Kissing frogs has been in the news this week. Apparently, children, inspired by the new Disney movie The Princess and The Frog have been giving our amphibious friends big smackers in the hope they turn into princes. This is not advisable as you can catch salmonella doing that. Plus a few other things I imagine.
I never kissed frogs as a kid. Bleugh. But I did throw a few. Fifty-one of them to be precise. When I was twelve, we moved somewhere with a revolting slimy pond. It was to be drained and filled in but was full of frogs. Using one of those fishing nets on a stick I was charged with catching the frogs and plunging them into an old plastic Mothercare nappy bucket with a lid on it. Twenty six frogs and one very full bucket later, myself and two neighbours’ children dragged the contents to the nearby canal, ostensibly to release them “back to the wild”.
Pouring the bucket of frogs gently into the water seemed a dull send-off so my friends and I had a competition to see who could throw them furthest across the canal. This probably didn’t do them much good.
One week on, the frogs had returned. Hopping mad with no pond. Probably not the same ones as they were more likely dead from impact. We caught another twenty-five and staged frog throwing contest part 2. They never came back after that.
Toad in the Hole
Serves 2
Ingredients:
4-6 good quality sausages
1 tbsp lard or vegetable fat such as trex
100g plain flour
Large pinch salt
1 large egg
250ml milk
1 tbsp melted butter
Method:
1. Set oven to 210c (Gas mark 7). Arrange the sausages in a non-stick deep oven dish approx 20 x 20cm. Prick them and dot the Trex or lard on the surface of the dish. Bake in oven for ten minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare your batter. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl (or directly onto the scales if you are saving on washing up like me). Beat the egg and milk together in a jug. Tip in the melted butter and stir quickly.
3. Spoon the flour and salt into the milk mix. Stir in. It will probably be lumpy so I give mine quick whizz with hand blender to remove lumps.
4. Take the sausages out of the oven and pour in the batter. Return to centre shelf in oven for 30 minutes.
5. Keep an eye on your toad, cover with foil if it looks like he is burning. After the 30 minutes are up, turn down temperature to 190c (gas mark 5) and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
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Hilarious! This is just too funny for Valentines day!
Awwww. that's so cute. And yummy looking and sounding too! Good luck with your entry in the contest. And did I already thank you for your comments on my blog….cause if not …THANKS. Drop by if you are in the mood for steak!!!
Cheers
SAUCY
What a grand way to make toad in the hole pretty. 🙂 I remember my first time having this, at an English Pub restaurant in Victoria, Canada. I loved it. 🙂
Your toad story cracked me up! Totally sounds like something my brothers and I would've done. 🙂
So cuteeeeeeeeee! Same over here, my children want absolutely to see that movie.
lol … made me laugh first thing in the morning 🙂
Cant wait for my little boy to grow up and do cute things too :)) …
Love the heart shaped toad in the hole
Wow. This is the most gorgeous Toad in a Hole I've ever seen. I never kissed a frog either. Yuck.
Thanks for stopping by my kitchen. It's nice to meet you and I'm looking forward to your posts about Provence.
Sam
ha ha cute and funny. 🙂
Your toad is SO adorable and I love the little kermit peeking out from the side of the picture! 😀
Ooh I love toad in the hole with lashings of onion gravy xo
Oh, you really made me laugh. I never either kissed or even touched a frog 🙂 Ugh!!!!
I've only heard about a Todd in the Hole couple of months ago. I should give it a go sometime. Yours looks wonderful.
Oh dear – frog tossing! Maybe an Olympic sport where Britain has a medal hope?! 😉 Very funny story. Love the Bambi toad-in-the-hole too – perfect for our grim weather…