Hot Dog Bar

A hot dog is a fine thing, BUT, a bacon-wrapped hot dog paired with a packed hot dog bar is an experience that’s anything but ordinary. Fire up the grill! There’s an entire summer season ahead — and you’ve got some serious eating to do!

Summertime Hot Dog Bar
Serves 4

Basic Ingredients:
8 hot dog buns
8 all beef hot dogs
8 pieces thin-sliced bacon
16 toothpicks, (soaked for 30 minutes)

Optional Condiments:
Ketchup
Yellow Mustard
Spicy Brown Mustard
Cream Cheese
BBQ Sauce Hot Sauce

Optional Toppings:
Dill or Sweet Relish Onions, caramelized
Spicy Marinated Peppers
Jalapeño Peppers
Pineapple Spears
Red Onion, diced
Baked Beans or Chili Beans
Cheddar Cheese
Pickle Spears

Directions:
1. Soak toothpicks in water for 30 minutes before grilling.

2. Wrap the hot dogs with a slice of thin-sliced bacon. Secure the bacon on each end with a soaked toothpick.

3. Grill the bacon-wrapped hot dogs on a well-oiled grill over medium heat. Turn the dogs as needed to cook the bacon until it’s crispy on all sides. The bacon will take longer to grill than a plain dog, so plan on watching and turning the dogs carefully until the bacon is cooked evenly on all sides.

4. Once you’ve flipped the hot dogs and the bacon has cooked on the top and bottom, the bacon should be secure enough around the hot dog to remove the toothpicks. Carefully remove the toothpicks and grill the other two sides until the bacon is fully crispy on all sides. Get creative with the toppings! Two of our favorite hot dog toppings are caramelized onions paired with a thick stripe of cream cheese. From there, go with the other condiments as desired. The cream cheese, not a common hot dog addition, is nicely decadent -- try it, you might love it, too!

Try one of these tasty combos, or make up your own signature hot dog:
West Coast Vibes: Cream Cheese + Caramelized Onions + Spicy Brown Mustard + Pickled Hot Peppers
Cowboy Dog: Bacon-wrapped dog with Baked Beans + Cheddar Cheese + Mustard + Red Onions
Island Style: Pineapple Spear + Cilantro + Red Onion + BBQ Sauce
Taco Time: Tomatoes + Cilantro + Cheddar Cheese + Pickled Jalapeño Slices + Hot Sauce
Classic Dog: Relish + Ketchup + Mustard

Shrimp Cocktail & Gin Martinis

Even if you’re having a solo party this New Year’s Eve, you still deserve to celebrate the fact that 2020 is almost behind us -- and what a year it has been! IN THIS ISSUE we welcome 2021 with perfectly poached shrimp cocktails and ice cold gin martinis. Bottoms up . . . and ONWARD!

Classic Shrimp Cocktail and Gin Martinis

Shrimp Ingredients: (Serves 4)
24 large, 21-25 count deveined shrimp (keep tail intact)
2 lemons, 1 juiced and 1 cut into wedges
1 small onion, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 stalk celery cut into large pieces
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon peppercorns

For Garnishing:
Several sprigs of Italian parsley
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Homemade Cocktail Sauce Ingredients:
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (optional)
1/4 teaspoon celery salt

Classic Gin Martini:
(Serves 1) 3 oz. gin (chilled in the freezer)
1/2 oz. dry vermouth (chilled in the refrigerator

Garnish:
3 pimento-stuffed olives or lemon twist

Shrimp Cocktail Directions:
1. Combine lemon wedges, lemon juice, onion, garlic, celery, and bay leaves in a large pot filled 3/4 full with water. Bring the water to a boil and add the salt, sugar, and peppercorns. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, remove the pot from heat. Add the shrimp to the hot water and cover with a lid. Let the shrimp cook in the hot water for 5-8 minutes until shrimp are pink and opaque. 

2. While the shrimp are poaching, fill a large bowl with ice and water. Once shrimp are cooked, remove from the hot water by straining in a colander; discard the remaining contents. Plunge the shrimp into the ice and water and let them chill completely. Drain and serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.

3. While the shrimp are chilling, make the cocktail sauce by combining the cocktail sauce ingredients in a small bowl or wide-mouthed glass.

4. Serve the shrimp in glasses for individual servings, or on a large platter for serving a small group. Garnish with fresh lemon wedges and sprigs of parsley leaves.

Classic Gin Martini Directions:
1. Place martini glasses in the freezer to chill. 

2. Meanwhile, combine gin and vermouth in a mixing glass full of ice. Stir for 30 seconds.

3. Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass and garnish with olives or a lemon twist. Enjoy immediately!

We Can Still Grill, Right? Brats and Amazing Sides

We're all bonding with our homes more these days! Mix up mealtime with a "picnic" on the patio, deck, or even driveway! And, there's no time like the present to get some summer grilling underway!

IN THIS ISSUE, we've assembled a delicious menu for an at-home outdoor dinner: beer-boiled then grilled brats, zipped-up baked beans, and a grilled potato salad ready to elevate the moment!