Sausage and Bacon Toad in the Hole

Wednesday 1 September 2010



We've been craving it for more than a few weeks now . . . but it's not really a summer meal. Those few cold days we had late last week though gave us the perfect excuse to indulge ourselves.

Todd was one very happy camper. He is a meat and potatoes man, through and through, and all of this lighter summer food we've been eating for a couple of months now . . . salads and such . . . just doesn't cut the mustard with him for very long. He's been really longing for a tasty meal that he could really sink his choppers into!



It had been ages since I had made it, and I thought it was long overdue. I could have made the cadillac of Toad in the Hole recipes . . . it's the one that I usually make, but then . . . I found an interestingly different version in one of my many cookery books.



I found this Sausage and Bacon version in a little cookery book I own entitled, *Easy British Cooking* , put out by Ryland, Peters and Small. It's a lovely little compendium of simple, feel good, and comforting favourites.



There's everything in this cookery book from warming soups and satisfying main dishes to sweetly indulgent and scrummy puddings! I actually have several volumes in their Easy series and each one is chock full of lovely recipes. I highly recommend them! They're not that expensive and they are worth every penny spent. You can actually pick this one up on here for less than seven pounds, which is a real bargain.



I have a collection of some over 200 cookery books. Some of them quite expensive . . . but the truth is that these little economical books are cookbooks you will find yourself turning to again and again, and I'm not being paid to say that!!

Anyways back to toad in the hole . . .



This is a delicious version . . . with fat and herby pork sausages, wrapped in scrummy bacon, nestled amongst onions and then baked in a tasty batter pudding! (Note Todd patting his tummy in anticipation in the above photo!) It goes without saying that you want to use a good pork sausage, preferably a butcher's one without a lot of fillers and of course dry cure smoked bacon will give you the nicest flavour without a lot of water.

Need I say more?



*Sausage and Bacon Toad in the Hole*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

Toad in the hole . . . cept better, coz there's bacon! Plan ahead as you need to have the milk and eggs at room temperature and the batter needs to sit for half an hour before using.

175g of flour (1 heaping cup)
2 large free range eggs, room temperature
150ml each of milk and water (3/4 cup each), room temperature
800g of good quality pork sausages (I get mine from our local butcher)
(That's about a pound and a half)
8 rashers of streaky bacon (I use dry cured, smoked and rindless)
2 red onions, peeled and cut into wedges *
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Sift the flour into a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Whisk the eggs, water and milk together and pour into the well. Stir with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth batter. Let rest for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 220*C/ 425*F/ gas mark 7. Grease a large roasting tin or 4 to 6 individual pie dishes and place them into the oven.

Wrap the bacon around the sausages. Place in the hot roasting tin or pie dishes and place the wedges of onion around them. Pour the batter over top and then place back into the oven to bake for 30 minutes, WITHOUT opening the door. At the end of that time the batter should be well risen and browned and the sausages and bacon should be cooked.

Serve with mash and onion gravy!

*Note - I used regular onions when I cooked this, as they were all that I had. They worked out fine . . . they just weren't as pretty as the red ones!

9 comments

  1. toppear@wildblue.net1 September 2010 at 07:09

    I adore good British cooking, although I can't serve it to my husband, who was born with opinions he will never change. He visited the UK in the seventies, and I think had one too many fry-ups at cheap "caffs" around Paddington. So he's dead set against all the warm, fuzzy goodness British cooking can be. Question: I'm looking to replace an amazing cookbook I had years ago, before a friend swiped it. It was called Home Bakings (I recall), or British Bakings. It was a great recipe book for all the usual suspects: Eccles cakes, rock cakes, spice cake, etc, etc. Any modern suggestions? Best, Erica

    ReplyDelete
  2. HI Erica. I have several very good suggestions. These are all very good baking books:

    Mary Berry's Baking Bible by Mary Berry

    Bake by Rachel Allen

    Leiths Baking Bible by Fiona Burrell and Susan Spaull

    The Great British Book of Baking: 120 best-loved recipes from teatime treats to pies and pasties by Linda Collister

    If you are looking for a good all round cookery book, which has just about how to cook anything in it, I would highly recommend

    The Complete Illustrated Cookery Course, classic edition by Delia Smith

    Any of the National Trust books are good as well. I highly recommend:

    Complete Traditional Recipe Book by Sarah Edington

    Hope this helps!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, wonderful, Marie! I've always heard of Toad in the Hole, but have never seen a recipe for it--looks yummy!

    I'm going to check out that link for the cookbook, too--looks like a great one!

    I hope you're having a wonderful first day of September...here it is still August...for more 4 minutes! Ah, I love the fall! Makes me happy just thinking about it! All the sweaters, chill in the air, comfort food...bliss!

    Many, many warm hugs and loving thoughts sent your way tonight, dear friend!

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Now that is a proper, hearty dish for autumn... my Hubby would love this! It's just so English... love it! Happy Day, dear friend--LOVE YOU LOTS ((BIG HUGS))

    ReplyDelete
  5. That has to be English; i have never seen it on any menu in Canada; thank you for sharing your recipe.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Marie! This looks like something Ray would love. I'm just getting caught up after this horrid week and SO glad I saw this
    xoxo Pattie

    ReplyDelete
  7. This look delicious Marie, like all your recipes, love your english cooking! I learn a lot with you, send you huggs and how is Mitzie ? and Todd? xoxoxo gloria

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Marie, perhaps even more delictible are your writings with the beautiful recipes. This Toad in the Hole is CLASSIC! Great blog.

    Keri

    www.samwich365.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just as a side note, sausages wrapped in bacon are called 'pigs in blankets' and are usually served with a traditional English Christmas dinner :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!