Saturday, June 2, 2018

A True Gourmet Experience...And A couple Of Dogs

Tis the season...hot dog time. Well in our house hot dog time is all year long, we enjoy them in many ways, even at breakfast. Summer though brings out the family to the deck to get the grill going and feature the "frank"...by the way grilling be it gas or charcoal is my least favorite form of cooking hot dogs. Number one is steaming, and number two is grilling them in a hot cast iron fry pan. I use a natural casing frank, for it seems to hold in the juices. When steaming them do it slowly. Place the hot dogs in cold water, bring to a boil remove pan from heat at let stand a few minutes. The skin will remain intact and all of the flavors will be there. The cast iron method is to heat the pan first, place the hot dogs in pan and watch them, turning them several times until they become a light brown making sure they don't burn or blister and pop.

There are many toppings for the hot dog, anything and almost everything will work. One of my favorite toppings is my homemade relish. I use pickling cukes and red radish. They are grated mixed and then my secret spices are added. This relish along with diced fresh onions is all I need.


Grote and Wiegle are my local maker of NC franks. I buy them in large packs. When opened I remove them from their plastic wrap and place them in a sheet of freezer paper and wrap them up. Placed this way in the fridge they will keep for 10 days. Franks can also be frozen.


A grilled hot dog. Notice the bun...toasted New England style. When the buns are toasted they seem to hold up better to the toppings and don't get soggy.


Here are a couple of special dogs I'd like you to meet. The one on the left is "Kira" and the one on the right is "Parker"...Kira is a working K-9 and Parker is a working fetcher. The both of them are so sweet and so special to us.....and they love "hot dogs".







28 comments:

  1. Good looking dogs of all types.

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  2. I haven't had a hot dog in a good long while. Now I really want one badly. As for K9s? I'm never far from a couple of those.

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    1. Al R
      Thanks
      Al cook up a few and enjoy. Those two tail waggers are special.

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  3. Alan
    Hotdogs with relish is like homemade ice cream with chocolate topping both are a must anytime of the year.
    P.S. Didn't make the trout fishing trip yesterday, generation---but still in the works. Thank for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
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      Bill homemade ice cream is to die for. Unfortunately I have to settle for store bought.
      I'm going to test the SN tomorrow on a variety of fish.

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  4. Alan, I'd say that hot dog bun is from the King Arthur Flour hot dog bun pan. When I'm alone, hot dogs are in the pot of water because I'm too lazy to fire up the BBQ. When my wife is present, they go on the BBQ, but we like them bubbled and split. Makes us individuals.

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    1. Mark Kautz
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      Mark I'd love to have KA close to me so I could purchase some. Your methods are fine, and I'm sure they're enjoyed.

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  5. Brk Trt, Ahhh hot dogs. one of my favorites as well.

    I grew up in the boston area, and it was maple leaf brand was the popular one. But since I moved to the Berkshire, now it Kayem's natural casing. My favorite way to cook them is grilled well done/char'd. The roll is NE style toasted just like yours. topped with spicy brown, sweet relish, diced white onion, and light on the ketchup. Mmmmmm! Now that to me is "summer".............Phil

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    1. DRYFLYGUY
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      Phil Kayem franks are available here to. I have had them and they are GOOD....how about those Maine Red Dogs.
      Fire up the grill.

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  6. Very nice... totally agree on the toasted buns. And you have a couple of good looking pups too...

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    1. Doug Korn
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      Doug the dogs are our grand-dogs.

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  7. Replies
    1. Michael Capurso
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      Mike now you have to go out in the kitchen and make yourself a couple.

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  8. Kosher dogs charred on the grill with lots of good stuff on top. Nothing like it!

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    1. Howard Levett
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      Howard we have a couple of NY kosher franks available to us. Of the two I like Nathan's...lots of garlic.

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  9. Nice dogs and the "drag it through the garden" roasted pup isn't half bad either!

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    1. spike
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      My good friend you'll have to clarify for me...what is a "drag it through the garden" roasted pup is.

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    2. A Chicago hot do order with all the veggies is a "one dog, drag it through the garden" street vendor order. Your fresh relish (I think that is what I see) has all the right garden appeal.

      With apologies to Joe Strummer ... "know your dogs, know your dogs."

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    3. Thanks for the clarification.

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  10. That looks good, really good. Just about to sit down to toasted sourdough with honey and a mug of coffee. At the same time I will getting hypnotised by two Jack Russells who love crust, trouble is so do I. They, like your two lovely dogs, will be starring on the blog on Monday. Enjoy your breakfast on Sunday! All the best, John

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    1. The Two Terriers
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      John a lovely simple breakfast your enjoying, mine is likely to be oatmeal with maple syrup. Good coffee is the common in both.
      Somehow I think the two terriers will take part in your breakfast.

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  11. I use the New England style roll all the time. I love toasting them also. Somehow yours look better. Love the idea of of a homemade relish. It's amazing how food tastes so much better when you put some effort into preparing it. It's obvious you do. Thankyou.

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    1. Brad Basehore
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      Brad I hate it when you have a well topped dog and the soggy roll falls apart. Some supermarket bakeries feature there own buns and they are pretty good.
      You get out what you put in.

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  12. Alan, I love a good hot dog too, whether at the ballpark or at home. Love the snappiness of the natural skin when grilled and bit into, whether with mustard, relish, and onion or with chili. Toasted bun is a must too for reasons you stated.

    I'm glad to hear you are having a fine spring fishing as well. I have had fun on our local waters as well, both with top water action, my favorite, and with nymphs. Nothing quite like the thrill of getting a rising trout to take your fly drifted through the zone.

    Best, Sam

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    1. Parachute Adams
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      I love all franks served at the ballpark...even when the home team is loosing a good hot dog make it all seem good.
      I'm happy you have had to chance to take advantage of what is shaping up to be the best spring in years. Stay with it buddy.

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  13. That hot dog looks delicious! So fancy...

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    1. The River Damsel
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      Emily I'll save you one.

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