Another festive 9 at 9 as we close out the week. Who doesn’t love Toad in the Hole? And ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ These are classics.

The food needn’t be fussy—that’s just more work—but it should feel special and stick-to-the-ribs. I find a riff on an old-fashioned toad-in-the-hole never fails.

Eagle River's Toad in the Hole diner surprises with its small size and big taste. It only has 20 seats, but there's plenty of room for creativity.

It wasn’t always called “toad in the hole.” In a 1787 “A Provincial Glossary,” it was referred to as “meat boiled in a crust” — we discovered that the Brits think boiling anything ...

1. Start by making the batter. Put the plain flour in a bowl with the salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine. Add the eggs and whole milk and whisk to a smooth batter. Set aside in the fridge.

If you’re really feeling inspired to make toad in the hole, Mary Berry style, you could try her approach of having pork meatballs throughout the batter instead of sausages, too. Yum.

Eagle River's Toad in the Hole diner surprises with its small size and big taste. It only has 20 seats, but there's plenty of room for creativity.