The purpose of What’s For Dinner? is to provide you a recipe with items on sale this week, with no more than 10 ingredients, and coming in at under $10 per meal.
Okay, before any moans or groans from the peanut gallery – this self-described foodie LOVEs a good hotdog. In fact, when we hit the outdoor party circuit (all two parties we go to) I would rather hang out at the kiddie table and eat a good grilled hot dog than mess with hamburgers.
Since, hot dogs and brats are on sale EVERYWHERE this week (Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs are on sale at Hy-Vee and Price Chopper and Johnsonville Brats are sale at Hen House), I thought it might be fun to look at all the different styles we Americans eat hot dogs. Thanks Wikipedia.
In Mobile, Alabama a Willy Dog is served with ketchup, mustard, chili, sauerkraut, and pickles. During Mardi Gras they have been knows to deep fry the bun. (Have Mercy!)
The Sonora Hot Dog found in Tuscon and Phoenix is grilled, wrapped in Mesquite-smoked bacon, topped with freshly-chopped tomatoes, onions, shredded yellow or cotijo cheese, tomatillo salsa or red chili sauce, pinto beans, mayonnaise, ketchup and/or mustard, and served on bread.
The Monument Dog out of Washington DC is a steamed all-beef hot dog on a steamed potato hot dog bun, with mayo, banana peppers, onions, tangy diced red peppers, and sliced pickles.
The most famous is probably the Chicago-style hot dog. It is a hot dog topped with sliced/diced/wedged tomatoes, both a dill pickle spear and sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard directly on the sausage, pickled sport peppers, and is finished with celery salt, and served on a steamed poppy seed bun. Chicago-style never includes ketchup.
Or from the best state in the Nation…in Nebraska the Fairbury Brand red hot dogs (color is for the famed University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers) is fired from the sidelines at a Husker football games by a guy carrying “Der Weiner Schlinger”- an air-powered cannon that fires foil-wrapped hot dogs into the stands (it is powerful enough to reach the upper deck). (Yeah, baby!)
So, get your creative juices flowing with this list of hot dog styles and branch out from the tried-and-true mustard, ketchup, and relish routine this weekend. You won’t be out much money (since they are so cheap this week) and you may just find a combination that becomes your new favorite.
Aww, you missed the Seattle style hot dog, also listed on that wiki page. It combines sour cream and sauerkraut on a toasted bun. What could be better than that? Here's a photo of one I made a couple of years ago. Thanks for this post which reminded me I should start adding it to the menus.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/misscrabette/2506528003/
Oh, Cristina. That looked SO good. I may have to add it to my list of hot dog toppings for this weekend. Thanks for the picture too – made my day.
– kel
What was I thinking? I meant to say cream cheese. I hope you weren't set on the sour cream. :-p
When I looked at your pick, I saw the cream cheese. Also, checked out your blog. You are doing great. Everyone – check out Cristina's blog. Just click on her name and it will take you there. 🙂
– kel
Thanks, Kelly! I'm trying, but I'm much newer at this than you.