Toad In The Hole

Had your barbecue lit much this month? Nope, us neither. Here's a nice warming supper dish for you.

Wrap the sausages in streaky bacon first if you've got some.

Serves 3
splash of olive oil
6 fat and herby pork sausages
100g plain flour
bit of English mustard powder or 1 tbsp wholegrain
1 egg
150ml milk
150ml water

Preheat the oven to 200C / Gas 6. Place the sausages and oil in a small ovenproof dish - metal is probably best as it will rise more easily and not stick to the sides. Roast for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the flour and mustard in a bowl with a bit of salt and pepper and make a well in the centre. Crack in the egg then gradually beat and in the liquid to make a smoothish batter.

Pour round the hot sausages and bake for 30 - 40 miutes until cirps and golden brown. Serve sizzling.

"Hello? Landcroft House..."

"Hello Landcroft House, it's Robert Wyatt from Soft Machine and a load of really great solo records and stuff here..."
"Hey Robert. Thanks for calling. Could you tell me one thing?"
"It would be my pleasure."
"OK, what’s the greatest record ever made?"
"Well, for me it's Such Sweet Thunder by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, 1957. It’s the Shakespeare suite, not the greatest piece of music ever, but Ellington’s visceral physicality is matched with a melodic ingenuity and this incredible sense of architecture. These are miniature, masterful compostions, beautifully played. He wrote pieces for the musicians that played on it, so the music is individually tailored. The record is a distilled example of everything that was good about 20th century American music. But, importantly, don’t get put off by the oom-pah track at the start. Does that sound good?"
"Perfect! Thanks Robert."
"Thank you, Landcroft House..."