Not dinner party worthy but....

Blog News First:  I'm sooo happy to say that as of last night, I FINALLY updated all of my Recipe, Travel & Food Finds links!  That has been overdue project for me since August...go meJ

Next up was our dinner from last night.  And while I wouldn't exactly serve it at a dinner party, it took a classic SUPER HIGH FAT "CARNIVAL FOOD" and gave it somewhat of a healthy spin!

Don't be alarmed, as that yellow 'blob' on my plate is actually an OVEN BAKED CORN DOG!!!!!

The only corn dog I've ever eaten in my life was at the Halloween Fest in Salem and this thing was about as far from healthy as you can get.  But come on, they are pretty damn good!

So how to have all of the same flavors without all the deep fried fat??  Answer:  The oven! 

I rounded up all of my ingredients (based on this recipe):

• 1 1/2 cups of corn muffin mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup egg beaters
• a dash of cumin & chili powder

And of course, the main star of the show:  3 boiled hot dogs...

I honestly can't tell you if those measurements are correct, because I kept having to add more and more muffin mix to create the SUPER thick batter that is needed.  It was the only way to get the mix to 'stick' to the dogs... 

These were like the "Goldilocks" of corn dogsJ  The first dip in the batter was too thin.  I added more corn muffin mix and it was...well, STILL too thin.  And finally after a couple adjustments, I got it *almost* juuuustttt rightJ 

15 minutes in a 400 degree oven and these babies were good to go.  Again, FARRRR from winning a beauty pageant, but that extra 'spread' of cornbread just made more of a coating to munch on.  Who can complain about that??? 

Oh, plus they were REALLY, REALLY tasty!  And for a food that is probably 10 zillion calories normally, this was a great way to get ALL of the flavors without all that SUPER GROSS DEEP FAT FRIED taste.  (although if you're out and about and find yourself at a fair...knock yourself out.  That's what carnivals are all about!  Now to only make a baked funnel cake...J) 

And in RANDOM SIDE DISH alert, in keeping with this weeks theme, I delved in my freezer/cabinets and whipped up a little sauteed spinach (in garlic & olive oil)... 

...mixed with white beans.  Can you believe we were JUST NOT IN THE MOOD FOR FRIES????  Crazy, I know. 

Also this dish cropped up because my friend had wrote me and told me she made (a pureed version!) of white beans & spinach for my little hummus eating buddy and he couldn't get enough of themJ  So Little N: These are for you, bud!J  hahahahhahahaa.... 

Sooo that's what I got for you today!  Do you guys have any fun weekend plans?  Not sure what tonight is going to bring, but tomorrow night is reserved for a FUN CHRISTMAS TRADITION which I look forward to from....well, January 3rd.  hehehehehhehehe....I'll share on MondayJ

Until then, have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!