Spider Dogs

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This weekend we had the opportunity to sit out late, look at the stars and eat great fire snacks.  We told stories, chatted, and sang songs.  It was the first time this summer that I got to eat a s’more!  I only really like hotdogs when they’re made on the grill or on the fire.  The smoke and flame make them delicious!  My favorite part is when the outside gets crispy and dark.  When I was a camp counselor, we would look for fun things for our campers so they might be interested in helping to cook their own dinners.  One of the things we made were spider dogs.  I loved eating them because it gave me even more surface space to turn crispy and delicious.  I suggested making one at our campfire.  I was surprised when none of the other people there knew what they were!  I felt like I have to share this fun little camp trick!

What You’ll Need:

  • A pack of your favorite hot dogs, brats or sausages
  • Buns
  • Plates
  • A sharp knife
  • Fire fork or sharpened stick
  • Toppings like cheese, ketchup, mustard or relish

How to do it:

  1. Take one dog out of the package. On one end, slice the hot dog in half, sliding the knife about 1/3rd of the way into the length of the meat, then remove the knife.  Remember that the reason you’re only cutting 1/3rd of the way into the sausage is because you need the space in the middle to be firm to be able to spear your hotdog and cook it.  If you have a fork with two points, you may need to only use one to cook it or be careful about the way you cut so that you can attach your hot dog to your fork!
  2. On the same side, rotate your knife about 90 degrees F and slice 1/3rd of the way down the hotdog.
  3. Repeat on the other side of the hot dog.
  4. Get your bun ready for when your hotdog is cooked.  Get a bun out of the package, open it up and place it on the plate you are going to use.
  5. Put any toppings you are going to want on your hot dog into the bun.
  6. Spear your hotdog on your fork or stick and cook over the fire. The ends will begin to curl in.  I love the smell of the juices dripping into the fire!  You will know it is done when the juices stop running, when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, or when the outsides start to turn black.  It will cook fastest if you find a place next to the coals.  It will take longest if you hover it over the tops of the flames.

 

7.  Slide the hot dog off of the cooking stick and into the bun.  You may want to use the dull side or the flat of your knife to avoid burning yourself. 

8. Enjoy!

I hope you have some fun making spider dogs at your next campfire!  Send in your pictures of your spider dogs.  We’ll post our favorites on our Facebook page!