Cooking Together: Toad in the Hole
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Today Mama is narrating a little cooking project that we did together, Toad In The Hole. All yours, Mama! ~Christy
Christy and I decided to present you with both our ways of making Toad in the Holes. We first heard about these from an old black and white movie. Christy can probably tell you the name of it and who starred in the movie. I’m the type that watches a movie and never takes note of the title or actors. I just enjoy the action. That probably tells you that we are very different types of people in most ways. But in the way it matters most, we are the best of friends.
Toad in the Hole is the recipe that I look forward to making for myself in the rare event that I am home by myself at breakfast. I guess since I have it so rarely, it has become something that I look forward to. My other indulgence is Stouffer’s Lasagna for dinner. As you can see, I am quite the gourmet. I thought that the way I make Toad in the Holes is the only and best way to prepare it. Because, as you know, mothers always know best. 😉 But then the young whippersnapper, Christy, lets me know that she has a better way, in her opinion. I love my way best because you have the little round hole which is toasted with butter and has a delightful crunchiness which is divine. She mashes her bread down in the center instead of cutting it out so she loses that. She loves her way because it is quicker and easier to prepare. Two hardheaded women trying to reinvent the wheel. I am going to walk you through both ways and let you decide which you prefer. We’d love to hear from you. Either way, the world will keep turning and we will keep cooking.
Christy’s note: The first movie we saw it in was black and white but the second movie was a Betty Grable one, Moon Over Miami. I don’t call it “Toad in the Hole”, I call it “Gas House Toast” because that is what they called it in the movies, lol. I love old movies, far better than anything made today. When I lived at home we had two old movie channels and if I was ever watching television, it was on one of those. Mama was the only person in the family who would walk by, take an interest, and sit down to watch them with me!
And I’ve always felt that my mother does everything perfectly. That’s just the thing, though! I knew, growing up, that I could never be as perfect as I viewed my mother to be so I just threw perfect out the window and figured I’d do the best I could and make sure I enjoyed the process as much as possible! That is why my way is a little less maintenance than Mama’s, but hers ends up prettier ;). I’m good with that! Now back to Mama.
Step one: Christy’s way is to melt some butter in the pan and put the bread on top. Mama’s way is to butter both sides of her bread all the way to edges and place into the hot skillet.
Step two: Christy proceeds to mash the heck out of the center of her bread until it is nice and flat. Mama takes a small glass and cuts the center out of hers.
Christy: I would not call that mashing the heck out of it, just pressing down a bit with my fingers to make a nice little cradle for my egg :).
Step three: Christy leaves her bread to cook as it is. Mama removes the round center disc and sets it to the side to get nice and golden.
Christy: Hey, it works and it’s one less step.
Step four: Christy cracks an egg onto the mashed center of her bread to allow it to begin to cook. Mama cracks an egg into the center of her bread into the hole to cook.
Step five: Christy just lets her egg sit and cook all alone but she does pierce the yolk a time or two. Mama breaks the yolk in her egg so that it completely fills the hole and the yellow is distributed.
Christy: See Mama, all those times you complained about how messy my room was growing up, I was just trying to make sure the mess was distributed.
Step six: Christy flips hers over and lets it finish cooking. Mama flips her Toad in the Hole and her round circle over so that they both continue to cook and get nice and crusty.
See, while Christy’s Toad in the Hole may require a few less steps, Mama’s Toad in the Hole has the extra little crusty hole to enjoy. Which would you prefer?
Christy: I don’t know about y’all, but I’d prefer the one that someone else cooked for me! I don’t care what you make or how you make it, if you’re cooking for me, I’m happy!
A lot of people said that Christy got her love of cooking from me. While she probably did inherit that trait, she took it and ran with it. I was satisfied with old tried and true recipes and never deviated from the way I had always seen them prepared. She went to college and learned that it was okay to trade up ingredients and experiment with food. I guess I never tried it because money was scarce and I never wanted to take a chance on ruining a dish. I have since learned from Christy that it is okay to have fun with food. If you are short one ingredient, substitute another that you like equally well. You may be surprised that you like your way even more and maybe even develop a new recipe in the process. As long as your dish is made with love, your family and friends will enjoy it.
Now take a look at both ways that we make Toad in the Holes and I’m sure you will agree that Mama’s way is best (just kidding!). If you decide that Christy’s is best for you that is okay too. Just remember to have fun in the kitchen. It is like a playroom for adults. Similar to playing with Playdoh but safer to eat. We look forward to sharing different ways that we prepare food with you! Have fun and remember Mama loves you.
Ingredients
- Slice of bread
- Butter
- Eggs
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Christy's way-
- Melt butter in skillet and place bread on top.
- Mash down center of bread so that it will hold an egg.
- Crack egg into hole, salt and pepper and cook until bottom of bread is browned.
- Turn over and continue cooking until other side is browned and egg is of desired doneness.
- Mama's way-
- Butter each side of a slice of bread.
- Cut center from bread using a small glass or cutter.
- Break egg into hole, salt and pepper and cook until bottom is browned. Place hole to the side and cook until it is also browned
- Turn Toad in the Hole and circle and continue cooking until bread is browned and egg is of desired doneness. Enjoy!
Nutrition
“It is the sweet simple things in life which are the real ones after all.”
~Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Hee hee! Sorry Christy, looks like Mama’s way wins, cuz that’s how I do them too. It’s that nice little circle… can’t resist it! My kids love these, but there are too many of them to do this often! Maybe if I did it Christy’s way, but I think they all like the circle too, rats. Nice back and forth, ladies. : )
LOL, I think we all win Becky!!!
Have made these for years Mama’s way, but have always called them eggs in a frame. Thanks for your site and all the great recipes and stories.
Thank you Jalee, so glad you are enjoying the recipes!!
I am almost 60 and for as long as I can remember the English dish we call toad in the hole is sausages in yorkshire pudding mixture baked, we have been doing eggs like this on the bbq for a long time but I don,t have a name for them, hope you and yours are doing well looking forward to the new book
Isn’t it funny how we all have different names for the same dishes? I am doing great and can’t wait to get the new book out!! Hope you are well and have a great day Judi!!
Funny story: As an eighteen year old bride, my new husband showed this to me. He called it “(our last name Special) which is what his dad called it. As in for your family,
It would be a Thomas Special. It was years before I met anyone familiar with it and now everyone makes it! My husband truly thought that his dad was the first person on earth to make this! Wouldn’t it be fun to know the story of the very first creative
cook that tried this? PS Fifty-two years later, he is still teaching me new things!
What a precious story Shelby!!! So glad he is still teaching you things today and I am like you, I would love to know the original story!
I grew up calling them egg in a basket. It was my first recipe. I do mine a little different then you and your mama. That being said, mama wins, cut out the center of the bread for the extra goodies. I leave my egg whole, so I can dip that buttery crusty piece of toast in my egg yolk.
Thanks for sharing Anne, I am loving seeing what everyone calls these and how they fix them!!
I love old movies, too. As far as Toad in the hole goes, I learned to make it the way Mama does. I have heard the way you make it Christy sometimes referred to as “egg in a basket” because the toast part is kind of hugging the egg like its resting in a basket. Both are good. I make Toad in the hole for breakfast for supper pretty often. This was a fun post to read. Thanks for sharing your different approaches. As I’ve said many times, love this site– the recipes, the stories and the encouragement. Thank you.
Thank you so much Jen!!
I’ve seen these, but only without breaking the yolk of the egg. I’ve heard it called “Egg in the Hole” or “Egg in the Basket”. “Toad in the Hole” is actually a dish where you put sausages into a Yorkshire Pudding.
Thanks for sharing Becky!!
You’re absolutely right! A “toad in a hole” must have sausages. Not saying I don’t love a “hen in a nest” but Toad in a hole is a totally different dish.