Monster Toes Aka Pigs In A Blanket Food

MONSTER TOES (FOR HALLOWEEN)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut a wedge into the end of each cocktail wiener to make a flat toenail.
• Cut the tortillas into strips about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Discard the ends.
• Soften the strips in the microwave between damp paper towels for 10 to 30 seconds.
• Roll each wiener in a tortilla strip around one end and secure with a toothpick.
• Place on a cookie sheet.
• Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove them from the oven, then fill the toenail with ketchup or mustard. Remove the toothpicks before serving.

PIGS AND MUSTARD GREENS IN A BLANKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the pigs and mustard greens: In a large pot of boiling salted water, blanch the mustard greens for about 1 minute. Remove the greens from the pot by pouring the contents into a colander. Then plunge the greens into an ice water bath. Pull the greens out of the ice water, squeeze the excess water from the greens by placing them in a clean, dry cloth and applying pressure. Once most of the water has been drained, give them a rough chop and set aside.
• Heat the butter and oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and jalapeno. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons kosher salt and sweat over low heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the mustard greens to the pan, turn up the heat to high and stir to fully combine. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon kosher salt, the cornmeal, cayenne pepper or red chile flakes, mustard and mayonnaise. Let the mixture cool in the bowl over an ice bath, rotating the bowl until cool, about 5 minutes.
• To assemble, place 2 teaspoons of the mustard greens mixture onto the widest part of a crescent dough triangle. Place a smoked link on top of the mustard greens. Tuck in the sides of the roll over the smoked link and roll away from you, towards the tip of the dough. Repeat with the remaining dough and links. Brush all the tops with melted butter, sprinkle with mustard seeds and smoked sea salt and bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes, rotating halfway through.
• For the chive Dijonaise: Whisk the mustard, mayonnaise, horseradish, kosher salt and chives in a medium bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
• Plate the pigs in a blanket and serve with the chive Dijonaise.

PIGS IN A BLANKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°. Working quickly while cold, unroll the crescent dough sheet on a lightly floured surface and separate the perforated dough into 8 triangles. Cut each dough triangle into three equal skinny triangles.
• Place one cocktail sausage on the wide base of one skinny triangle. Roll the sausage toward the pointed end of the triangle, allowing the dough to overlap and wrap around the sausage. Place the rolled sausage on a parchment-lined baking sheet, point-side down. Repeat with the remaining dough triangles and sausages.
• Whisk together the egg with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl until smooth. Brush the egg wash over the dough and sprinkle with the everything bagel seasoning, if desired. Bake at 375° until the dough is puffed and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Make the dipping sauces (optional): For the Spicy Mayo Dipping Sauce, stir together the mayo and chile-garlic sauce in a small bowl until smooth. For the Maple-Dijon Dijon Dipping Sauce, stir together the mustard and syrup in a small bowl until smooth. For the Quick Ranch, stir together the sour cream, pickle juice, and chives in a small bowl until smooth.
• Serve the pigs in a blanket warm with Spicy Mayo, Maple Dijon, or Quick Ranch Dipping Sauces.

FRENCH TOAST PIGS IN BLANKETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the sausages on the baking sheet and bake until lightly browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside; reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, milk, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Trim each slice of bread into a 2-by-4-inch rectangle, then flatten slightly with your fingertips. Starting at a short end, roll each piece of bread around a sausage, pressing firmly to seal. Transfer to the bowl with the egg mixture and soak 5 minutes.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. When it begins to brown and foam, add 6 of the bread-wrapped sausages and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Wipe out the skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and repeat with the remaining 6 sausages. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve with maple syrup.

BIG OLE MONSTER TOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine food coloring with 2/3 cups water.
• In a medium bowl combine baking mix with water to form soft dough. On a well-floured surface, roll out dough into a 12 inch square about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 1 squares.
• Place 1 frank on each square. Wrap dough around each cocktail frank; pinch ends together to seal. Place seam-side down on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Trim 1 end of each olive to resemble a toenail; press into the end of the toe.
• Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.

MONSTER TOES (AKA PIGS IN A BLANKET)

Steps:

• In a bowl add pancake mix, milk and food coloring (to desired color). Knead together on a floured surface and roll out dough to form a 12 inch square. Cut to fit cocktail sausages.
• Center sausages in dough squares, roll and pinch the ends, forming them into the shape of toes. Place olive halves on the end for the "toenails". Brush on melted butter and place in oven.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees.