Recipes Gone Wild: Dogs In Sweaters

Staying warm can be ruff.  Err, rough…rough! May I suggest not leaving the house this weekend, save for going to the store to get some hibernation provisions? Isn’t there a football sporting game or something on the tv?  I might not be one for sports-watching, but sign me up for crashing on the couch with sporty snacks anyday. You want to get cozy, don’t you? Pick out a movie, put on your slippers and your warmest sweater, and while you’re at it, put your dog in a sweater too. No, not Mr. Fuzzy Buttons. I’m talking about your hot dog! This week, I’m making Dogs in Sweaters– an easy, pleasingly low-brow, but delicious recipe inspired by the eighties and my mom, Pam. It’s kind of that perfect comfort food for movie nights or football days. Like a Sandra Lee recipe, but not icky!

Wait, hot dogs? Yes, hot dogs.  In the age of artisanal everything, you can get great-quality hot dogs from many grocers in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, like The Garden, Marlow & Daughters, and The Meat Hook.

At a glance: There are tons of reported benefits to having a having a dog! But not a hot dog. That said, in my not-even-remotely-medical opinion, they aren’t so bad for you in moderation.  The bottom line: they’re fun to eat, which counts for something. And the addition of Swiss cheese to this pig-in-a-blanket variation provides a negligible calcium boost.  Strong bones…or teeth…or something…Hooray!

Dogs in Sweaters
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 package (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls*
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 slices Swiss cheese, such as Emmentaler or Gruyere
8 hot dogs
Fresh chopped parsley and rosemary, or whatever you want to use to make this feel a touch more fancy

*Note: Pillsbury is the easiest to find, but there are some natural companies making these too, like Immaculate baking company

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into eight triangles. Spread each triangle with mustard; top with a slice of cheese (trimmed to  match the crescent roll triangle), and a sprinkling of the fresh herbs.
2. Place hot dog on the wide end of the triangle and roll up. Do this with all of the dogs.
3. Place pointed side down 2″ apart on a buttered baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm and cozy.

Option: Prefer to eat food on a stick? No problem. Then put a stick in one end. It will look like this.

Illustration by Libby VanderPloeg