Category: Party Ideas

Pretzel Dogs

Recipe via Tracey’s Culinary Adventures

Dough
22 oz (about 4 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 3/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 F)
2 oz (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
8 hot dogs, halved
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
pretzel salt or coarse salt

Add the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, water, and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix on low speed until the dough comes into a rough ball. Knead on low speed for about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic (it should pull away from the sides of the bowl). Transfer the dough to a large bowl that’s been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for about 50 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine the 10 cups of water and the baking soda in a large stockpot or roasting pan and bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, turn the dough out onto your work surface. Divide it into 16 equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough into approximately a 12-inch rope. Wrap the rope around one halved hot dog – be sure to pinch the ends very well to seal (to reduce the likelihood that the dough unravels when you boil in the next step). Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough until you’ve wrapped all of the dogs.

One at a time, boil the pretzel dogs in the baking soda/water mixture for 30 seconds, transferring them to a wire rack afterward using a slotted spoon or spider strainer. Repeat with all 16 pretzel dogs. Transfer the dogs to the parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush them with the egg wash and sprinkle with the pretzel salt.

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the pretzels are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes before serving. Serve with mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.

Makes 16 pretzel dogs

Watermelon Punch Bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 oblong seedless watermelon (about 14 pounds)
  • 3 cups seltzer

Directions

  1. Cut top third off watermelon; trim bottom just enough to make a flat surface. Scoop out flesh.
  2. Working in batches, puree watermelon in a food processor. Strain through a fine sieve; discard solids. (You should have about 9 cups juice.) Cover rind with plastic wrap. Refrigerate juice and rind until chilled, about 1 hour. Combine juice with seltzer; transfer to rind. via

Frito Pie

According to Hungry Gerald: The Frito Pie is constructed of chopped meat on a bed of Fritos flavored with red chile sauce (no, not that stuff in a bottle but a fiery, long simmered sauce made from Hatch chiles.). It is topped with grated American cheese, chopped onions and salsa. As the saying goes: Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it.

Simpler Version: We’ve always topped our Fritos with Chili and Nacho Cheese for this concession stand favorite. Try it!

Mini Taco Pizzas

Ingredients

3-4 Large whole wheat tortilla’s, or enough to cut out 12 small circles (I prefer low carb/high fiber tortillas)
1 cup Lean ground turkey, cooked (or lean ground beef or 1 cup Morning Star Meatless Crumbles™)
1/2 cup Salsa of choice (I used one with corn)
2 tsp Dry taco seasoning
1/2 cup Low fat refried beans
1/2 cup Low fat shredded mexican blend or 2% cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings: sliced black olives, shredded lettuce, low fat sour cream, chopped tomatoes

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 12 count muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

Start by laying each tortilla out individually on a flat surface, and use an empty can, glass cup, or cookie cutter to cut 3-4 medium circles out of each wrap.

Press each wrap circle into muffin tin using your fingers. (Note: it doesn’t have to cover the entire side of the tin, it should just fit snuggly!)

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the ground meat, salsa, taco seasoning, and refried beans. Stir until well combined.

Scoop 1/8th cup of meat mixture into each wrap.
 
Top with shredded cheese, (dividing evenly between each pizza), and olives if desired.
 
Bake in pre-heated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
 
Wait for mini pizzas to cool, and remove from muffin tin using a fork or knife. Pizza’s should pop out with ease!
 
Serve with a side of salsa, low fat sour cream, chopped tomatoes, and/or shredded lettuce if desired! via