It’s been a while since we practiced our knot tying. The last time Galley Pirates had a knot tying exercise was Bowline Pretzels. Well, we won’t stop there. One of my favorites knots that is oh-so-easy and oh-so-easy-to-forget is the clove hitch, another “Quick! Tie a line around that piling!” knot. It’s only two loops so how could it be difficult? Right…?

A clove hitch goes around a piling…a big post in the water. So in culinary terms, that means a sausage. Here is the very basic recipe that uses few culinary skills, basic sailor knot-tying skills and  lots of quick and easy prepared food. Perfect for your upcoming Super Bowl party! (shhh…don’t mention anything about a Super Bowl Party to my co-pirate in New Orleans!)

Clove-Hitch Pizza Bites

5-6 Italian link sausages, cut in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 package Pillsbury Pop ‘in Fresh Pizza dough
1 can spaghetti sauce
1 can Alfredo sauce

In a sauté pan over medium a medium flame, heat the olive oil and fry the sausages until browned, turning often. Set aside to cool.

Preheat your galley oven to about 400º. Lay out the pizza dough on a cutting board (not the chart table, as obvious as it seems…) with a sharp knife cut slices through the dough that are about 1/2″ in width. You’ll end up with about 15 or so ribbons of dough. The cooler the dough, the easier it is to tie into knots. So try to keep the dough at a cool temperature. Again, perfect for football season.

Make two loops as shown in left photo. One loop over and one loop under. Place the loop on the right ON TOP of the loop on the left, as shown in right photo. There you have it. You can secure your boat to a piling by flinging the loops over the top of the post. OR…slip a sausage in the middle. That’s what we’ll do today. Wrap any extra “line” around the sausage and set on a baking platter.

When all of the sausages have been wrapped in clove hitches, place them in your preheated oven. Bake until the pastry puffs up and is nicely browned.

Be sure to serve with a good helping of sauces. Pizza or spaghetti sauce is the basic sauce. An Alfredo sauce or melted cheese works great too.

For a good video on two ways to tie a clove hitch, see below…

For a good video on tying a clove hitch, see below…

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Clove Hitch Pizza Bites

Great for any football party get-together...and to practice you clove hitches! 

Ingredients

• 6 Italian link sausages
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 pkg Pillsbury Pop'n Fresh Pizza Dough
• 1 can Spaghetti sauce
• 1 can Alfredo or cheese sauce

Instructions

• In a sauté pan over medium a medium flame, heat the olive oil and fry the sausages until browned, turning often. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat your galley oven to about 400º. Lay out the pizza dough on a cutting board. With a sharp knife cut slices through the dough that are about 1/2" in width. You'll end up with about 15 or so ribbons of dough. The cooler the dough, the easier it is to tie into knots. 
• Make two loops: one loop over and one loop under. Place the loop on the right ON TOP of the loop on the left. Slip a sausage in the middle. Wrap any extra "line" around the sausage and set on a baking platter.
  
• When all of the sausages have been wrapped in clove hitches, place them in your preheated oven. Bake until the pastry puffs up and is nicely browned. Serve with spaghetti sauce, cheese sauce, Alfredo sauce...whatever sauce you'd like to dip them into.

Notes

Make ahead and refrigerate or freeze for your offshore cruise.