Kate Hewitt writes emotional stories in a variety of
genres, from romance to contemporary women's fiction to historical sagas, and blog
about village life as an American ex-pat living in England. Learn more about
Kate and her books at her website.
Toad in the Hole
Although I’m American, I’ve
spent ten years in England as an ex-pat and, more importantly, I learned to
cook in England. My children were born in England and grew up on such British
delights as sausage rolls, bakewell tarts, and sticky toffee pudding. They
never did develop a taste for Marmite!
Some people might think
English cooking is a bit stodgy and boring, but it can also be the most
wonderful comfort food. One of my favorite dishes to make for my family on a
frosty autumn night is Toad in the Hole. The name might raise a few eyebrows,
but Toad in the Hole is basically sausages in a batter mix that rises like a
giant popover, or in English terms, a Yorkshire pudding. You top the whole
thing off with gravy—delicious! Here’s my personal recipe:
Take 1 package of 8-12 thick
sausages or bratwurst and cut each sausage into thirds. Put in a 9” by 13”
baking dish and cook in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the batter
by combining the following:
2 cups flour
4 eggs
2 cups milk
Generally I combine the eggs
and milk and then add to the flour. Whisk briskly for about 2 minutes to make
the finished product light and airy.
Raise oven temperature to
400. Drain fat from sausages so there is only 1-2 tablespoons left. Add batter
to pan and cook 20-25 minutes or until the pudding is puffy and golden.
Serve with mashed potatoes,
peas, and onion gravy.
Rainy Day Sisters
When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston
falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist
mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a
charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages
and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather
is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving
widower who only hired her as a favor to Juliet.
Despite the invitation she offered,
Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet
faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a
child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help
of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and
find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference.
Buy Links
Sounds wonderful. I might have to give that a try! :) I think I'd like it with breakfast sausage.
ReplyDeleteI really LOVE English recipe titles. One of my favorite dishes is Bubble and Squeak, and Toad in the Hole looks just as tasty. Thanks! And best wishes for great sales.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate, this brings back wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteWishing you lots of success with your book!