Eat a Skink

Can you really eat a skink? Sure—if it’s the soft pretzel kind. Here’s how to make some.

What You Need:

• 1 (1/4 oz) package of dry active yeast
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 1/2 cups of warm water
• 3 3/4 cups of flour (white or whole wheat)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 egg
• rolled oats or sesame seeds
• raisins (for eyes)
• blue food coloring (optional)

 

What You Do:

1. Combine the yeast, sugar, honey, and water in a large bowl. Let the mixture sit for about five minutes and then stir well. Add the flour and salt to the mixture.
2. Knead until the flour is smoothly blended in. Form the dough into one big ball. Leave the dough in the bowl to rise for a half-hour.
3. Break off pieces of the dough about the size of golf balls. Roll and shape each piece into a “skink” with your hands. (Add more flour if the dough gets sticky.) For the legs, roll four small pieces and push them slightly up and under the body, then use a toothpick to make “toes.” Place your skinks on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
4. Separate the egg white from the yolk. Put the white in a separate bowl. Beat the yolk and lightly brush it over the skinks’ heads and backs.
5. Press bits of raisin in for eyes. Add oats or sesame seeds for decoration, as shown. For blue tails, stir several drops of blue food coloring into the leftover egg white. Brush this mixture over the tail.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes at 425 degrees until golden brown. (Ask an adult for help.) Now have fun sharing these luscious lizards with your family and friends!

 

Recipe by Michele Reyzer

Photo by Mark Godfrey