Mini Toad in the Hole Recipe

Easy Mid Week Meal Idea for Kids

Miniature Toad in the Hole Recipe

Planning our weekly meals is the bane of my life!  This week I was inspired by an image that I saw on Pinterest of these Mini Toads in a hole.  I’m not normally one for ‘Cute Food’ but  it looked relatively easy and I was fairly confident my daughter would eat it as she loves Yorkshire puddings and sausages.

In my quest to add green things to her food, I did add a sprig of fresh rosemary to each, but if I’m honest you really could skip this.  If you’re dubious about cocktail sausages you could probably use better quality regular sausage and cut them into small pieces.

Mini Toad in the Hole
Recipe Type: Mid Week
Author: Mediocre Mum
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 24 Cocktail Sausages
  • Sunflower Oil
  • 140g Plain Flour
  • Flour Eggs
  • 200ml Milk
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Fresh rosemary (Optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.  Place two cocktail sausages in each opening of a muffin tin.  Drizzle with Sunflower oil.  Pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes.  The trick is to make sure that the oil is hot.
  2. In a separate bowl add the flour and beat in the eggs until smooth.  Gradually add the milk, season with salt and pepper.  I tend to then transfer the batter to a measuring cup as it’s easier to pour.
  3. Carefully remove the tray from the oven. Pour the batter into the holes, filling them about a third full.  At this point you can add a sprig of rosemary if you like.  Then place back in the oven and cook ‘UNDISTURBED’ for 20-25 minutes until the Yorkshire is golden brown.  Do not be tempted to open the oven door to have a sneaky peak.
  4. Serve with gravy and your child’s favourite greens.

Do you have any other quick mid-week meal ideas?  If so, please do leave a comment.  I could really use the inspiration.

Slow Cooker Leek and Potato Soup

Hearty Slow Cooker and Leek and Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon Bits

Slow Cooker Leek and Potato Soup

Apparently we have a rather large storm on the way, which is going to be comparable to the one in the 1987.  However, I wasn’t in the UK in the 80s so I missed it but I have read ‘Rumours of a Hurricane’ by Tim Lott so I have an idea how bad it was and I’m aware of Michael Fish’s infamous blunder when he assured people as a weatherman that there wasn’t a hurricane coming.  Whoops!

My storm preparations haven’t extended beyond securing the bins, bringing my washing in and having my groceries delivered this morning.  I just need to dash out and get some wine.

I can’t help thinking that it’s going to be perfect weather for soup and in this case Slow Cooker Leek and Potato Soup.  I originally got the recipe from Sainsbury’s and have made very few changes to the original.

Modifying for Slow Cooker

Like the original recipe I sautéed the leeks, potatoes, onions in a frying pan for about 10 minutes but instead of adding the stock and simmering for 20 minutes on the hob, I transferred the contents to the slow cooker and then added the stock, stirred, covered and cooked on low for 6-8 hours.   The benefit of slow cooking the soup is that we can all eat at different times if need be.  Full recipe can be found at the link above or in the description of the video.

If you do try it do pop back and let me know how you get one.

 

Easy Oven Baked Sausage and Tomato Risotto

Black Dog RisottoStir Free Sausage and Tomato Risotto

Everyone is a sucker for a photo of a cute puppy, right?  Don’t worry it will all make sense soon.

I don’t often make Risotto as I don’t have the time or patience to be standing at the cooker for 40-50 minutes stirring.  However, I came across this recipe for Sausage Risotto which is done in the oven and requires very little stirring just a bit when you brown the sausages and sauté the onion.

This reminded me how much I like risotto and now that I can do it without being chained to the stove I will be making it more as it’s such a quick and easy mid-week meal.  I’m going to try and make a Prawn and Pea Risotto at the end of the week.  I’ll let you know how it went.

Oven Baked Sausage RisottoI used Black Dog Risotto and Tomato but you could use plain Arborio rice but it probably wouldn’t have that extra zing.

Plus, A percentage of proceeds from sales of all Black Dog Deli products will go to The Labrador Rescue Trust, who have recently homed their 10,000th dog.

Hence the photo of the adorable Lab.

Easy Oven Baked Sausage and Tomato Risotto
Recipe Type: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Mediocre Mum
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 4-6 Pork Sausages
  • 1 red onion chopped
  • 300 g Arborio Rice
  • 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
  • 375 ml of chicken stock
  • 375 ml of water
  • dried parsley
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 200. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the sausages for about 10 minutes until they are brown and almost cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  2. Add the onion to the pan, you may need to add a bit more oil. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes until soft.
  3. Cut the sausages into bite-sized pieces, try not to burn your fingers. I wore an oven mitt.
  4. Add the rice to the pan and cook for a minute, stirring continuously. Add the sausages, tomatoes, stock and water and stir. Bring to a boil then transfer to an oven proof dish. Cover with foil and cook for 30-35 minutes. The liquid should have absorbed. Do check to see if the rice is cooked.
  5. Serve in large bowls and garnish with some dried parsley if you want.

 

What’s your favourite kind of Risotto?

Disclosure:  I received the Risotto complimentary for review purposes.

Meal Planning Monday – 29th April 2013

Meal Planning Monday

I do find meal planning a bit of a slog.  I usually sit down on a Sunday with my Slow Cooker Books and start trawling for recipes and making my shopping list.  Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who had a set menu every week but always keen to try new recipes.

But one thing that helps a bit is that I have a couple ‘themes’ to help me focus.  On a Monday it’s always #meatfreemonday and on Fridays we try to have fish.  So this just leaves 3 weekdays to sort out.

However, I do find that planning each week saves us time and money.  A couple of weeks ago I tried online shopping again and found I could do my shop for around £50.  However, on the weekend I went to Morrison’s, it’s usually cheap but found myself spending twice as much.  Think I will do it online again next week, it stops me from impulse buying.

This week my Slow Cooker will be busy cooking:

Monday – Aubergine Massamman Curry

TuesdayTomato, Lentil and Chorizo Soup

WednesdayAmerican Diner Style Chili

Thursday – Lamb Tagine

Friday – Smoked Cod with Bean Mash

Roll on Bank Holiday Weekend!