Homemade Corn Dogs and Funnel Cakes. Oh my!

I did something I never do.

I fried stuff.

I seriously almost never fry food. 

It makes me feel like a terrible person. 

We got a "fry daddy" for a wedding present and used it so much that first year that I left it in the house when we moved away, hoping we would never do it again.

Well, unfortunately I did realize I don't have to have a fry daddy in order to fry food.  Through the years I've occasionally gotten a wild hair and decided to fry up my own tortilla chips, or something like it.  But I do try really hard to keep from doing it.

Well, we were at the local amusement park with the boys the other day and the temptation of the "fair food" was just too much.  We refuse to pay those crazy prices for food that smells way better than it tastes, which of coarse makes it even that much more tempting. So, on the way home we devised a plan to make our own fair food the next day.

And I must say, it was pretty darn good.

If you like corn dogs, you have to try this at least once in your life.  They are SO good this way. Even the boys, who usually don't really care for corn dogs, devoured them! And the funnel cakes; well, who doesn't like funnel cakes?

Corn Dogs

(found on Allrecipes)

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
2 (16 ounce) packages beef hot dogs
16 wooden skewers

Preheat oil to 365 degrees in a deep saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat. Insert wooden skewers into frankfurters. 

In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, sugar and baking powder. Stir in eggs and milk. 

Roll hot dogs in batter until well coated and fry 2 or three at a time until lightly browned, 3-5 min. Remove and drain on paper towels. 

Funnel Cakes
(found on Allrecipes)



8 cups vegetable oil for frying
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

In a deep-fryer, or heavy skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat milk and eggs together. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir into the egg mixture until smooth.

Using a funnel, hold finger over hole and fill with 1/2 a cup to a cup of batter and drop into hot oil working from center outwards in a web pattern. (You can use a gallon sized freezer bag instead of a funnel by pouring the batter into the bag, snipping off a small corner of it, and squeezing the batter into the oil.)

Fry until golden brown, turn with a large spatula, and fry the other side until golden. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.