Sunday, August 9, 2009

Give Your Dog a Makeover

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Do your hot dogs need a makeover? Mine did. Honestly I had fallen into a rut. Bun, dog, ketchup, mustard - maybe some slaw at the side - NOT (God forbid) for fear of histrionics and major toddler meltdowns, slaw on the top. Never slaw on the top people!

How many of you are like me in thinking that this is kiddie fare, not suitable for adult tastes? Well think again.....here they are... hot dogs for grown ups! Inspired by my July issue of bon apétit's, Around the world in 80 Hot Dogs'

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Topping: caramelized onions, mushrooms, blue cheese


Picture my 4 year old son's face when I said I was making Hot Dogs for lunch. He did a little happy dance/jig. He ran around in a circle singing/screaming HOT DOGS, H - 0 - T Dogzzzzz! We're having HOOOOOOO T DOOOOGS!

Now, imagine the scene when I put these in front of him? Silence. He stared at them for such a long time without saying a word. But his face, oh how his face said it all! Finally, in continued silence he ate. Chew, chew, chew, pause to throw an aggrieved look my way, chew, chew, chew, exaggerated swallow. When he was done he only had one comment " Mom, next time PLEASE don't make 'special' hot dogs for me. Special, said with an inflection that one reserves for the disabled or mentally incapacitated. LOL

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Topping: mango chow,Grace mild jerk marinade,Trinidad Seasoning peppers

My friend Thorsten has got me thinking that I should add cucumbers to The Jamaican. Check out his gorgeous photography and his German take on the hot dog here.

Seriously though it's summer time. I don't know about you but I don't like to be in the kitchen much when I am on holiday. You don't need to fire up a grill for these. Boil or fry the hot dogs, toast the buns slightly and you are all set. The more complicated toppings can be prepared in advance.

second helpings


These were so easy and so good. I want to do more. Do you have any ideas for me to try? Name your hot dog and send your 'special' topping suggestions my way.

Hot Dog on Foodista

16 comments:

  1. Ah, a hot dog makeover! Wonderful. Your son sounds so cute- love the inflection on the word 'special'. Imagine if you'd made it upscale! Slice it thin, place a piece on a white plate and dot the plate with ketchup and mustard and all these different toppings....I think he'd have walked out in a huff :D

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  2. Once, I arrived in Canada. I noticed the hotdog was so boring:)
    just a bun with wiener, mustard and ketchup.

    While I was in Indonesia, hotdog consists a bun, wiener, tomato and cucumber slices, lettuce, and hot sauce.

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  3. wow that 'dog' sure looks 'hot'....I like the way u think about jazzing things up :)

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  4. Mmmm. I love hot dogs, especially these!

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  5. A nice touch to Hot Dog made it special. Great!

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  6. I love hotdogs. I either make my own now or buy the vegan brands. How I dress mine up. Sometimes I get vegan chilli with beans and put it on the dog with raw onions and vegan cheddar cheese. Or I put french dijon on the buns, fry onions, slice plantain and add ketchup and hotsauce and fried potatoes pieces.
    I want a hotdog now:(

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  7. I love those peppers. I picked up some in Saba but they have a different taste than the one in St. Lucia or Trinidad...there is a little just a little heat in them and the flavour is out of this world. I have some trying to grow now outside.

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  8. Oh. My. Gosh. Wow. I want one now!!!

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  9. Hey girl, the kaffir lime leaves are different... you know that we get some big sorta rough-skinned lemons? the leaves of those trees. Here is a link to a photo to what they look like: http://www.fengshui-connection.com/images/KaffirLimeLeaves.jpg

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  10. What fabulous variations! I love hot dogs but don't eat them often enough. This is a gret idea for when the weather warms up here. I'd find it hard to choose one of those although the Jamaican has me totally intrigued! :)

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  11. Nigella: Intrigues enough to give it a try I hope!

    Cynthia: Girl thanks for the info on those leaves. I still think I'd have to see the tree itself to be sure cause you know us in the Caribbean have different names for the same thing. Good to know tho that the regular leaves would work in a pinch.

    Jackie: just say the word I'll email you the recipe for the mango chow -it's nothing really grated green mango, culantro, garlic, salt, slight pepper...

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  12. I hope you don't mind but I've added your hotdog picture and recipe to my blog with a link and a plug to yours... really enjoy reading you! And I subscribed!

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  13. I saw the Bon Appetit issue and I thought-"darn those dogs look good" I am glad thought to highlight them in a blog.

    The dogs look fabulous!

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  14. Oh my goodness, I just featured the hot dog in the corndog version. Your versions look so tasty.
    Happy Twirls

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  15. Looks tasty. And I want them right now!

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