Spaghetti Dogs

OK, for those of you who may not know me very well, I don't have any children or grandchildren. Thus, it is rare for me to be around children, much less have the slightest idea of what they like to eat. The best that I can do is assume that they don't like meals that contain hot chili peppers...


My husband & I invited some friends for dinner recently, who have a six year old boy. We planned our menu, a beautiful work of art, I must say. Then, on the night they were to visit, they called to say that their babysitter had cancelled, and asked if they could bring their son. Well of course they could! We love him to pieces! But...what would we serve him? We knew he wouldn't go for the grilled blackened pork, or the delicate asparagus with Hollandaise ...We had to think fast and come up with something that kids like and that he would actually enjoy eating! And so we brainstormed. 


Kids love hot dogs, we decided. And they love spaghetti. Now, I can tell you that the only way I will eat a hot dog is if it is a pure beef dog, if it is cooked on the grill, outside on a very hot summer day, if it is served in a bun with jalapeno peppers, sharp cheddar cheese and spicy mustard, and if it is accompanied by a Bud Light Lime. I do not cook, nor do I eat boiled hot dogs. But kids do. And they don't require all of those condiments and accessories (such as a Bud Light Lime)!


I can also tell you that when I make spaghetti, it is loaded with a good Diavolo sauce (aka hot, like the devil himself), and has something like shrimp or hot Italian sausage and loads of parmesan cheese in it! But kids love spaghetti, especially the whole slurping aspect of eating it, and they don't require all of those ingredients or flavors that we (much older) people do.


And so was borne Spaghetti Dogs.


The strategy is simple. Start with some hot dogs, (all beef, preferably). You can determine how many dogs you need, based on the number of little mouths you are feeding. I used three dogs for this recipe. And that awesome little boy ate almost the entire bowl. 


Cut the hot dogs into bite-size pieces.

Now, take some good strong (uncooked) spaghetti. Don't use angel hair or such. Use regular weight spaghetti. Depending on the size of your hot dog pieces, you can break the spaghetti pieces in half, or leave them at their full length. 


Now, take those pieces of spaghetti and stick them through the hot dog pieces from end to end.

 Here is another shot of how you might stick your spaghetti through the hot dog piece:

Now comes the hard part. Boil some water and toss the spaghetti dogs in. Depending on the number of lovely little children you are serving this to, you might want to add some additional spaghetti into the pot.


Then, boil the spaghetti dogs for 9-11 minutes, or until spaghetti is cooked. Keep in mind that you might have to boil it a minute or more than your box of spaghetti calls for, so that the spaghetti inside the hot dog gets cooked and softened as well. Also remember that little children don't understand the concept of al dente. So, if you have to over boil the spaghetti dog in order to make sure the spaghetti is cooked, don't worry. The kids will never know the difference!


When spaghetti is cooked and soft, drain it and serve it up to that precious little child! They will be utterly fascinated, wondering how the spaghetti got inside those hot dogs!

Take my word for it. If the child didn't remember you when they walked in the door and shied away from your hugs...they will be contentedly fast asleep on your lap by the time you and his parents are sipping cognac following your own fantastic dinner.


Spaghetti Dogs


Ingredients
Hot dogs
Spaghetti


Directions
Fill a pot with water and set onto stove, over high heat.
Cut hot dogs into bite size pieces.
Insert whole or half spaghetti pieces through each piece of hot dog, end to end, being careful not to break.
When all hot dogs are ready, drop into boiling pot of water.
Cook according to spaghetti (box) directions, 9-11 minutes, or until spaghetti is limp.
Serve to small-medium children who are old enough to love slurping spaghetti but not yet old enough to understand that hot dogs and spaghetti are not something they will eat when they are older.