Spooky Mac 'n Cheese

I have had such a busy week this week with the Nestle Toll House Baking contest and other personal ventures that I haven't had a lot of time for creative dinner pursuits. Some nights are just mac 'n cheese nights. And I personally think mac 'n cheese always tastes better with a hot dog involved, so we employed our old friend the hot dog octopus to give us a little spook in our dinner. I really don't know who is the first person to come up with the hot dog octopus, but I tip my hat to their genius.

Start with a hot dog and split in half leaving 1/2" at the top untouched.

Then split your halves in half. And then half those halves again until you have eight legs.
Microwave for 30-45 seconds and then plop that guy down right smack on top of your mac 'n cheese (any brand works great, made according to package directions). Don't forget to dab a toothpick in ketchup to give your little guy two spooky red eyes.

And there you have a quick, easy, inexpensive spooky dinner that the kids will eat!

I promise that once this contest is over I will post some more fun dinner ideas to make with the kids. Happy Halloween!

Mummy Dogs

I found this in the Family Fun Magazine years ago and it has been a Halloween time tradition in our house ever since.

MUMMY DOGS
1 pkg. hot dogs
1 pkg. refrigerator crescent rolls

1) Preheat oven according to crescent roll directions.
2) Open crescent rolls and cut into long thin strips.
3) Wrap each hot dog, leaving gaps sporadically.
4) Bake according to package directions.
5) Dab ketchup or mustard with a toothpick and apply two spooky looking eyes!

Corn Dog Muffins

A novel new spin on corndogs for a cheap and appealing meal for kids!

Ingredients: 2 boxes corn muffin mix

2 eggs

2/3 cups milk

4-6 hotdogs

Directions:

1. Cut the hotdogs into tiny bitesize pieces.

My three-year old loved doing this and having him help make the meal ensures that he will at least try it, if not devour it.

2. Mix the muffin mix, eggs, and milk according to package directions. Add the hot dog pieces.

3. Pour into a well greased muffin pan and bake according to package directions. I believe it was 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Makes 12 corndog muffins

This idea came from www.familystampingfood.blogspot.com/2010/02/recipe-corn-dog-mini-muffins.html. I loved it and just had to try it!

Flower Hot Dogs

A fun way to snaz up a hotdog. Flower hotdogs were my favorite when I was a kid, and I am always surprised at how many people don't know about this simple little trick.

Get yourself a raw hotdog

Then using a butter knife, make a slit in the hotdog about every half-inch. Be careful not to cut all the way through.

It should look like this when you are done.

Microwave for 30-45 sec. It will curl itself up. (If it doesn't you can help it.)

And, voila! You have yourself a flower. Just add ketchup, mustard, and whatever else would cute this baby up.