Random Thoughts of Chris Tilley

Bachelor Fare time again. My family is away for the week and I had a craving. For those of you that don't know what 'Toad in the hole' is, it is basically Yorkshire Pudding with sausages in it. The picture on the wikipedia page is the traditional way and the way my mother used to make it. I do things a little differently and use muffin tins.

Toad in the Hole (Makes 12)

Preheat oven to 450

• 6 sausages
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs (add one egg for every 1000 feet you are above sea level)

Cut the sausages in half and put half a sausage in each muffin tin. Put in the oven and brown. We want so grease out of the sausage to cook the Yorkshires in. If the sausage don't provide any oil add a little olive oil. I have a little pump spritzer for oil that works well. As the sausages cook we will mix up the Yorkshire Puddings.

In a bowl add the flour and stir in the salt. Add the milk and beat well, a minute or 2 with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and beat. Pour over the sausages, filling each tin to 1/2 to 3/4 full. Put in the oven and turn the temperature down to 400. Bake for 25 minutes.

I made Rice Krispie Squares the other night. Its a really simple recipe and absolutely addicting. I have tried them with all the fancy additions like Smarties, chocolate chips and cocoa powder. They don't stack up to the classic. However the footballs on the Rice Krispie recipe page look cute.

The best part is I made it with my two kids (aged 5 and 2 1/2) helping. The biggest problem was keeping them from eating all the marshmallows. This a case where I highly recommend 'Mise en place' even with the kids eating my marshmallows. The kids get to measure and stir. I do the last steps because you have to work quick.

The entire batch disappeared in about 24 hours. My daughter (2 1/2) definitely helped. She has long since learned to move chairs to reach treats and always know were the good stuff is to eat. Tonight she ate 5 sausages, rice, apple sauce and veggies compared to dads 4. She is definitely in a growth spurt.

Food Blogga has such mouth watering pictures I had to have a try photographing my cooking experiments. So far this is my best photo.