dog-in-a-blanket
Definition
Noun (countable): A "dog-in-a-blanket" is a type of savory pastry or appetizer consisting of a small cooked sausage (often a cocktail frank or hot dog) wrapped in a dough, such as biscuit dough, puff pastry, or crescent roll dough, and then baked or fried until golden. It is typically served as a snack, party food, or finger food.
Usage Examples
- (Small sausages wrapped in dough as appetizers.)
- (A baked sausage wrapped in dough as a simple meal.)
- (Party-sized portions of the snack.)
Advanced Usage
- "to make a dog-in-a-blanket": to prepare this dish by wrapping a sausage in dough and baking it.
- He learned to make a dog-in-a-blanket from his grandmother's recipe. (He learned the cooking method.)
- "dog-in-a-blanket as a comfort food": often associated with casual, nostalgic, or American-style cuisine.
- On cold winter evenings, a warm dog-in-a-blanket feels like comfort food. (The dish evokes a cozy feeling.)
Variants and Related Words
- Pigs-in-a-blanket (n): a very similar dish, often used interchangeably, though "pigs-in-a-blanket" can also refer to sausages wrapped in bacon or puff pastry, especially in British English.
- The bakery sells both pigs-in-a-blanket and dog-in-a-blanket variations. (Different versions of the same concept.)
- Blanket (n): the dough or pastry that covers the sausage.
- The blanket was flaky and buttery. (The outer layer of dough.)
Synonyms
- Sausage roll: a similar British snack where sausage meat is wrapped in puff pastry and baked, though usually larger and without a whole sausage.
- Cocktail frank in pastry: a descriptive term for the same item.
- Hot dog roll-up: a casual name for a rolled version of the snack.
Phrasal Verbs
- Wrap up (in context): to enclose a sausage in dough.
- She wrapped up each sausage in a strip of biscuit dough. (She prepared the dog-in-a-blanket.)
- Bake off: to finish baking the dog-in-a-blanket until golden.
- Bake off the dog-in-a-blanket for 12 minutes at 375°F. (Complete the cooking process.)
Related Idioms
- "Like a dog in a blanket": a playful phrase describing someone who is cozy or wrapped up warmly, though not a standard idiom.
- He curled up on the couch like a dog in a blanket. (He was snug and comfortable, referencing the dish's name.)
Note on Usage
The term "dog-in-a-blanket" is less common than "pigs-in-a-blanket" in American English, but both are understood. In some regions, "dog-in-a-blanket" specifically refers to a hot dog wrapped in a pancake or crepe, though the baked dough version is more typical. The word is informal and often used in home cooking or casual dining contexts.