I know, I know, another Halloween idea. How can you resist when there is such a wonderful selection of deliciously, creepy, scary and fun-themed ideas?
We’re going from last week’s spooktacular peppers to this week’s scary spiders. Boo!
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott
This recipe may seem familiar to you. Reason being, it is a spooky take on a much-loved recipe called pigs in a blanket. A recipe that is super simple to make and super tasty to eat. Especially when they’re homemade — because nothing tastes better than homemade goodies.
This recipe consists of two main ingredients — puff pastry and hotdog wieners, only two!
Full disclosure, when it comes to purchasing hotdog wieners, all I can think of is the wasted bits that get left on the table, grinded into a mush that ultimately becomes a hotdog. Yup, I’m "one of those" who gets grossed out at the thoughts of what’s inside a hotdog. Although, foodie friend’s regular hotdogs are cheaper, this is one product I am willing to splurge on.
“What do you call a hotdog with nothing inside it? A hollow-weenie!” - Unknown
When I go grocery shopping, I mostly shop the perimeter of the store and read all my ingredients. Hotdogs are no exception. I either buy all beef, all turkey hotdogs or veggie dogs. You?
How do you make these scary spiders? Start by heating your oven to 375 degrees.
Then, boil your hotdogs for a few minutes, or put them in the microwave for a minute. When they are done, let them cool for a few minutes. You don’t want to handle them when they’re too hot.
When ready, slice one third on each end of the hotdog in quarters. Mind now, you want to make sure the middle third of the hotdog stays intact. That’s the part you’ll need to wrap the pastry around.
Unfortunately, the two grocery stores I went to didn’t have puff pastry so I substituted it for Pillsbury crescent roll dough. I think this would also work with their dinner roll dough.
Oh jeepers creepers! I almost forgot, I actually bought their wiener wrap dough, a brain burp foodie moment. I was pleasantly surprised that they had dough for the exact recipe I was making.
“Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven.” - Unknown
Take a thick strip of the dough, about one-inch thick, and wrap it around the middle of each hotdog.
Once that’s done, place them on a baking sheet with parchment paper and put them in the oven for about 12 to 15 minutes until they are golden brown.
Beep, beep, beep. Ugh! That annoying, yet convenient, sound of the oven timer. When they are done, brush them with a little melted butter and let them cool. You don’t have to do the butter step but it adds that extra deliciousness — so why not.
Break out your favourite ketchup and mustard — it is time to make the spider faces. Using a toothpick or something with a small end, make two dots for the eyes. I do this with ketchup as mustard doesn’t really show up as much.
“Food is merely a platform for condiments.” – Peter Marshall
Keep the condiments on hand as every spider requires a web. Squirt some ketchup in a small dipping dish. Using the mustard, make a couple of small circles around the top. Take your toothpick and place it in the middle and slowly move it out towards the biggest circle. Voila! Charlotte would be super proud of that web, or should I say, creepy Charlotte.
Scary spider wiener rolls is a great recipe to make for an appetizer, snack or serve at a small Halloween gathering.
If you decided to keep trick or treating low key this Halloween, instead of going door-to-door to get the treats, make a night of cooking Halloween themed goodies the whole family can enjoy.
However you decide to celebrate, scary spider wiener rolls should be on your menu as they are definitely fit to eat.
Erin Sulley is a self-confessed foodie who lives in Mount Pearl. Email [email protected] Twitter: @ErinSulley Instagram: @erinsulley