Oh, hot dogs! Today I’m honoring the hot dog roast, a simple slice of Americana that reminds me of lake days and baseball and a summer soon behind us. I know, I know, hot dogs are the opposite of healthy, and vegetarians probably gag at the thought of them. I only eat two or three (okay five or six) a year, so no doubt I have worse habits I could / should / do fret over from time to time. But this is me trying to keep things light over here in my Grace Grits and Gardening world.
Personally, I think we could all use a big ole hot dog roast.
In Northwest Arkansas last weekend, the weather gods gave us a picture perfect string of days. John and I took advantage of the cooler temperatures and spent some time outside. Leaves are finally turning. Pumpkins make me happy.
Back In The Day
When I was a kid, a hot dog or marshmallow roast meant finding a stick to be used as a skewer. So in a way, the hot dog roast also included a treasure hunt. The stick needed to be the right length so as not to burn my hand. It needed to be slender enough to skewer the dog yet sturdy enough to support it. At the lake, sticks around our house in the woods were plentiful. A good stick that passed the test would be propped on the porch to use again.
Meet Our New Skewers
Times have changed, at home anyway. Our skewers are legit now.
Last year, I searched the interwebs for the perfect hot dog roasting skewers and gave two to John for Christmas. Last weekend (finally), we broke one in. There’s nothing much better than grilling hot dogs, sipping a beer, and enjoying the back yard after a football win.
The beauty of these skewers is not only the cool design and sturdiness, but also the ability to grill multiple dogs at once. There’s an art to it. John has mad hot dog grilling style. He’s rotating the dogs just right to get even roasting. I’ve got nothing against a stick off the ground skewer, but metal ones transfer heat more uniformly than a green branch. Simple science, if you believe in that sort of thing.
Below is a better picture of the skewers I bought from Terrain (technically a marshmallow skewer). If you need these in your life, click HERE. (This is not an ad. Simply something I like!)
(photo courtesy of www.shopterrain.com)
Dressing the Dog
I’m a hot dog purist which some may call boring. I like an untoasted bun and a grilled all-beef hot dog with French’s yellow mustard. That’s it. No relish, no ketchup, no cheese, no guacamole. Nothing.
John toasts his bun and loads it up chili, onions, and cheese. I believe this is technically called a Coney Island Chili Dog? He ate two, not that we’re keeping score or anything.
I promise there are hot dogs underneath the mound of goodness.
Anyway for today, in this dog eat dog world, this is my burning question. What’s your go-to hot dog style? There are no wrong answers.
?
Halloweenie Roast
Y’all, check out THIS FUN IDEA from Your Homebased Mom. Her annual neighborhood Halloweenie Roast features a hot dog bar with all the trimmings. You know I love Halloween and a play on words, so I’m gonna borrow Halloweenie and make it part of my permanent fall vocabulary.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
For fun:
Father of the Bride / Hog Dogs, Hog Dog Buns
I never met a hot dog I didn’t like. Hot dogs are better on a sandy island at the lake with a little sand mixed in.
I started to mention sand as an ingredient…
Nathan’s hot dogs with sauerkraut at Sam’s Club, or corn dogs at the Iowa State Fair, or nearly burnt hot dogs over a fire on the grill at the picnic area at the lake. 🙂
I love state fair corn dogs! Someday I’m going to attend the Iowa fair!
That would be exciting! Maybe by the time you come to the fair the Drake Library renovation will be complete and you can do both!
I’m with Mrs Barbara! Hot dogs are so devine. I like mine a little on the blackened side with just mustard and an untoasted bun. Simple is better in many a situation. Yum. Believe I’ll be having a hot dog soon. Thanks Talya got reminding me!
We are on the same page!
We don’t eat hot dogs all that often, Talya, but I LOVE them! Those roasting “sticks” are really cool, too.
Blessings!
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a real weenie roast—which would be lots of fun. We used straightened clothes hangers when I was growing up. I like your new ones much better.
Hotdogs are one our beach lunches. I split and fry them in a skillet which tastes yummy, especially on a lightly toasted bun with mustard. I’ve been known to add chili when I eat them other places.