It’s the last Wiener Wednesday of 2022!
Today we have another reader-submitted recipe. Poppy Crocker from Grannie Pantries was kind enough to send over this gem from Loyta Wooding’s Smart Shopper’s Cookbook (1972).
Here’s the obvious question–what, exactly, is the surprise here?
These are obviously not drumsticks.
Do you think you’d eat ground pork wrapped around a hot dog and then–OH. MY. GOD. What sorcery is this? THIS ISN’T CHICKEN!?!?! WOW. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! MIND BLOWN.
I have a question: was chicken reaaaaaallllly expensive or hard to come by at some point?
I ask because this is very City Chicken-esque–which also isn’t chicken at all–it’s cubed pork or veal on a stick, which is then breaded and pan-fried.
It is delightful.
But I ask, why try to make other things chicken when you can get family packs of drumsticks for 99 cents a pound at the Giant? Pork ain’t that cheap! And veal, if it’s in stock, is ten times the price.
Anyway, this tasted like City Chicken. But with a hot dog stuck in it.
So, were the Surprise Drumsticks a hit with the younger crowd? I don’t know about the younger crowd, but Mr. Sauce, Esq. is a *few* years younger than me and he enjoyed the Surprise Drumsticks thoroughly.
I declare Surprise Drumsticks a hit!
I served it with some Mac & Cheese and kale.
So that’s that!
For the next couple of weeks I have some family visits going on, a bunch of concerts (5 to be exact), and some travelling, so I’m going to take a little break from the blog. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. Stay cool, kittens!
Chicken was WAY expensive because they had no good way of transporting. You ate chicken if you had chickens or if you where wealthy. It seems really strange now. Growing up we had chicken a lot while my dad was in med school because it was cheap.
I learn something new everyday thanks to you folks!!!!
Woo! I’m excited you picked these, and it’s nice that you actually liked them. Smart Shopper’s Cookbook was supposed to be a budget cookbook, and besides not knowing whether pork was cheaper than chicken back then, I also doubt that hot dogs were cheaper than the skewers that were usually used as the “bone” in city chicken. I’m not sure how dedicated Wooding was to the book’s premise.
I’ll miss seeing these! Wiener Wednesdays are always fun.
I’m a little sad now that Weiner Wednesday has come to a close. You and Granny Pantries hit it out of the park with these “special” creations. Have fun with your travels, concerts, and your family visits!
MmmMmmMmm! These look Absolutely DELICIOUS especially with your Mac ‘n Cheese! The Kale – albeit pretty looking – sticks out like a sore thumb…it needs to disappear off that plate, ASAP!
I agree that pork is a lot more expensive than actual chicken drumsticks THESE DAYS, but who’s to say it wasn’t the reverse waaaay back in the good ole ’70’s?? I was only 8 yrs. old in 1972 and never paid attention to how much actual food cost back then ….but I sure knew how much my bottle caps candies, blow pops and red wax lips cost at the nearest variety store….ENJOY YOUR VACAY!
We’re the same generation — so glad to meet another Bottle Cap connoisseur!
Awwww…the sweet power of candy….pleasure’s all mine, Marty!
Awwwww…another year, another Wiener Wednesday-palooza that has come to pass. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the recipes this year and this last week was no exception. That looked like a tasty dinner! Enjoy your well deserved holiday, have fun and be safe.