Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Cooking Time : 1 hour

Serving : 4 members

Description

Toad in the hole . Sounds like a short story title in a story book , isn’t it ? But it’s the name of this dish .  This recipes is from the magazine “recipes “, my brother had sent me as a surprise a few months bake . Not knowing what to cook for breakfast when my daughter and son – in – law were here . Was going through this magazine and came across this recipe . Sounded wired , easy and nice . Gave it a try and was quite bland and light . I would prefer adding some dried herds and chilli flakes to suit our Indian pallet . Very English thought . Now the word “English” just takes me to all the compliments I get now a days for my write ups ( more than my recipes at times :-)) ) I myself didn’t know I had this writing skill in me until I started my page . But I still feel my English teachers mrs .padmini menon and mr . Victor selvin  are to take full credit for my write ups . Mrs . Padmini taught me until my 4 th standard . She was the one who taught me how to use a dictionary . We were asked to write down five new words from the dictionary every day with its meaning and frame a sentence using the word as home work . This helped me to gain knowledge in knowing new words . And mr . Victor selvin taught me from my 6 th standard on wards . His vocabulary and way of teaching and pronouncing words always excited me a lot . He never used to dictate , we were asked to copy the notes written by him on the black board With an awesome handwriting of his . I can never erase william Shakespeare’s julius ceasar  as the way he taught us its just rooted deep into me . I have had an education just up to the 9 th standard . All this is possible to me because I had good teachers who inspired me and a school ( good shepherd public school , ooty ) that churned the best out of me .

Ingredients for toad in the hole

Ingredients for onion gravy

Method for toad in the hole

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius . For the batter , sift flour into a bowl , make a well in the centre and gradually whisk in the eggs .
2. Followed by milk and water .Continue whisking until you have a smooth batter . Set aside to stand . Put the oil in a large baking tin and roast the sausages .
3. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the oil is sizzling hot and the sausages are starting to brown .
4. Remove the tin from the oven , pour the batter around the sausages and return to the oven for 30 -40 minutes or until the batter is puffed up and golden on top .

Method for the onion gravy

1. Meanwhile , Melt butter and oil in a large heavy bottomed pan over medium heat .
2. Add sliced onions and cook for 10 minutes , stirring occasionally .
3. Add brown sugar , increase the heat and cook for a further 5-10 minutes until golden in colour .
4. Remove from heat add flour and mix well . ( the amount of flour you use depends on how thick you want your gravy ) .
5. Gradually add crushed stock cubes and water .Mix until the gravy is thick and smooth .
6. Return the pan to the heat and bring slowly to boil , stirring all the time .
7. Then simmer for 2 minutes . Add pepper and check salt . ( be careful with salt as the stock cubes contain  a lot of salt ) .
8. Taste and adjust . Remove the toad in the hole from the oven and Serve hot along with the onion gravy  and some steamed veggies . 
9. you can add dried herds and chilli flakes to add more flavour .