Vegetarian Toad-in-the-Hole

Well the sunshine has gone away again for a little while and we're back to the wet chilly days and comfort is needed.  Driving to work this morning I was listening to a feature on the radio about toad in the hole recipes and by the time I'd got to work, that was it, I decided toad-in-the-hole would be on the menu this evening.  Its been ages since I've made it but its easy to make and perfect comfort food for chilly days - this is a low fat, vegetarian version but still tasty.

Ingredients:

(serves 4)

65g plain flour

100ml skimmed milk or soya milk

1 medium egg

1 teaspoon of rosemary

1 teaspoon of thyme

half a level teaspoon of salt

half a teaspoon of ground black pepper

4 vegetarian sausages

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (or 180 C for a fan oven)
• Sieve flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle - pour the milk into this.
• Add the eggs, herbs, salt and pepper and whisk, starting at the liquid centre and gradually incorporating the flour from the sides until there are no lumps.  Set to one side at room temperature whilst you prepare the sausages.
• Prick the sausages (if they are in a "skin") and lightly coat in olive oil.  Place in a medium sized cooking dish and put in the oven for 15 minutes to brown.
• Then remove from the oven to pour the batter into the dish and return to the oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until the batter is golden brown.

Great served with some fresh vegetables and onion gravy (lower calorie version) or a small jacket potato and baked beans (extra comfort version!)