Corn Dogs

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2003

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

15 min

Cook Time:

5 min

Level:

Intermediate

Serves:

8 corn dogs
Ingredients

*1 gallon peanut oil
*1 cup yellow cornmeal
*1 cup all-purpose flour
*2 teaspoons kosher salt
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*1/4 teaspoon baking soda
*1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
*2 tablespoons (approximately 1 large) jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
*1 (8.5-ounce) can cream-style corn
*1/3 cup finely grated onion
*1 1/2 cups buttermilk
*4 tablespoons cornstarch, for dredging
*8 beef hot dogs

Directions

Special equipment: 8 sets chopsticks, not separated

Pour oil into a deep fryer or large heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, combine the jalapeno, corn, onion, and buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once, and stir only enough times to bring the batter together; there should be lumps. Set batter aside and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Scatter the cornstarch into a dry pie pan. Roll each hot dog in the cornstarch and tap well to remove any excess.

Transfer enough batter to almost fill a large drinking glass. Refill the glass as needed. Place each hot dog on chopsticks, and quickly dip in and out of the batter. Immediately and carefully place each hot dog into the oil, and cook until coating is golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. With tongs, remove to cooling rack, and allow to drain for 3 to 5 minutes.

Printed from FoodNetwork.com on Thu Apr 02 2009

© 2009 Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved

White Bean Hummus Sandwiches

White Bean Hummus Pitas
Hummus

* 1 small garlic clove, chopped
* 1 (15.5oz) can great northern beans, drained, rinsed
* 1 Tbsp lemon juice
* 3 Tbsp olive oil
* 1/4 tsp salt
* dash ground red pepper (cayenne)
* 1/4 C loosely packed fresh parsley

Sandwiches

* 1 1/2 C loosely packed spinach leaves
* 1/2 medium zucchini, very thinly sliced
* 4 very thin slices red onion, halved
* 8 thin slices tomato, halved
* 4 (6-inch) whole wheat pita pocket breads, halved

1. Chop garlic in food processor bowl with metal blade. Add all remaining hummus ingredients except parsley; process 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Add parsley; pulse to chop.
2. To assemble sandwiches, place spinach leaves, zucchini, onion and tomato slices in each pita bread half. Spoon about 2 Tbsp hummus into each.

Yield: 8 sandwiches; 4 servings

notes: this was really quite good and very easy to make. I just had white bread pitas with the hummus, while he had the whole wheat pitas with everything. If variation is desired, the hummus can be made with either sun-dried tomato or marinated artichoke heart. Add either ingredient when adding the parsley.

Apple and Chees Pancakes

Apple and Cheese Pancakes ingredients list:
4 medium eggs, separated.
1 cup of cottage cheese.
1 cup of apples, grated coarsely.
¾ cup of flour.
1 tablespoon of honey.
1 tablespoon of chopped almonds.
1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
½ teaspoon of cinnamon.
Pinch of salt.
Instructions for Apple and Cheese Pancakes:
Mix all of the ingredients, except the egg whites, together.

Beat the egg whites, then fold in.

Spray a suitably sized skillet with cooking spray.

Heat the skillet.

Drop batter to form pancakes.

Brown the pancakes.

Serve.

Rigatoni Bake

the rigatoni bake
serves 4
*
1 C uncooked rigatoni or large tube pasta
* 1/2 lb lean ground turkey
* 1-1/2 C spaghetti sauce
* 1 can (4oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
* 1/2 C shredded Italian cheese blend
* 8 slices pepperoni

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, crumbled turkey into a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and mushrooms. Drain pasta; add to sausage mixture.
2. Transfer to a 1-qt baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Top with cheese and pepperoni. Cover and bake at 350*F for 25-30 minutes or until heated through

Pasta Skillet Dinner

the pasta skillet dinner is probably the easiest, requires * 7oz (2 C) uncooked ziti (penne or rigatoni ok)
* 1 lb lean ground turkey (or beef)
* 1 (14oz) jar spaghetti sauce
* 1/2 C water
* 1/2 C sour cream
* 4oz (1 C) shredded cheddar cheese