PRIME RIB AND YORKSHIRE PUDDING RECIPES

Steps:

• For the prime rib: In a medium bowl, combine the mustards and peppercorns. Stir to blend until it forms a paste. Place the prime rib in the roasting pan (fitted with a rack) you intend to cook it in. Place the roast, fat side up, and spread the peppercorn paste over the whole top. If marinating, refrigerate overnight.
• For the Yorkshire pudding: In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt. Stir to blend. Whisk in the eggs, one by one, and then the water. Refrigerate.
• For the prime rib: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the prime rib from the refrigerator about a half hour before cooking. This will allow the meat to come closer to room temperature and help the meat cook more evenly. Season the roast with salt. When the oven is hot, place the meat in the center of the oven. Allow it to cook 12 to 15 minutes per pound (2 1/2 to 3 hours). Cook until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees F. When the roast is close to finished, remove the Yorkshire pudding mixture from the refrigerator to allow it to come close to room temperature. Then, remove the pan from the oven and allow the meat to rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.
• To finish the Yorkshire pudding: Raise the temperature of the oven to 400 degrees F and place the baking dish for the Yorkshire pudding inside.
• Whisk all of the warm milk and some of the melted butter into the batter. When the baking dish is hot, carefully remove it from the oven and quickly add the remaining melted butter to the dish. Pour the batter over the butter and place the dish in the center of the oven. Bake in the oven until golden brown and puffy, 30 minutes. Cut into 8 wedges and serve immediately with a slice of prime rib and some of the pan drippings.

Steps:

• Make the batter before removing the prime rib from the oven: Combine the eggs and half-and-half in a bowl and whisk until they're totally combined. Throw the flour and 2 teaspoons salt into a sifter and sift them straight into the bowl. Whisk until it's nice and smooth, then refrigerate until the prime rib is ready.
• After the beef is removed from the pan, increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Use a slotted spoon to remove the peppercorns, herbs and excess salt from the drippings. Pour the remaining drippings into a separate container. They should be speckled and lovely!
• Pour a small amount (about 1/2 teaspoon or so) of the drippings into each cup of a standard muffin pan and place the pan in the hot oven for a couple of minutes, or until just before the drippings begin to smoke.
• Carefully remove the pan from the oven and immediately fill the muffin cups about 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake 13 to 14 minutes, or until they've "popped" about as much as they can pop. Serve them in a basket with a pretty napkin right next to the prime rib.
• Move the oven rack to the bottom and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F, then start with the seasoning: Grab the peppercorns and throw them in a big plastic bag and pound them with a rolling pin to break them open. Pull the leaves off the rosemary and thyme sprigs. Throw the crushed peppercorns into a bowl with the salt and herb leaves and add the minced garlic. Use your fingers to toss it all together, then set it aside.
• Place the beef, fat-side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Drizzle the olive oil all over the surface and rub it in with your hands. Sprinkle the peppercorn-herb-salt mixture all over the surface of the beef, pressing it lightly with your hands.
• Roast the beef 45 minutes for the first stage. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F and insert a meat thermometer sideways into the roast. Roast the beef an additional 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the thermometer registers 120 degrees F to 135 degrees F in the center for medium rare. (The meat will continue to cook for a bit after you remove it from the oven.)
• Remove the beef from the rack and let it rest about 15 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. When you're ready to serve, carve it into slices of your preferred width.