Fair Food

Where can you eat nachos, caramel apples, cotton candy, grilled corn-on-the-cob, funnel cakes, corn dogs and something deep fried on a stick and wash it all down with freshly squeezed lemonade?  The fair!  For many people, this yearly event is more about the food being sold than which items won ribbons in various competitions.  If there's not a fair being held nearby, you can fix corn dogs at home, but without the stick.

Corn Dog Casserole is a tasty alternative to traditional corn dogs.  Hot dogs are combined with a batter made from eggs, milk, pepper and corn muffin mix.  Instead of being fried, these corn dogs are baked in the oven.

For the 15 years I've been making this casserole, I've always baked it in a 3-quart baking dish.  Not too long ago, my 14 year old son asked me why I didn't use a muffin pan instead.  I'd never thought about using one before so I decided to perform the experiment.  Not only does a muffin pan work great, it makes the perfect size after school snack.

The casserole is easy to assemble, but requires some prep work on the front end.

Halve each hot dog lengthwise.

Halve each hot dog again for a total of four pieces.

Cut the pieces into thirds (you'll have a total of 12 pieces per hot dog).

Saute the hot dogs with some margarine in a skillet.  This lightly browns the hot dogs but, more importantly, intensifies the flavor.  Food doesn't brown good when it's overcrowded so I saute the hot dogs in two batches, adding additional margarine if necessary.

  Sauteing half the hot dogs

Combine the hot dogs with the batter ingredients.

Bake in a greased 3-quart baking dish

or 24 greased muffin cups.

The baking time is 15 to 30 minutes, depending on which pan you use. Unlike the casserole which is ready to serve when it comes out of the oven, the muffin pan needs to cool 10 minutes before the contents are removed. If you try to remove them earlier, they'll crumble.  After 10 minutes, run a knife around the edge of each muffin and lift each one out of the pan.

Add some catsup and mustard and you've got a fair favorite that can be made at home year round.

Corn Dog Casserole

8 Servings

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine (plus more if needed)

2 (16 oz.) pkg. hot dogs

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 (8 1/2 oz.) pkg. corn muffin mix

Quarter each hot dog lengthwise; cut into thirds (there will be 12 pieces per hot dog).  Working in batches, saute the hot dogs in butter or margarine for 5 minutes.  In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk and pepper; stir in the hot dogs.  Add the corn muffin mixes and stir to combine the ingredients. Spread the mixture in a greased 3-quart baking dish.  Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

To bake in muffin cups, divide batter among 24 greased muffin cups.  Bake at 400° for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes.  Run a knife around the edge of each muffin before removing from the pan.

© Margaret's Morsels