Beer Battered Corn Dogs

So, back to that Pinterst  Superbowl party we discussed last week. I hope you enjoyed the fancy photos that accompanied the fancy Brie Bites. Those yummies were my sweet addition to the spread. And, of course, with sweet comes savory. Or before sweet comes savory. Or whatever. Sweet and savory must be paired together. Think chocolate covered pretzels. Perfection.

I threw this awkward little baseball theme party one time when we first moved to North Carolina.  We’d just moved from Ireland and lived across the street from the Durham Bulls baseball stadium in an old converted tobacco warehouse. I’d made one “sort-of” friend, a girl I met at the dog park who liked to run, and we sort of started running together a couple times a week and meeting at the dog park with our pooches. See how awkward this is already? Making friends in your mid-twenties in a new city is HARD people. Anyways, we sort of planned to go a Durham Bulls baseball game one night to introduce our husbands and then she said she wanted to invite a few other couples and since we lived right across from the stadium, I suggested everyone meet at our house for a few beers and snacks beforehand.

In keeping with the baseball theme, I had made some homemade corndogs, carmel popcorn, soft pretzels, and a pretty killer blue cheese dip. Mr. Zoom had the entire refrigerator full of beer. Yummy food and yummy beer. A perfect party in our minds. It should be noted that I’d just found out (like 3 days prior, on a Wednesday) that I was pregnant (like 4.2 weeks along-PSYCHO) with Big Zoom and was mildly (extremely) paranoid and freaked out and anxious about my “condition”. I mean, I took 5 tests.

The guests arrived promptly and for some reason I went into a complete tizzy. I was nervous and fumbling my words and translating Mr. Zoom’s Irish accent (unnecessarily) for our new best friends. I offered my “friend” the only person of the crowd I’d actually met before, a Gin and Tonic and in trying to conceal the fact that I was making hers WITH alcohol and mine WITHOUT, babbled on and on about who knows what and forgot which was which. I ended up with the boozy beverage and she probably thought I was a wimpy cocktail maker.

Long story short, we left after the 7th inning because I was exhausted from my “condition” and the complete tizzy I’d worked myself into preparing for the party. It’s silly what we do to make an impression sometimes, huh?

I’ll tell ya one thing though. The blasted corn dogs were amazing. Recreating them for the Superbowl party last weekend was a no brainer and I was happy to be sharing them with people we’ve become good friends with here in North Carolina….like we’ve actually met them before and stuff.

Beer Battered Corn Dogs
(makes about 20 dogs)

Canola Oil for frying
1 cup flour + a bit extra for dusting
2/3 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1/2 bottle of beer (I used Blue Moon)
10-12 hot dogs, cut in half
24 wooden skewers or toothpicks (they make shorter kabob skewers now, I used those)

In a heavy bottom pot heat 4-5 inches of oil over medium heat until thermometer reaches 350 degrees. Adjust heat to maintain temperature.

Meanwhile, in a bowl combine 1 cup flour, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and stir together. Then add egg and 1/4 bottle of beer. Mix until a fairly think batter forms (sort of like pancake batter). Add more beer of necessary, mine needed 1/2 of a bottle. Pour the batter into a tall coffee mug f0r easy dipping.

Cut dogs in half and prepare by inserting a toothpick or skewer about 1/2 way into the dog.

Dredge the hotdogs in remaining bit of flour and shake to remove excess. Dip dogs into the batter and coat thoroughly. Drop dogs into hot oil and fry 2-4 minutes or until golden brown. I did 2 at a time. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towels to dry.

Serve with ketchup and mustard!

(Recipe slightly adapted from The Beeroness‘s Beer Battered Corndogs)