Toothpicks | shalimarali

My daddy used to make Hot Diggity Dogs. A fully dressed Red, Fat Hot Link with mustard, hot sauce and sharp cheddar cheese, cut from the block.

I LOVE Hot Dogs. Back in my skinny days, before I was hired to work at Macy’s Downtown, I used to shop and eat the Macy’s Hot Dogs. They came in the fancy pleated holder with a toasted top-sliced bun. I was the queen of dieting back then, to the point that I would starve myself. On one occasion, I fainted in Macy’s because I had not eaten that day. I’m glad they did not hold it against me, when I applied for a job there.

That sweet memory with Dad will never happen again. But here is my take on his famous Hot Diggity Dogs!

INGREDIENTS:

Fat Hot Dogs, recommended Farmland Hot Smoked Sausage Links, 1 to 2 per person
Bacon, Thick Cut, one slice per dog
Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, two, 1/4 inch cuts per dog (or Cracker Cut Cheese)
Bun, Top-Sliced, recommended Pepperidge Farm Sweet Hawaiian, one per dog
Celery Seeds, 1/8 teaspoon
Mustard Ground, 1/8 teaspoon
Liquid Smoke, 1/2 cap (or less), per dog
Poppy Seeds, 1/8 teaspoon
Water (or butter) to adhere poppy seeds
Toothpicks, 2-3 per dog
Water, to soak toothpicks for 30 minutes ahead of time
Condiment of your choice, such as mayo, aioli, ketchup or mustard

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pre-heat oven to 350
Cook bacon, until nearly done and still pliable. Then cool until you can touch it.
Slice each dog in half, lengthwise. The Sausage links are already fully cooked, so you can split and lightly brown in the same skillet. You just need to heat the sausage and cheese in the oven to meld together.
Apply liquid smoke, celery seeds and dry mustard on each dog
Add cheese chunks
Wrap bacon around dog and secure with 2 toothpicks
Bake for 10 minutes
Using the same bacon pan, blot most of the bacon grease out. Then, adhere water or butter on top of buns to “glue” poppy Seeds
Cook on both sides in skillet for 2 minutes until light brown
Remove dogs and buns from oven
Remove toothpicks
Dress buns and dogs with condiments of your choice
Chow down!

THE VAMPIRE DANCER SAGA 5 IS DONE!

The story writing process has completed and ready for tweaking. For the first time, I am using original artwork, as opposed to using stock photos from Shutterstock, DepositPhotos and the Library of Congress.

Check out the sample for Part 4 to be in the storyline loop: Audible.com The Vampire Dancer Saga Part 4 Audiobook

The Vampire Dancer Saga Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all Audiobooks now available at Audible.com and iTunes (click the word Audible or iTunes to open link to store).

BOOKS BY SHALIMAR ALI: