Nigel Slater's Sausages for Dinner

Saturday night is usually an all-out cook fest at our place, but last week was an ordeal, and yesterday I really didn't feel like a full on production in the kitchen. There were some sausages in the feezer and a simple sausages and mash dinner was in order. Until 6pm, when I started looking at the cook books.

I've cooked with Nigel Slater's Appetite for years, and this is the cover recipe, but until yesterday I've not made it. Silly me.

Melt a knob of butter in a heavy, oven worthy pan. Brown your sausages lightly and move to a plate or bowl.

Slow cook a couple of onions and hardy herbs -- bay and thyme are good -- in the buttery pan. 20 minutes should have them loosening up and ready to receive the rest of the gravy ingredients.

A couple of tablespoons of flour, stirred in and cooked for a few minutes.
A tablespoon of Dijon mustard stirred through.
A wine glass of masala or sherry or wine.
Another wine glass of stock or water (if water, add some salt and pepper).

Sit the browned sausages in the gravy, and put the pan in the oven, 180 degrees C, for about half an hour.

Make a salad. Greens, drizzled with olive oil (but not too much), sprinkled with salt and pepper, with some good sharp vinegar dripped over the top. That's enough.

This was a simple, cheap and very good dinner for a Saturday night at home. We were swooning.