Friday, August 15, 2008

Homemade Corn Dogs and Cheddar Cheese Dogs

Everything tastes better on a stick.Get ready for a low brow special.... I've always wanted to make homemade corn dogs. Which is strange, because I don't actually eat corn dogs. After a 4 year stint as a vegetarian, hot dogs are one food that have not found their way back on my menu. The kids love them (even from the microwave when they're lucky enough to get one at a friend's house), and the Quiet Man loves them from Main Street at Disneyland. (Why, oh why doesn't Disney make them with cheese for the non hot dog crowd?) They always look so crispy, crunchy and corny-corny in a good food flavor kind of way. I decided to one up Disney and make both corn dogs and cheese doggies. Ha! They really are crispy, crunchy and corny-maybe in both kinds of ways, and oh did it work for me. And if it seems strange that on Thursday I'm lightening up Ina's panzanella, and by Friday I'm deep frying hunks of cheese, you're right. I'm strange and inconsistent and very moody. But I hope you'll love me in spite of all that. If not, I hope you'll at least love me for my low brow corn dogs.This recipe comes from Hillbilly Housewife, a great penny pinching resource. Make some for a fun Saturday lunch for a once a year kind of treat. A quick picto-guide:
Make up the cornbread mixture and place it in a jar for dipping, or just spoon it over your dogs.
Roll the dogs or cheese strips in flour and impale with a wooden stick.
Coat the dogs in the cornbread mixture and deep fry, turning once, about 2 minutes total. (My cheese doggies are fatter than the corn dogs, since I really coated those babies with the cornmeal mixture. I didn't have a single melted cheese drip, either.)Drain on paper towels. Serve with ketchup and mustard. Pretend you're on a Ferris wheel. Take a big bite.I made a huge batch since we had a big crowd of visiting cousins for Saturday lunch. They were a colossal hit. Kids and corndogs. I'm not suprised they went over big.
Money Saving Tips: This recipe is pretty economical, as long as you get your dogs or cheese at a reasonable price. Freeze any leftovers for a quick kid's lunch. They won't be quite as good frozen, but they'll be better than the store bought kind. You can reuse your frying oil if you strain it and pour it into a clean jar.
Homemade Corn Dogs or Cheese Doggies
Estimated Cost: $6.00
Notes: This will make enough batter for 8 corn dogs or 6 cheese sticks.
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 T. oil
1 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup flour, plus more for coating
8 hot dogs OR 8 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into 6 equal sticks
oil for deep frying, (I did about 1 and 1/2 inch deep)
In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg, oil, and sugar. Sprinkle salt, powder, cornmeal and flour over the top. Mix until just combined. Dry off hot dogs with paper towel. Rub hot dogs or cheese sticks with flour to coat and poke in a wooden stick. Preheat oil to 375 degrees. Quickly coat a dog in cornmeal mixture and drop into oil. Repeat with another dog. Watch closely. When it is browned, flip it over and cook on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining dogs. If you have any leftover batter, you can fry it by the tablespoon for hush puppies.
Next Up:
Weekend Lunch
Lemon and Basil Chicken Salad

44 comments:

Deb in Hawaii said...

Of course we love you--quirks and all! ;-) I can't believe you just made me crave a corndog!!!

Sophie said...

Thanks for the sweet comment about my photo, Prudy :)! I really appreciate it.

Now, as for these corn dogs, they certainly look better than the frozen ones! I've always wanted to learn how to make these. As a kiddo, I would never eat a hot dog in a bun, always in a corn dog or entirely by itself, with lots of ketchup, of course :).

Have a great day!

gigi said...

I thought that anything you eat off a stick has no calories! No wait a minute, that is anything you eat off a tooth pick has no claories. Wouldn't that be great if that was true! I love corn dogs but I really have to be in the mood! This looks easy enough.
Drs. appointment went well. He's just going to be at this for many months. But that's fine with me as long as he can keep his foot. Just a slow process with diabetics. His foot vac is portable so he's been off to work sinice Monday! He's a happy man. (blessed man) You have a great weekend!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Your corndogs look wonderful and so crunchy which is important. Corndogs aren't one of my favorites but you've turned me around. Homemade is always better since you can control the ingrdients which is so important with children.

Nickki said...

They look so good. I've always wondered what corndogs were! I'm very tempted to try them now :)

Marie Rayner said...

Corn dogs are funny things. I never ever wanted to eat one when I lived in North America, but now that I am in the UK, I have odd cravings for them. However I think I would like the Cheddar Cheese Dogs more! I don't eat a lot of meat these days either! I do however crave a hotdog once in a while. As always you make everything look and sound totally delish!

Marie Rayner said...

Corn dogs are funny things. I never ever wanted to eat one when I lived in North America, but now that I am in the UK, I have odd cravings for them. However I think I would like the Cheddar Cheese Dogs more! I don't eat a lot of meat these days either! I do however crave a hotdog once in a while. As always you make everything look and sound totally delish!

Mary Ann said...

Prudy- Wow! my children would love, love, love me to death if I made these fun treats! My favorite part is how you recommend making them only once a year- how funny. They look amazing and sinfully tasty (although I haven't eaten a hot dog for 18 years :)

NKP said...

My son is going to be so happy that mom finally knows how to make corn dogs. He has been asking me for years but I have never gotten around to learning how. Thanks! (and Elijah thanks you)

Veronica said...

I've never attempted a corn dog-you've made them look easy (and tasty).

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Believe it or not, I have never eaten a corn dog before but now I want one.

Anonymous said...

I could do without the dog and just eat the "corn" part. :-) I love the idea of coating cheese in the batter and frying it. I'm definitely marking these to try.

Anonymous said...

This looks so delicious! I wish D-Land would do a cheese corn dog, too. I made them once years ago and loved them! You've just inspired me to make them again.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, don't worry about calling me back if you're too busy. I tried a few things and it's going very well. I should have given the little princess more credit!

The Blonde Duck said...

Oh sweet mercy! I was looking for something tasty to make for Sunday night and this is it! Lord, I've made nachos, french toast, fried chicken and now corn dogs all in one week! Ben's got to be in heaven.

Additionally, I saw on your profile you like Jane Austen. Have you ever read Austenland by Shannon Hale? She's a young adult writer and that's her first "adult" novel. It's about a single woman in her 30s hopelessly addicted to Pride and Prejudice who gets sent to "Austenland" in England. I don't usally read a lot of adult fiction because I get bored or grossed out by the excess sex and violence, and I loved it. Very Austen like. Check it out!

Jenny said...

Cute Cute and Cute! We are all about corn diggity's at my house!

Amy said...

Yum!! Now I'm craving corn dogs:) The only corn dogs I'll eat are homemade and these look fantastic!

Leslie said...

Corn Dogs..yum..I have never made them myself..I must give it a try!

Noor said...

If you knew how much my husband & I loved corn dogs you would send them to me, lol.

Duh, it never even hit me you could make them at home. I know you can make anything at home but growing up in this day its sometimes crazy to think it does not only come frozen, lol. Sad I know. I CAN NOT wait to try these and some of your money saving tips. My husband would love if I was more like you, lol.

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

Looks good.........I've got some Hebrew National Hotdogs in the freezer....soon.....real soon......

Hannah

Anonymous said...

Mmm... I'm going to have to try that. The Husband loves fried cheese and I think he'd tie me up if he knew I could make it at home.
Thanks Prudy!
~Cat

Sharon said...

I LOVE corn dogs. I suppose I'm a little opposite of you since I'm not much of a meat eater, but hot dogs will always have a special place in my heart (much to the disgust of my husband!)

Michal said...

groan. another setback from the olympic athlete's body. but i completely understand lightening panzanella and then making corn dogs the next day. you have to take the cuts where you can and know when to just go with the full-fat version!

Allie said...

Love the tip about the jar. I feel like my life is complete. How come I never thought of anything like that!?! Now if only I would be patient enough to wait for them to cool down before I eat them. :(

Aggie said...

I'll take a homemade corn or cheese dog any day! Yum!!

Anonymous said...

ditto Allie - how come I never thought of the jar? (not that I've ever made home made corn dogs...) I do believe I'll have to try this later this weekend. My teens will be in heaven.

Sara said...

These look amazing! I have been wanting to try to make homemade corn dogs...now I have the recipe, because of you! Thanks you! I'm excited...my fam will love them.

La Bella Cooks said...

I am not a fan of corn dogs, but for some reason, these looked yummy. I think I would enjoy the cheese dogs, as you said, a once a year treat! My kids would love these too.

Hansen Family said...

One of my most favorite dinners growing up was mini corndogs. My mom would get out her 70's fondu set, cut up hotdogs into "minis", mix up corn meal batter, and we would get to fry them ourselves. It was so much fun everytime we had them! Thanks for bringing back fond memories!

Andrea said...

When I bought a box of the frozen corn dogs last week I actually wondered if you would show a recipe for homemade! This is perfect! You must have read my mind.

I haven't commented before but I enjoy your recipes! I made your spanish rice twice last week! So easy and so good!

-Andrea from Whittier

Christiana said...

Just found your blog tonight, thanks to StretchingaBuck.blogspot.com and I love it! Can't wait to try some of these recipes! I've put your button on my blog...thanks.

Prudy said...

Andrea:
I'd leave you a comment on your blog but can't so hear it is: Thanks so much for coming by and leaving a comment. I always get the update on you from Michal and life sounds good in Whittier with Bishop Barney! Send me an email if you get a minute. I'd love to see a pic of your kids.
vsmylroie@aol.com

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Ive never heard of a corn dog before (thats my Englishness coming uot) - they sound fab though

Steph said...

Prudy, I love your idea about using cheese to sub hot dogs. Everytime I'm tempted to have a corn dog, I don't because the dog part kind of grosses me out. Cheese on the other hand.. you can never go wrong!

Leslie said...

Oh Prudy..I forgot about the Christmas FAT clothes! LOL

Natalie Que said...

Yum Prudy! This just sounds FUN to make! And tasty to eat, of course!

Tracy said...

My kids would go crazy for those corn dogs!

Andrea at Nummy Kitchen said...

Oh wow Purdy! I've always wanted to try some sort of 'cheese dog'! They look amazing. I've never had a corndog, I know they make vegetarian ones now but I don't like veggie hot dogs so don't think I'd like the corndog version either, although I've always thought the 'idea' of corndogs was delicious. Something yummy, on a stick, drenched in cornbread batter and deep friend. Yum! I will have to try your cheese dogs here sometime soon!

Jaime said...

i love corn dogs :) i grew up in CA where i would always get corn dogs when we went to the mall at "hot dog on a stick" :) have never tried making them at home... but w/all the bad stuff we eat, i try to minimize the amount of frying i do!

Mary Ellen said...

My husband would totally love these! I, like you, was also a vegetarian for several years and although I crave hot dogs, I can't get myself to eat them!

Ada Marie and Benjamin said...

Thanks! I live overseas and enjoy finding ways to fix American foods we can't get here. My husband and I loved these corn dogs. We felt like we were back home at the state fair!

Tamara said...

Oh! These are so good! My husband had gastric bypass a few years ago, so regular corn dogs are hard for him to eat (the breading is too chewy or thick or both). These are excellent, and so crunchy that they gave him no problems, which is a huge plus in my book. I cooked them in my little electric deep fryer, and the batter did this crazy thing where it sort of flew all over the place but stayed stuck to the dogs, so they looked like little works of art haha...and the artsy bits were so thin and crispy, they sort of dissolved in your mouth...a nice little treat, to be sure. Thanks for a great recipe :)

Kaylee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
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