Did you miss me? Perhaps, but I can only hope so for the sake of my ego.

August … let me count the days …left. Where did you go? Honestly, gone for a few days and it’s already September!! Like most people summer (August) is reserved for travel … visiting family & friends, rekindling old memories and creating new adventures!  My summer was spent in a myriad of exciting activities is some very beautiful and bustling places!

To reminisce a bit for the lost days of summer 2010, here are some places I, and other various Vienna devotees, visited. They all have a theme!

The Chocolate Twist- Rochester, MN

Mile High- Denver, CO

Mel's Hot Dogs- Tampa, FL

Hot Dog Dude- Cave Creek, AZ

Byron's @ The White House

Hank's Haute Dogs- Honolulu, HI

6 Flags Great America- Gurnne, IL

Matt's Gourmet Hot Dogs, WA

Gil & Deb's- Mountain Home, AR

Metro Dogs, CA

Summer 2010 … thanks for the fun, the franks, photos and most of all the memories!
Relishing next week ….

Not to get everyone too excited … BUT Halloween is exactly 3 months away!! Start planning on a full stomach with this

… All Saints Dog

The GREATEST Halloween pet costume I've ever seen!

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper                                 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Did you get your 5 hour works in this week? If so see recipe one!

OR

Did you watch the marathon re-cap of  “Dance Your Ass Off” then think to yourself as the credits are rolling  … ‘huh, that looks fun!’??

If so scroll all the way down to the end of the post for recipe two …

RECIPE ONE–

Frito Dog

You’ll Need:

Vienna Beef Franks                   Crusty Sandwich Rolls

VB Numero Uno Chili              Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Jalapeños                                         Diced Tomatoes

Crushed Fritos™

Directions:

Heat Chili on stove top. Grill franks and place in crusty sandwich roll and top with chili, shredded cheese, jalapeños and crushed Fritos.

Hey, don’t waste a perfectly good bag of Fritos … how about a dip … a salsa … or a pie?

Black Bean Dip

Fritos & Corn Salsa

Boardwalk Dog

You’ll Need:

Veggie or Tofu Frank                   Whole-wheat Buns

Avocado-diced                                  Cucumber-diced

Sprouts                                                   Carrots-shredded

Balsamic Dressing

Directions:

For veggie franks grill or fry and for tofu boil. Serve on whole-wheat bun and top with avocado, cucumber, sprouts and carrots. Drizzle with balsamic dressing.

Fresh fruit compliments the spin moves or barrel turns from Tuesday night’s episode.

Relishing Saturday … the saddest day of National Hot Dog Month … the last one!

“The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated”

–Eliza Doolittle

The best there is will always be the best no matter how it is dressed! So says Eliza, so it shall be!

I am not accustom to bestowing acclaim upon New York Dogs BUT when it is a Vienna dog dressed up in Gucci or Pradha … the flower girl blossoms into high society with all the attention of the male persuasion. SO … we will bridge this ‘lady-flower girl’ continuum by offering …

THE OFF BROADWAY DOG

You’ll Need:

Vienna Beef Franks                 Plain Hot Dog Buns

Dusseldorf Mustard                Sauerkraut

Directions:

“I am sorry I am unable to answer the phone right now, I am on vacation! Please leave your name, number and a brief message and I will return your call when I return!”

Destination: Hawaii

Arrival: Dinner Time

Itinerary:

Botanic Gardens                                            Whale Watching                                                   Black Sand Beach                                          Hawaii Volcanoes National Park               Wailua Waterfall                                           Dole Plantation

Hank’s Haute Dogs                                       Waimea Beach                  Hula Dancing

THE ALOHA DOG

You’ll Need:

Vienna Beef Franks                                                                                         Hot Dog Buns

½ cup Pineapple-chopped                                                                   1 tbsp Lime Juice

Teriyaki Sauce                                                                Cayenne, Salt & Black Pepper

1 cup ea. Red Onion, Red Bell Pepper and Scallions-chopped

Directions:

Toss pineapple, onion, pepper and scallions with lime juice and season with cayenne, salt & pepper. Place franks and buns on grill until both have a nice char; brushing frank with teriyaki sauce. Top with pineapple salsa.

Complete your luau with this delicious side dish:

Ambrosia Salad

You’ll Need:

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

1 can pineapple chunks, drained

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

1 cup coconut

2 cups grapes (green & red)

1/2 cup whipped cream, whipped

Directions:

Mix together in bowl, let set overnight.

Relishing Thursday … ONLY 3 days left

To Celebrate Vienna Beef now serving Homer’s Ice Cream from our new walk up window I thought an ice cream (based) hot dog recipe was appropriate!

THE NEOPOLITAN

“On Monday when the sun is hot,

I wonder to myself a lot,

‘Now is it true, or is it not,

that what is which and which is what?’”

–A.A. Hodge

Apparently, I pondered too long and missed the entire day!

For Monday …. THE CASTRO … no, not him!

Directions:

This dog dictates the perfect side dish … boniatos fritos!!

You’ll Need:

Sweet Potatoes                              Sugar

Directions:

Peel the sweet potato and cut it into slices approximately half an inch thick. Fry them at about 365ºF until they begin to turn golden, approx. 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Just before serving, fry again at 390ºF until golden

brown. Sprinkle with sugar.

Relishing …Tuesday

Day 3 of 8 …

If you’re like me you are a fiend for nachos … don’t know why but they are the top of my food chain list! I’m always looking for some new side dish to supplement all the goodness I don’t get from my staple.

Wow, you don’t say .. there’s a dog for that? Really?

The TACO DOG

You’ll need:

Vienna Beef Franks

Flour Tortillas

Shredded Lettuce

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Salsa

Sour Cream

Directions:

Slice frank lengthwise and place on grill next to flour tortilla. Grill both long enough for a good char then place frank in tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce, Cheddar Cheese, salsa and sour cream.

Wanna be wild? Try a new SALSA!

Mango

Corn

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

Black Bean

Relishing Monday …

Day two of eight ...The ELEMENTAL DOG

You’ll need:

Vienna Beef Franks                Potato Buns

Five Spice Powder                   Hoisin or Plum Sauce

Cucumber-sliced                     Scallions

Cilantro

Sprinkle franks with Five Spice Powder and place on grill. While franks are grilling brush them with Hoisin. Serve on toasted potato bun topping with cucumbers, scallions, cilantro and additional Hoisin. Recipe thanks to Food Network.

Vienna Fun Fact #1

Did you know?? Five Spice Powder is an Asian blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and ground fennel seeds and are said to represent the 5 elements …

Relishing Sunday … Sundays are for Siestas

Because you are a hot dog aficionado I don’t have to tell you that July is National Hot Dog Month, right?

Of course, right! You’ve spent the last 21 nights (or lunches) running around to all your favorite stands or rendezvous to indulge in the frank fever! Now, with about 8 (and counting) days left you’re excitement for encased meat is waning. It’s as understandable as FOOD besting Adam Richman, it’s rare … but it happens. There are only so many times you can eat and enjoy the same dog, bun and condiment combination!

So, let me help! For the next 8 days (… a week … good song!) I’ll post some new or obscure or oldie-but-goodie frank recipe so you can enjoy the rest of this flavorful month!

First up … THE SAMOYED!

Russian Potato Salad

6 to 8 med. potatoes, peeled and cut up

1 cup sour cream

1 pkg. frozen peas and carrots

1 cup mayonnaise (approx.)

1 lg. onion, finely sliced

2 eggs, hard boiled, sliced

Salt and Pepper

Partially cook potatoes, add peas and carrots and finish cooking until easily pierced with fork. Drain. While still warm, add onion slices, mayonnaise, sour cream and sliced eggs. Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Beet Horseradish

1 cup finely grated peeled fresh horseradish

3 cooked med chopped & peeled beets

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup cider vinegar

Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper. Puree all for 30 to 40 seconds. Let stand, covered, at room temperature for at least 1 hour.

Relishing Tomorrow … The Elemental or Boardwalk!