Tell a true Yorkshirewoman she can't knock the skin off a rice pudding and expect to be in big bother.

When Diane Johnson recreates her granny's recipe for the traditional dish, the skin is a sought-after delicacy.

Now the Bradford dialect poet's tried and trusted method of making the family favourite has won her the top spot on a new TV show.

The 63-year-old grandmother's rice pudding was voted pick of the day on The People's Cook Book, a UKTV Food programme to be premiered on Monday, February 12.

Fronted by top chefs Antony Worrall-Thompson and Paul Rankin, it charts people's lives through their love of food.

Diane's winning rice pudding recipe will be included in The People's Cook Book of culinary favourites showcased in the series.

Sharing the TV limelight is Diane's granddaughter Jessica, 12.

Jessica was filmed making the pudding at Diane's home in Pasture Lane, Clayton.

The cameras then switched to a hotel at Masham, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, where Paul Rankin made Diane's rice pudding. The dish beat competition from five other regional favourites, including a magnificent steamed pudding that Diane was convinced would capture the top spot.

Diane, who has a husband Roy and daughters Amanda and Lisa, said: "I was surprised and delighted when my pudding was picked by the judges.

"It is very basic because my grandchildren do not want fancy touches.

"My granny cooked it on a range. She put it in the oven at the side of the fire and it stopped there all day."

Diane has been cooking with Jessica, a pupil at Queensbury Upper School, since she was three. She is a great believer in young people learning to cook properly and not resorting to food from tins.

Diane put pen to paper five years ago after completing a creative writing course at Bradford College. She performs her work in the area and is a member of Bradford Writers' Circle. She is the author of several short stories and her plays are showcased at Page to Stage events at The Priestley Theatre, Bradford.

"I write all sorts of poetry, speciality written to be spoken in the Yorkshire way," she said.

Her publishing debut is an article to appear in Yorkshire magazine Down Your Way.

When the show goes on the air, the hunt will begin for more favourite recipes for a follow-up series in September.

For more information go to www.uktvfood.co.uk

GRANNY'S RICE PUDDING

Ingredients:

4oz rice, 3oz sugar, 1 pints full cream milk, 1 knob best butter, hot water.

Method:

Light oven at Gas Mark 6/200C/400F; Place rice in a large saucepan; Cover with hot water and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until all the water has disappeared; Tip contents into a large glass bowl, add butter, sugar and milk and stir until well mixed; Place in middle of oven for half-an-hour then reduce heat to Gas Mark 3/160C/325F; Bake for another hour or until skin has formed and is nicely brown.

e-mail: jenny.loweth@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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