Oh yes, what would a biking site be without a halloween recipe?
They're nasty, they're green, and they're the delicious footsies of one of the world's most beloved monsters. His and hers versions here: Frankenstein's Bride is crying out for a pedicure and polish, so leave out her green coloring and paint her toenails with bell peppers! Monster toes like these require a big dash of "blood"—so serve these baby dogs with lots of ketchup!
Ingredients (serves 8):
1 cup vegetable shortening, plus a little more to grease the pan
2 packages dry yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar + a pinch
2 Tablespoons warm water
5 cups flour + more for dusting
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk
4 drops green food coloring
2 Tablespoons melted butter for brushing
24 little "Smokies" sausages
1 bag potato chips or large Fritos® Wave chips
Optional for the Toes of Frankenstein’s Bride: bell peppers, red or green; 1 lb. loaf mozzarella cheese.
Fritos® is a registered trademark of Frito-Lay, Inc.
Note: You can take a shortcut with this recipe by buying biscuit dough at your neighborhood market.
1. Preheat oven to 350º and grease your baking sheet.
2. In a small bowl combine the warm water, a pinch of sugar, and yeast.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
4. To prevent over-handling of the dough use two knives to cut the shortening into the flour until it resembles coarse meal. You can also use an upright mixer if you have one (much easier).
5. Add the yeast mixture (from #2 above) to the dough and combine. Combine the buttermilk and the green food coloring, then add to mixture. Blend until just combined.
6. Bring the dough together with your hands or in the mixer. You want to knead the dough together and combine all the dry ingredients by gathering from the bottom of the bowl. Don't overwork the dough!
7. Flour your hands so dough won't stick to them. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat down the dough with the palm of your hand until it is ¾ inch thick.
8. Cut the dough with a round 3-inch cookie cutter and flatten the disks with the heel of your hand. (Flour your cookie cutter so it cuts through the dough smoothly.)
9. Place a sausage in the middle of the dough and roll up, pinching the seam to seal. Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat until all are made.
10. Place a potato chip at the tip to create a toenail.
11. Bake for 20 minutes, until a "greenish" golden brown. Brush with melted butter and serve with ketchup.
Note: For the Toes of Frankenstein's Bride, follow the process above, but omit the green food coloring. Use 1 lb. loaf mozzarella cheese cut into sticks in place of the sausage. Paint her toenails by slicing red, green, or yellow bell peppers and put them into place.