FROGS & TOADS in a Hole

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Bread

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a 2-inch cookie cutter or a knife to cut a hole in the center of each bread slice.

2. Soak Bread

In a large, wide bowl, whisk together 4 of the eggs, whole milk, kosher salt, and hot sauce. Soak the bread slices in this mixture for about 10 minutes.

3. Cook Sausage Mixture

Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. After about 3 minutes, when the sausage begins to brown, stir in the sliced scallions and thyme.

4. Assemble Dish

Layer the bottom of the skillet with the uncut bread slices, followed by the sausage mixture, and then cover with the cut-out bread circles. Pour the remaining egg-milk mixture over the assembled bread and sausage in the skillet.

5. Bake and Add Eggs and Cheese

Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and crack the remaining 4 eggs into the holes in the bread. Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle the Gruyère cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.