EPT![[image loading]](http://www.rivercottage.net/var/members/member72406/Toad-in-the-hole.jpg)
Today's item.
So since it's the holiday season and whatever I figured I should pick something that would actually be a pretty good Christmas dinner dish. So this is called toad in the hole and it's an English recipe. I understand we have a lot of English people on TL, so of course I'm logically led to ask the following question: what is up with English food names? I mean seriously. Spotted dick, banger, knickerbocker glory, and "chips"? I mean, fries at least kind of make sense (French-fried potatoes)... sort of.
![[image loading]](http://www.watkissonline.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/toadinhole.jpg)
Pictured: absolutely nothing that looks like a toad.
So back to the food, toad in the hole is basically sausages in Yorkshire pudding. Come to think of it, Yorkshire pudding doesn't make sense either since it's really more of a bread than a pudding. Although, according to that infallible tome of knowledge, Wikipedia, "true" Yorkshire puddings are supposed to be flat so I guess that would kind of make sense. Anyways the sausages are usually smothered in gravy and then served with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
![[image loading]](http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9750/images/9750_MEDIUM.jpg)
I mean, "snake in the hole" would make a lot more sense. Plus it could be the title of another bad movie starring Samuel L. Jackson.
I've never made this before, but after hours of backbreaking menial labor on Google I've managed to acquire some knowledge on how it is made. First you cook the sausages separately, then you make the Yorkshire pudding batter from milk, water, and flour. Then you pour the batter over the sausages in a deep-sided baking tin or pan and cook!
![[image loading]](http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5822/images/5822_MEDIUM.jpg)
Or how about worms in the hole? Am I ruining anyone's appetite yet?
Now there's a lot of variations on this. Personally I prefer adding some onion in there, but you can add all kinds of stuff, from carrots to green beans to corn. Most recipes recommend seasoning the batter as well, and maybe adding some garlic or cheese or something. Other suggestions are mustard oil, sunflower oil, and et cetera. You can also replace the sausages with turkey sausages or vegan sausages or just scrap them entirely for a vegetarian alternative. But if you're making it without fatty sausages, make sure to add oil to the batter to make it rise while baking.
![[image loading]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJTVotfUwJA/SS2T1nvG8KI/AAAAAAAAAUM/i8DKsa79DuA/s400/toad-in-the-hole1.jpg)
Vegetarian
As for adding to the dish, typically onion gravy is used, but theoretically you can add anything, I've seen people eat it with ketchup and maple syrup. Other possibilities include butter or jam or parmesan cheese. Then you can add to the dish with whatever vegetables you like. Typically this will serve multiple people, great for a Christmas dinner, but as you can see you can use smaller tins to make little plate-sized servings.
![[image loading]](http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1749/besttoadinthehole.jpg)
Toad in the hole is also the name of a pub game, and amazingly the naming makes more sense in that regard
In my experience yorkshire pudding is a kind of hard to find item in parts of the US, and you typically have to go to these like steakhouses or these prime rib places to get it, so many people have actually never tried it even though it's basically like, an English version of pancakes and relatively simple to make. This dish is a pretty good, if not artery-annihilating, dinner item and can be eaten with family or as a comfort food. Consider it this Christmas or whenever!
![[image loading]](http://www.seriouseats.com/images/20081125ToadintheHole.jpg)
Next edition: desserts!
