Independence Day is fast approaching, the day that we as Americans celebrate our independence with the partaking of hot dogs. The modern hot dog, as made by companies like Oscar Mayer and Ballpark is the real American deal. It is truly more American than apple pie. Whether you like just a thin stripe of mustard down the length or relish, sauerkraut, and all the trimmings, the hot dog is the standard hand-held food on Independence Day and on New York City sidewalks every day of the year.
Did you know that United States' Independence Day (July 4) is the day that Americans consume more hot dogs than any other day of the year? Take that, Labor Day. On July 4th this year, Americans will eat nearly 155 million hot dogs in some form or another. Would you like some binder with that?
The hot dog, like a lot of American things, did not originate in America. It came from that sausage loving country, Germany. In Germany, they are called Weiners or Weinerwurst. Weiners are the name sometimes used in America for our hot dogs as is the term frankfurter, also a German-based word. Weinerwurst literally means "meat from Vienna." Yes, today Vienna is geographically located in Austria, but long ago, those borders between Germany and Austria were not so well defined.
But what about hot dog? Where did that name come from? Well, you may thank sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan. At a 1901 baseball game, food vendors began selling a peculiar thing .... dachshund sausages in buns. Dorgan could hear the vendors yelling "Get your Dachshund Sausages while they're red hot!" It inspired him to create a cartoon of the scene, but since he didn't know how to spell "dachshund," he just wrote "hot dogs."
American hot dogs can be made of beef, pork, veal, chicken, or turkey. Probably all, knowing some meat packers. If a hot dog is labeled as "beef" then, by law, it must be all beef. Kosher hot dogs are all-beef dogs that are seasoned with garlic, and according to Kosher rules, must not contain pork.
This is my recipe for what I like to call a "Fork Dog." Trying to eat this with your hands is very messy, and you'll likely be ridiculed. So use a fork. Eating a hot dog never felt so classy.
- 1 small white onion, chopped
- 1 can Wolf Brand chili, no beans
- 1 jar Tostitos Queso, warmed
- Hot Dogs and Buns
- Olive Oil
In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium meat. Add the onion and sautee until soft and slightly caramelized. Cook your dogs as you normally do.
In this order, layer your meal: Bun -- Dog -- Onions -- Chili -- Queso
Enjoy.
