The Social Knockwurst (Dish made for The Social Network at the 2011 Oscar Party)

This dish was a fun play on words, but it also has a fun adventure in the making of the recipe too.  It's a real basic cracker snack appitizer, but there was a little searching around and a taste test involved.  All the dish entailed was Sociable crackers (get it, "Sociable" for the "Social" Network... oh you can't script stuff like that), some stone ground musturd, a german style sausage called Knockwurst (learn the difference between Knockwurst and Bratwurst here), topped with the first recipe ever put on The Polymouth: Caramelized Onions.

The Social Network section of the 100 Mile Hallway Mural

So Knockwurst doesn't exactly grow on trees.  You have to do a little digging.  You probably won't find it at your local super market, so this will give you a chance to try some of your local mom and pop butcher shops.  In our search for the best option we tried out 3 of Portlands favorite butcher shops: Otto's Sausage Kitchen, Edelweiss Sausage and Delicatessen, and Phil's Uptown Meat Market.  There was no traditional Knockwurst to be found, but we selected a close enough facsimile from each spot and got to the fun: Sausage Taste Test!!!  The winner ended up being Otto's Bockwurst.  It is a lovely, smooth, soft and flavorful sausage, and well worth the trip.

The dish itself is real easy: Stack a cracker with mustard, a thin slice of sausage, and top with caramelized onions.  I think a garnigh of flat-leaf parsley, lemon zest, or chives would be nice, but you don't need them.  Serve this at your next party and your "Freinds" will "Like" them so much they will be "Requesting" more...

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Pigs in a Blanket

(AKA Crowd Pleasers)


This is a great party recipe.  And I use some form of them at nearly every party I have (under various names).  So much so that people almost expect them at this point.  You have to be selective when it comes to where you place them, because they will be the be the center of the party, that is until they run out.  They are fairly easy to make, and what they lack in pomp and complexity they make up for in comfort and sheer naughtiness.  All you're gonna need is...

1 Package Lil' Smokies Sausages
2 Cans Ready to Bake Crescent Rolls

1)  Unroll the crescent roll dough, cut the pre-sliced triangles in to thirds (making 3 smaller triangles)
2)  Roll 1 mini sausage in each piece of dough (I like starting on the edge with the two closest corners, and rolling so the furthest point ends up in the middle of the ends of the sausage)
3)  Place on greased cookie sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or till golden brown
4)  Serve with favorite dipping sauce (bbq or stone ground mustard go over best) in area with plenty of elbow room

Those are the basics.  You can dress them up any number of ways from there: cheese is always a deliciously melty addition, an egg wash gives them a nice glisten, and herbs are always a savory touch.  This should make 48, but rarely do I get them out of the kitchen with the whole batch in tact (always taste as you cook...).

Trust me, I call them "Crowd Pleasers" for a reason.  Let me know how it goes...

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