Maudie, my nine year old granddaughter, Harry and Oliver's sister, told methat she likes 'Toad-in-the-Hole' when they have it in school.

I startedthinking about the nameswe give to dishes, such as 'Hot Dogs' and 'Welsh Rabbit/ Rarebit'.

The term 'Welsh Rabbit' was first used in 1725, in reference to a toasted cheese mixture, (caws wedi pobi.)

Fowler said, in his 1926 'Dictionary of English Usage', thatthe correct termis 'Welsh Rabbit', not 'Rarebit', in the same way that 'Toad in the Hole' refers to sausages, not leaping amphibians.

Welsh Rabbit is afavourite dish of mine.The only thing I dislike about it is washing the grater afterwards.

It's simple to make. All youdo isgrate a quantity of Cheddar cheese, say 4 ounces or 125gms, into a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of thick cream, a littlemustard, a few drops of Worcester sauce, pepper to season and mix well together. (Some people add a spoonful of beer or stout, butthe mixture should not be too wet).

Have ready two rounds of toast and spread the cheese on top. Place undera hot grill until the cheese bubbles. A fried tomato or poached egg would be good on top. Eat immediately, but don't burn your mouth on it, like I am wont to do.

(Food has to be piping hot if I'm toenjoy it. I had a course of acapuncture once, and theChinese doctor told me that warm food is easierto digest than cold, therefore better for the body.)

If I'm in a rush, I spread butterand ready-mixed mustard over the toast, placea few slices of cheese on top and let the cheese melt in the micro wave, (the 'poppeti ping', as they say in Welsh), for thirty

seconds or so.