Tailgate Hanky Pankies
Hanky Pankies were a new and fancy addition to the cocktail party scene in the early 1950s when canned Rotel first appeared on grocery shelves. Some recipes are fads, but others stay around because they are actually delicious. In this case these are not just delicious but let’s admit it – it’s really fun to say Hanky Panky. In my mom’s day Hanky Pankies were a combination of cooked ground beef, sausage, Velvetta, and that hot new sensation Rotel served on bite sized party rye. Sadly, the cocktail rye is impossible to find anymore, but that hasn’t stopped intrepid cooks I know from making their own versions with English muffins, pastry shells, and even rolls. That’s what I’ve done here by making these Tailgate Hanky Pankies. In Tennessee, because our games are usually at noon, tailgating has become a late morning event and for that I’ve turned these Hanky Pankies into a mini bite using biscuit dough. Sausage without the ground beef is much easier and switching Velvetta out for its classier cousin, cream cheese creates a better filling. That makes Hanky Pankies a perfect snack for morning and it can still shine at a cocktail event! Using flaky canned biscuits makes this recipe a snap to prepare. The filling – sausage, cream cheese, and Rotel and can be prepared ahead. The recipe is for about 50 biscuits so it’s fantastic for a crowd and lovely served hot or slightly warm. If you want to be the most popular guest or host at any party – and it doesn’t have to be a tailgate – just serve your crowd Hanky Pankies! Enjoy!
Watch Channel 5’s Talk of the Town at 11:00 am this Tuesday, October 17th to see me make Tailgate Hanky Pankies.
Ingredients
I lb breakfast sausage
Ingredients
1 can Rotel
1 package cream cheese
2 cans flaky biscuits (I like Pillsbury)
Jalapeno for topping is optional.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Crumble and brown sausage in a skillet and stir in undrained Rotel.
Add cream cheese to melt.
Split each biscuit in half and then cut both circles in half. (One biscuit makes dough for 4 Hanky Pankies.)
Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray and push one biscuit piece in each tin.
Add a tablespoon of sausage mixture to each biscuit and bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
Top with a jalapeno slice if desired.
Just like Kacey Musgraves says, “Mind your own biscuits and your life will be gravy.”
