A New Hat and GF Toad in the Hole

"Now you go home and buy yourself a new hat."  All Through the Night  (1942)

Well that doesn't make sense, unless she lived in a hat shop.  It just shows how men were so apt to placate the women in their lives with a new hat.  This movie, All Through the Night, stars Humphrey Bogart as 'Gloves Donohue'.  He is speaking to his mother.  Ironically he drops everything if she has a "feeling" about anything, but once she arrives he wants to send her home.  Lured by a new hat.  Now if he said, "now you go home and make some Toad in the Hole.", at least it makes sense.  Yes, there is such a thing and I have a yummy gluten-free version.

Toad in the hole is a bit of sausage cooked inside an egg soufflé.  It is a great lunch with a green salad, or a hearty item for Sunday Brunch.

Toad in the Hole

Makes 6 souffles

2 mild sausages
6 oz. brown English Ale
1/2 cup Zazu & Violets' gluten free flour mix
1/4 tsp. xanthan gum
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
3 oz. whole milk 
olive oil
fresh thyme

Sauté the sausages in a little oil until browned all over.  Pour in 3 oz. of the Ale, cover and cook for 20 more minutes, turning in the sauce until it is reduced and thickened.  Remove sausages and when cooled, cut into thirds.

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together the flour, xanthan gum and salt.  Stir in the eggs then slowly whisk in the remaining 3 oz. of the Ale and the milk.  Place a little olive oil in the bottom of 6 molds in a muffin tin. Put the tin into the hot oven for 5 minutes until the oil is smoking hot.  Remove the tin carefully, use a brush to paint the sides of the molds with some of the hot oil and divide the batter evenly among the 6 molds.  Push a piece of sausage in the center of each and sprinkle with some fresh thyme.  Bake for 15 minutes, no peeking, until the the batter puffs and looks golden.  Serve immediately.

These are irresistible right out of the oven, but they also re-heat well, the souffle will settle a little.  The English Brown Ale lends a nice nutty flavor to the dish and it is in keeping with its origin.  Cheers!

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