It reminds me of my childhood.

But that changed just before I turned 16.

My mother struggled to find anything that I could stomach.

A split image of Ina Garten and a hotdog baked in puff pastry on a plate next to ketchup

Simply Recipes / Getty Images

Sincepuff pastryseemed to sit all right with me, we moved on to Nathans Beef Franks in puff pastry.

Maybe not the healthiest choice, but it was better than nothing at all.

Fast forward to 2025.

A hotdog wrapped in puff pastry split in half on a plate with a side of mustard

Simply Recipes / Alice Levitt

But I still have a place in my heart for Nathans hot dogs and flaky puff pastry.

Could I make an upgraded version myself?

Thanks toa Barefoot Contessa recipe, I did just that.

I thawed the puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight, but that was the only longer-term prep.

The next day, I set the oven to 375F and dusted my favorite cutting board with flour.

I cut the pastry into two triangles, which, looking back at the recipe, was incorrect.

Garten called for rectangles.

Nonetheless, I persisted by spreading a tablespoon ofDijon mustardalong the lower portion of each of the four halves.

I plopped ahot dogat the bottom of each piece of puff pastry.

Garten says to bake the rolls for 25 to 35 minutes.

But it didnt really matter.

In making these, I had triumphed over my darkest culinary chapter.

I dipped each bite into more mustard, feeling healthy and sated.