Havisham for the Holidays

I thought recognizing a completely crazy female literary character would be the perfect way to launch this website. The concept for Burlock as a company is based on all the eccentric women in my family-starting with my grandmother and includes my mother, my aunt, and even myself.

Miss Havisham was jilted by her fiancé many years prior and spends her time in a faded wedding dress with a decaying feast on her dining room table. But if she were to clear the nuptial debris and host a holiday meal she might serve a roast goose with apples and prunes or perhaps a haunch of Mutton. In an effort to find a fabulous recipe from Regency England I came across a traditional English dish that is fabulous in a different way-Toad in the Hole.

While it’s definitely not suited for Miss Havisham’s Holiday meal, it is well suited for your belly in about 20 minutes! It’s easy and well-suited for the shorter days of the year. And let’s face it, this is perfect for holiday time if you become as crazed as the average person.

This is definitely needs onion gravy and goes well with roasted root veggies. Or steamed carrots and peas and mashed potatoes.

Toad in the Hole
6 medium sized sausagelinks
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
4 tbsp. oil
Cook your sausages in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until cooked through.
Blend flour, salt, eggs, milk together until very smooth, scraping bowl occasionally (a blender also works well for this).
Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Measure oil into 8 x 8 x 2 inch square Pyrex pan. Heat for 2 minutes.
Add sausages to oil in bottom of pan (be careful-- the oil may spit)
Pour batter into pan and bake for 20-30 minutes. Do not open door. Serve immediately, with gravy if desired.

For a slightly more involved version that includes fresh herbs see Jamie Oliver’s recipe, here. He also has a quick onion gravy on this page.