A Date With A Pig Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut off the top third of the garlic head to expose the cloves. Place onto a piece of foil. Drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover the garlic with the foil and place into the oven for about 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to the touch. Remove the garlic cloves from their husks. Reserve until ready to use. Mince 1 teaspoon of the roasted garlic and melt with the butter in a small saucepan. Season with salt. Gently warm until the garlic becomes fragrant. Set aside in the fridge to slightly firm up again. Begin by preparing the bacon for the pig patties. Set a large pot of cold water over high heat and add the bacon. Bring to a medium boil and cook until the bacon is very tender and almost falling apart, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain and set aside to cool. Set a flat cast-iron grill pan over high heat. Divide the bacon into 4 even portions, form each portion into a patty and place on the grill. Press down with the foil-covered brick to squash the bacon together and into a flat patty so it crisps. Cook until golden and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and keep warm. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (8 ounces each) and form into 4 tight balls. Sprinkle the hamburger "ball" all over with salt and pepper. To the griddle pan (which still has some of the bacon fat on it) place the hamburger balls on and flatten with a strong, flat metal spatula. Flatten to approximately 1/3-inch thickness and continue to press down with the spatula as it cooks. Cook until the burgers develop a crust on the first side, 1 1/2 minutes. Flip over and cook on the second side to develop a crust on that side, 1 minute. Add 2 ounces Mornay Sauce, if using, to the top of the hamburger and top with a slice of cheese. Place a dome lid over the top of the burger. Pour the chicken broth mixture on to the flat top so the liquid runs under the dome and creates steam to cook the burger and melt the cheese. When the burger is at desired point of doneness and the cheese is completely melted, remove the dome lid and set the burgers aside. Brush the cut sides of the buns lightly with the garlic butter. Toast the buns on the flat top until golden and crisp, 3 to 4 seconds. Flip and toast the outsides so they are also lightly toasted, 3 to 4 seconds. To assemble: Smear the "Donkey" Sauce on the cut side of both bun halves. Layer the base with pickle slices and the hamburger patty. Top with a bacon "pig patty." Top with the onions, tomato and lettuce, and then place the top half of the bun on top. Wrap in waxed parchment paper and serve immediately.
• In a medium saucepan, add the butter and set over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt, and then sprinkle with the flour and stir with a whisk. Cook over low heat until the butter and flour combine into a mixture like wet sand. Once combined, stir for 1 to 2 minutes to cook the flour (but without adding color). Pour in the milk slowly as you whisk to combine. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens up, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt, nutmeg and cheese and stir until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside and keep warm until ready to use. Yield: 1 cup.
• Mix the mayonnaise, roasted garlic, mustard, Worcestershire, salt and pepper together until smooth. Yield: about 1 cup.

Steps:

• Take the bacon and cut it in half.
• Wrap each individual date in the 1/2 slice of raw bacon.
• Secure each bacon wrapped date with a toothpick.
• Place all of these dates on a cookie sheet.
• Cook at 350 for approximately 30 minutes, turning them once.
• They are done when all sides are brown.
• Remove toothpicks before serving.
• These are easily transported and reheated.
• Serve warm and wait for the applause!

Steps:

• For the dough: In a bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Stir to dissolve the yeast and allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes.
• Using a sieve or strainer, sift about half of the flour over the yeast mixture and mix with your hands until smooth. Add the oil, honey and kosher salt. Sift over the remaining flour and mix to combine.
• Lightly flour a cutting board or flat surface. Turn the dough onto the floured area and knead until the dough is smooth and the ingredients are fully integrated, 3 to 5 minutes. Lightly oil a bowl and place the dough inside. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm place until it has doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.
• For the mustard sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk the mustard, honey, hot sauce and vinegar with a splash of warm water. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the pretzel-ish pigs in a blanket: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper sprayed with nonstick cooking spray or silicone baking mats and set aside. Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface. Roll the dough out into an 18-by-13-inch rectangle about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/4-inch squares. Roll each mini hot dog in a single piece of the dough. Pinch the seam and ends to firmly close, tucking the excess on the ends underneath. Place each wrapped hot dog seam-side down on one of the prepared baking sheets.
• For the baking soda bath: Prepare a third baking sheet or large platter with parchment. In a medium pot, bring about 6 cups of water to a boil over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the baking soda a bit at a time. Working in batches, use a slotted spoon to drop each pig in a blanket into the water for 30 seconds, then remove and transfer to the prepared third baking sheet or platter.
• Transfer the pigs in a blanket in a single layer back onto the original baking sheets, allowing some space between each. Sprinkle the dogs with the pretzel salt or kosher salt. Bake in the center of the oven until the pastry is nicely browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Lightly brush with melted butter before serving. Serve with the mustard sauce on the side.

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle. Cut in half lengthwise, then crosswise into ten 5-by-3-inch pieces. Wrap each piece around a hot dog; pinch edges of dough to seal. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F; brush a 9-inch springform pan with oil. Place a 4-ounce ramekin in center of pan. Trim edges of wrapped hot dogs flat (discarding excess); cut each crosswise into thirds. Brush dough with oil and arrange in pan cut-sides up, spaced 1/2 inch apart.
• Cover with parchment-lined foil and bake until puffed and set, about 35 minutes. Uncover; continue baking until golden, 15 to 25 minutes more. Serve warm, with mustard or ketchup in ramekin.