Surprise Piglets – Taking Pigs In A Blanket Up A Notch

What's more fun than pigs in a blanket? How about actual pig-shaped pigs in a blanket?

You'll Need (for 12):

• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 packet dry yeast (c. 2 tsp)
• 4 eggs
• ⅓ cup oil
• 1 cup water
• 3 hot dogs (or little smokies, if you prefer!)
• 3.5 oz shredded cheese
• 24 black peppercorns

Here's How:

1. To prepare the dough, combine flour, salt, yeast, 2 egg yolks, oil and water in a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients and knead the dough until it has reached a springy consistency. Let rise at room temperature (or someplace warm) for 2 hours. 
2. Now you're ready to make the pigs! Divide the dough into 12 equal portions. Set aside about a fifth (1/5) of each portion and roll the remaining dough into a ball. Roll out with a rolling pin and place about a third (1/3) of a hot dog or one little smokie in the center, cover with cheese, and fold the dough back together, forming it once again into a ball. Use the side where the ingredients are sealed in as the bottom of the pig. Brush the upper ball with beaten egg. With the leftover fifth of dough, form a small circle as the pig's snout and insert two food-safe wooden sticks as the nostrils, using the sticks to affix the snout to the front of the pig.  Form a second circle and cut it in half, rolling each together to form ears. Press these to each side of the pig's head. Place two peppercorns as the eyes. Now make the tail by rolling the dough into a curly rope and attach at the rear. 
3. Bake at 350 °F for 17 minutes, leaving the wooden sticks in place so the nostrils don't bake together. When the pigs have been removed from the oven, you can remove the sticks.

Now if you can bear to bite into these adorable little piglets, enjoy a savory treat!