Image: Jeffrey Bary

Popovers are one of my favorite Maine dishes and this recipe is sure to produce the puffiest rolls you've ever eaten.  I love them fresh out of the oven, when the tall, crisp shell of the pastry breaks open to reveal a steaming light interior. The bread inside is airy and pocketed so that toppings or fillings fit inside very nicely.  It's a versatile side dish, snack or desert.

Image: Stacy Spensley

Every summer we take a trip to the Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park to have tea and popovers, where we eat them with butter and jam.  That's always a fun trip, lounging under umbrellas in the afternoon sun watching the bees lazily seek out forgotten jam stores. They used to serve the jam in these amazing lidded pots but a friend who worked there said too many bees got trapped in them, creating nasty surprises for those busing the tables.

Grammy makes them for our family Thanksgiving meal as well.  She serves them as dinner rolls with butter.  Of course, they're excellent every time because she's spent years perfecting them and they always come out golden, tall and fluffy.  

I got a popover pan from her this year for Christmas and I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet, but I chanced upon this recipe the other day and decided, it's time to give the popover some practice.  I'm going to share the recipe in hopes of inspiring you to try out this fantastic dish yourself.

Maine Popovers Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour 
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and grease the cups of a muffin or popover tin.
2. Beat eggs lightly, adding in the flour, milk and salt until just smooth.  Be careful that you don't overbeat the batter. Fill the tin cups about 1/2 full with batter.
3. Bake the popovers for 20 minutes at 450 degrees F, then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 20 minutes.  
4. Remove the popovers from the tin as soon as they leave the oven.  They are best when served right away.

Keep in mind, this is only a basic popover recipe.  There are tons of variations out there for creative bakers looking to wow a crowd.  You could add special fillings, butters, herb and spices, or even cheese to the mix and have a Maine inspired adventure for your taste buds!