Barbecue Hogs in Blankets
In a matter of hours, we will be calling the Hogs once again and rallying our team to a hopeful victory (though after last week’s loss, that hope may be dwindling slightly).
Many of us are looking forward to camping outside the stadium and sitting in the stands for hours before kickoff. Others are simply looking for a lawn chair and a flat-screen TV to catch the big game.
However you choose to celebrate Arkansas vs. Alabama this year, this recipe needs to be a part of the festivity.
Boneless wings, chips and salsa, and plenty of desserts are sure to happen at your average tailgate, but this appetizer is a must-make this week. Smoky “Hogs in Blankets” are tasty, inexpensive and easy to prepare, making them the perfect tailgate treat. A spin on the traditional pigs-in-a-blanket snack, these are spicy, savory and so much more.
Makes: 16 rolls
Ingredients
1/2 package Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies
1 package (8 ounces) crescent roll dough
1 medium jalapeno, diced
¾ cup barbecue sauce
6 slices white American cheese
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Unwrap the crescent roll dough, and roll it out onto a cutting board. One at a time, cut each triangle of dough in half to create two smaller triangles, then set aside.
Dice the jalapeno, and cut each slice of American cheese into three pieces. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the smoked sausages and your favorite barbecue sauce (I used a Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce that was tangy, spicy and smoky — the perfect flavor for these tailgate snacks).
Place a slice of cheese onto a crescent dough triangle; cover with the diced jalapenos and one of the barbecue lit’l smokies. Roll the dough over the sausage and secure to create that “crescent roll” shape.
Place on a cookie sheet and repeat until all of the triangles have been filled. Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the dough is golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
If there is anything better than a fresh-out-of-the-oven pig in a blanket, this is it. The cheese is gooey and creamy, the dough perfectly baked and still fluffy in the center. Adding the jalapeno brings a spicy kick that rounds out this game-day snack. And who can resist a barbecue lit’l smoky, especially when it’s in a spicy and flavorful pig in a blanket?
Bring this dish, and you’ll never have to search for a tailgate crowd again, I promise. This meal took less than 30 minutes and cost only $12 to make, and it fed a crowd. Who can beat that?
However you choose to celebrate this weekend, remember to keep it packed full of Hog fever and lots of flavor.
