When is the last time you and your family were at a State or County Fair? What do you remember most about your trip? If you're like my family, it's always about the food - the fair food, to be more specific. And, the first thing we eat when we arrive is always corn dogs!
Even though we have tried to recreate those fair food memories by buying pre-packaged corn dogs, it's never quite the same. I don't know if it's the aromas or the taste, but regardless, the corn dogs you can get in the freezer section of the grocery store just don't offer the same appeal. That is how we came to develop our own version of deep fried corn dogs made right in our kitchen.
Are corn dogs nutritionally balanced? Some might argue that eating a corn dog is really ingesting useless calories and fat. However, when you make corn dogs at home you can control the ingredients, making this treat something you can make more nutritious, and delicious.
First of all there's the hot dog itself. Many years ago there was really only one or two hot dog brands to choose from, and they both had basically identical ingredients. Now when you walk up to the meat counter, you'll see a full array of hot dogs to choose from that can boggle the mind. If you don't eat beef or pork, there's turkey or chicken. There are even vegetarian style hot dogs. You can even get hot dogs stuffed with cheese or made with beer. The choices are endless so choose the hot dog that best suits your tastes and dietary preferences. A hot dog can actually be nutritious nowadays!
When it comes to the coating, this is where you can make some flavor changes, as well as healthier choices. You can choose whole wheat flour instead of white flour. You can cut back on the salt or use only the egg whites for the coating. Some pre-packaged corn dogs have added sugar, so that's certainly something you can eliminate. Add a few herbs and seasonings for a whole new flavor and added color.
When you eat a corn dog at the fair, you don't get to choose which oil they use or how many corn dogs were in the batch before yours. When you make them at home, you can make a healthier choice. Just be sure that you choose an oil that is suitable for high temperature cooking. Read the label of the oil before you decide. Many people deep fry using peanut oil, but there are other choices. Look at refined oils like sunflower or safflower, as well as corn oil or canola oil.
If you have a regular deep fryer, just be sure to check their directions. If you use a pot or skillet on the stove, you'll need a reliable thermometer to check the oil. It should be about 375 degrees before you begin to fry the corn dogs. Fry a few corn dogs at a time being careful not to crowd the pot. If there are too many in the pot at one time, the oil will cool and the corn dogs will start to get soggy because they are just swimming in the oil instead of frying. Take the corn dogs out and let the oil drain off by putting them on absorbent paper spread over a cooling rack. Let the corn dogs cool a bit, then serve with ketchup, mustard, or your favorite sauce.
When dark winter nights seem to be stretching out forever in front of you, and the County Fair is just a distant memory, recreate a few of those memories by making some of your favorite fair food. Get your recipes and your supplies together and treat your family to a little taste of summer!
Even though we have tried to recreate those fair food memories by buying pre-packaged corn dogs, it's never quite the same. I don't know if it's the aromas or the taste, but regardless, the corn dogs you can get in the freezer section of the grocery store just don't offer the same appeal. That is how we came to develop our own version of deep fried corn dogs made right in our kitchen.
Are corn dogs nutritionally balanced? Some might argue that eating a corn dog is really ingesting useless calories and fat. However, when you make corn dogs at home you can control the ingredients, making this treat something you can make more nutritious, and delicious.
First of all there's the hot dog itself. Many years ago there was really only one or two hot dog brands to choose from, and they both had basically identical ingredients. Now when you walk up to the meat counter, you'll see a full array of hot dogs to choose from that can boggle the mind. If you don't eat beef or pork, there's turkey or chicken. There are even vegetarian style hot dogs. You can even get hot dogs stuffed with cheese or made with beer. The choices are endless so choose the hot dog that best suits your tastes and dietary preferences. A hot dog can actually be nutritious nowadays!
When it comes to the coating, this is where you can make some flavor changes, as well as healthier choices. You can choose whole wheat flour instead of white flour. You can cut back on the salt or use only the egg whites for the coating. Some pre-packaged corn dogs have added sugar, so that's certainly something you can eliminate. Add a few herbs and seasonings for a whole new flavor and added color.
When you eat a corn dog at the fair, you don't get to choose which oil they use or how many corn dogs were in the batch before yours. When you make them at home, you can make a healthier choice. Just be sure that you choose an oil that is suitable for high temperature cooking. Read the label of the oil before you decide. Many people deep fry using peanut oil, but there are other choices. Look at refined oils like sunflower or safflower, as well as corn oil or canola oil.
If you have a regular deep fryer, just be sure to check their directions. If you use a pot or skillet on the stove, you'll need a reliable thermometer to check the oil. It should be about 375 degrees before you begin to fry the corn dogs. Fry a few corn dogs at a time being careful not to crowd the pot. If there are too many in the pot at one time, the oil will cool and the corn dogs will start to get soggy because they are just swimming in the oil instead of frying. Take the corn dogs out and let the oil drain off by putting them on absorbent paper spread over a cooling rack. Let the corn dogs cool a bit, then serve with ketchup, mustard, or your favorite sauce.
When dark winter nights seem to be stretching out forever in front of you, and the County Fair is just a distant memory, recreate a few of those memories by making some of your favorite fair food. Get your recipes and your supplies together and treat your family to a little taste of summer!
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Now that you want to learn how to make corn dogs at home, check out our recipe and all the other fun foods to make in your own kitchen. Treat your family to their favorite fun food tonight!
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