulangeries to reuse day-old croissants and stop them going stale.

We asked Gail's for comment and didn't hear back until late yesterday - this is what they said...

"We created our Waste Not range at Gail's to make good food go further.

"Our almond croissants and chocolate and almond croissants are strong favourites in our bakeries. Thecroissants are soaked in demerara syrup and topped with our house-made frangipane spread, alongside crunchy almonds.

"The day-oldcroissants are sturdier than fresh ones, making them the perfect bake to be used.

"We are big supporters of improving food systems, working with companies such as Too Good To Go and Neighbourly to reduce our impact on food waste and uplift communities.

"Any bakes leftover at the end of the day are shared with charitable organisations in our neighbourhoods. Through our partnership with Neighbourly, we have donated the equivalent of 81,000 meals, reaching 239 good causes."

It comes as locals in a trendy London neighbourhood signed a petition against a Gail's bakery setting up shop in their area.

After (unconfirmed) rumours began circulating that the chain was looking to open a site in Walthamstow village, more than 600 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The petition says the village "faces a threat to its uniqueness" should Gail's move into the area.

Read more...

Basically, Section 75 is a way to get your money back if a retailer hasn't provided the goods or services you paid for - so long as you used a credit card or point of sale loan.

The price of the purchase must bebetween£100.01 and £30,000, but you only have to spend one penny of it using a credit card for your rights to kick in.

Section 75 is enshrined in law - the Consumer Credit Act 1974 - and allows you to raise a claim with your bank for a breach of contract or misrepresentation by the retailer.

The protection was put in place to make sure customers are not forced to pay off debt for faulty goods and services - or those that never arrive - by making the lender just as liable as the retailer.

When does Section 75 apply?

• Goods or services were not as described
• They were poor quality, defective, or not fit for purpose
• An item never arrived - including if the seller went bust
• A service wasn't carried out with reasonable care

How does it work?

You should contact your bank, who will investigate how you made your purchase and who was involved.

There needs to be a clear agreement between the customer, the supplier and your bank.

"They will ask for more details – explain how your consumer rights have been breached, you have exhausted all options with the retailer and cannot resolve your dispute," consumer champion Scott Dixon, fromthe Complaints Resolver, told the Money blog.

"You need to push hard on S75 claims, as claims are often rejected on the first attempt."

It is useful to have supporting information to hand, like proof of payment, contracts, terms and conditions, screenshots of product descriptions, correspondence, photo evidence or - in some cases - independent assessments.

Scott added: "If you reach a stalemate with the credit card provider or finance company, ask for a deadlock letter setting out their final position so you can submit a formal complaint (with the final response/deadlock letter) to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

"They do not like cases being referred to the FOS as it costs them money."

When doesn't Section 75 apply?

• You paid with a debit card, charge card, cash, credit card cheque, or bank transfer;
• You paid with your PayPal balance (but you are protected if you used PayPal Credit);
• The credit was given under an overdraft or general-purpose bank loan;
• You purchased multiple items that only cost between £100.01 and £30,000 when added together;
• You bought the item from a third-party seller, like Amazon Marketplace or a travel agent;
• You used a buy now, pay later service or a hire purchase.

And read more from our Basically series here...

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

Rising optimism about the prospects of a ceasefire in the war in Gaza has sent the price of oil - and shares in energy giants – tumbling.

The cost of a barrel of benchmark Brent Crude has dropped to just over $76 (£58), the lowest price since the beginning of the month.

Shares in Shell and BP have also both slipped by around 2% in early trading.

Hopes of cooling tensions in the Middle East have helped ease fears of risks to supplies in the region.

Other factors said to be having an impact on oil prices include an increase in production at Libya's Sharara oilfield and concerns over China's slowing economy, including slower industrial output.

Another big faller this morning is BT Group. Its shares are down more than 5% after it was announced that Sky will launch full fibre broadband services next year on the network of BT's rival Cityfibre.

The falls have contributed to the FTSE 100 dipping by more than 0.5% on Tuesday, with the FTSE 250 also down 0.13%.

Gainers include easyJet Plc, which is up more than 1.2% amid optimism over the tourism industry this summer.

Similarly, Intercontinental Hotels Group is up by a similar level, while British Airways owner IAG is up nearly 0.8%.

Meanwhile, on the currency markets, this morning £1 buys $1.30 US or €1.17.