Thursday, June 25, 2009

Toad in the Hole

Ive had an eventful few days as you know if you've read my previous, enormously long post...I won't blame you if you haven't, but needless to say, cooking was the furthest thought from my mind. I had lots planned for today, much of which got cancelled (hair, eyebrows, manicure, pedicure...all the holiday fripperies...I'll be wearing a coat, headscarf and dark glasses all week) and looked after poor wee sick Lucy instead. It was actually really rather nice as we cuddled a lot and I got to lie down for a moment, a huge novelty during the day.

By the time dinner rolled around I'd decided to stop being a wuss and make my kids a proper tea. I wanted to use up fridge and kitchen ingredients as we're off on holiday so I decided on Toad in the Hole. For those of you not familiar with such delicacies as Toad in the Hole or Spotted Dick or even Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, do not be afraid. This is no amphibian picnic; this is simply sausages cooked with a Yorkshire Pudding batter.

If there is one thing I'm happy to wax lyrical on, it is the joy of my particular Yorkshire Pudding (adapted from Nigella's). Never has a pudding been so foolproof, so wonderful and so easy. Mixed with sausages, it is one of those classic English dishes that may make you wonder about us Brits but believe me, this is a delight...a stodgy delight, but a delight nonetheless and one which children LOVE. Add gravy and you've given them a little plate of memories. Add onion gravy and adult guests will love you too!



Toad in the Hole

Yorkshire Pudding Batter
325ml semi-skimmed milk
4 large eggs
250g plain flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil

Sausages
Hotdog sausages (if preferred)


Whisk together the milk, eggs and salt until huge bubbles appear and leave to stand for 15-20 minutes. Then, whisk in the flour and then leave it until required. Do not re-whisk.

If using this for Yorkshire Pudding only, then the best way to cook it is to pour a little oil...around half a teaspoon each...into muffin tins. Place tin in an oven at 220oC and let the muffin tray heat up until really hot, around 15 minutes for an already heated oven. Take the tin out of the oven using oven gloves and pour the batter into each individual muffin hole. Place in oven for around 15-20 minutes and watch in awe as each little Yorkshire muffin rises and turns golden. Serves best with roast beef and you definitely need gravy! Feel free to use a large tin though...approx. 25cm across for a round one. It will sink in the middle...it is supposed to with this dish and will still taste divine.

So, for Toad in the Hole, do all of the above but do not use a muffin tin; use any casserole dish and pour in a little oil. Place dish in oven for the 15 minutes and then brown off the sausages in a frying pan. Take dish from hot oven, pour in batter which should start to bubble and toss in the sausages...carefully mind you...and place back in the oven for 20-30 minutes. If it looks ready then it's ready. It rises gloriously so serve right away as it can on occasion start to deflate slightly...just like any baked food.

I added some extra hotdog sausages this time. I'm not a huge fan of these with the pudding but the kids love it and Lucy even prefers it. Serve the Toad, pour over beef gravy and watch the happiness....particularly husband.

I reckon this costs £3.47 for the entire dish and could happily feed six so approx. 56 pence per portion! That is what I call a bargain.

£1.40 Half Pack Sausages
£0.50 Hotdogs (Asda special offer)
£1 Asda Freerange Large eggs, approx. 25p each
22pence Milk
25pence flour (HomePride)
10pence oil


11 comments:

MzUnicaHija19 said...

The recipe looks very interesting, I might try one of these days!

Stopping by from SITS, www.mrszeus.blogspot.com

Jennifer said...

I am so sorry about your accident. I just read your post below! I hope you're feeling ok!

Ok I must say I've never seen a reciepe as unique as this!! Haha, hotdogs in a casserole?! Wow! And you live in Scottland! That's awesome!! :)

Cute kiddos!

Single Mama NYC said...

I'm going to have to start using a currency converter for the food prices. :-)

Becky @ Our Sweet Peas said...

This is apparently one of those recipes that we Americans have botched up because for me "toad in a hole" was toast grilled with a hole in the middle. You add an egg, fry it and that my dear british friend was "toad in a hole". Funny??

The Vintage Kitten said...

Hi Thanks so much for stopping by and wishing me Happy Birthday. Ooh Neeps and Tatties and Toad in the Hole (proper food!!) lovely. I use James Martins recipe for Yorkshire pudding and its never failed me yet. He uses a pint of milk to 8 eggs, but I half it for us. How lovely for your friend to be a pastry chef in Bettys, I love Harrogate, but eventually would like to live in Scotland, I always feel a
'at home' there (I think I was Scottish in a previous life!!!) I once even put Black Watch tartan wallpaper up in my house. X

Helen McGinn said...

Mrs. Zeus...you should, tis grand!

Future Mama, thank you, I'm much better now. Hotdogs are definitely not usual but hey, it's all about using up supplies and saving money and if the kids love it, I say go for it! :O)

NYC Mama, I promise to convert some of them for you!

Becky...ROTFL. I love it! Hey, I made toad in the hole for years purely with eggs as that is how my mum preferred it. That is, after all, how new recipes are born.

Vintage Kitty, Ah, James Martin.....mmm. Black Watch Tartan wallpaper sounds magnificent.

Little Ms Blogger said...

I have to admit, I've always thought the same as Becky (egg in the middle of bread).

Hmmm...it sounds like a lot more work than just putting the dog in the bun and topping it with gravy.

I'll have to think about it. I might do it because I'd now be making the right Toad in a Hole.

Btw, I read your post about falling in the hole. How horrible. I hope you're feeling better.

Helen McGinn said...

It's worth a go LMB...it is really easy and tasty but you really should use 'proper' sausages the first time. The hotdogs aren't to my taste at all in this dish. Thank you, btw, I feel much better. :O) xx

Dawna said...

It looks interesting : ) Anything with sausage and batter bread has to be delicious! It also looks like something that the little ones would enjoy helping me put together. Thanks for sharing!

Marina@EBMR said...

oh my.....so filling and I think this must be tried at our home!Thanks!

Happy Sat Sharefest!

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