I don’t really care where the hot dog originated – all I care is that we’re able to eat them from time to time. And, societally speaking, we eat them A LOT! No matter the spring or summer holiday, from Memorial Day to Labor Day and every holiday in between, we’re a nation who loves our hot dogs. We pull them out for BBQ’s, quick dinners on busy weeknights, graduation parties, retirement shindigs and the 4th of July. Sometimes we yank them out for a quick afternoon snack, too.

We grill them, boil them, microwave them, air fryer them, roast them over an open flame and cook them a dozen other ways. Heck, some people still pull them out of the fridge and eat them raw…ummm…yuck

Anywho, the hot dog is just a quintessential part of the American culture. Just like baseball, apple pie and muscle cars, the hot dog is a classic.

In honor of the amazing hot dog, I’ve rounded up some unique hot dog recipes, sure to make you rethink how you’ve been serving your dogs all these years. While some recipes are a bit more aligned with the traditional dogs, others are definitely a tad different and march to the beat of their very own hot dog drummer

The next time you’re pulling out the dogs, be sure to step out of your comfort zone and give one of these new ones a try. Pair them with your favorite salad and you’ll be all set for your next cookout, holiday or family dinner.

All American Club Dogs

Just as the name suggests, all American club dogs are modeled after your favorite club sammich and feature toppings like bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato! They don’t stray too far from the classic dog – but there is definitely a bit of added flair.

Arugula & Radish Relish Grilled Hot Dogs

A touch of peppery arugula combined with a homemade radish relish is just what’s needed to create this great gourmet dog with a totally different flavor profile. A combo of yellow and honey mustard rounds out this flavorful and extremely unique take on a dog.

Bacon Wrapped Sonoran Hot Dogs

A combination taco and hot dog are what you’ll get with this fun take on a hot dog. The hot dog is wrapped in bacon and topped with queso fresco, red onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, sour cream and hot sauce. Oh my heaven. Did I mention the bun is slathered with refried beans? If you’re a Mexican food fan, be sure to give this one a try.

Banh Mi Turkey Hot Dogs

Have you ever had the ever-popular Vietnamese banh mi sammich? First of all, if you haven’t, go find somewhere to get an authentic one! Right now! They’re amazing. This spin on the hot dog features traditional Banh Mi ingredients such as carrot, daikon, cucumber, mint and cilantro, all topped with rice vinegar and siracha and served atop a hot dog! OMG. And why not?

Carrot Dogs for the Grill (Vegan)

For the vegans out there, how about giving a carrot dog a try. The ‘meatiness’ of the carrots along with the flavor from the marinade and the grill give you just the right flavor and ersatz hot-dog eating experience.

Chicago Dog

Just like with BBQ, every state or region has their own method of serving hot dogs. The Chicago dog features brown mustard, relish, pickles, onion, tomato and hot peppers. And I promise – there’s plenty of room for the hot dog with all those amazing toppings.

Coney Island Hot Dogs

You simply can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned Coney dog with onions, chili sauce and mustard. And, seriously, take the time to make some homemade Coney sauce – it truly does make a world of difference. What’s better to serve at your BBQ’s all summer long, huh?

Greek Hummus and Tzatziki Hot Dog

I’m a big fan of Greek food and the delectable flavors that go into everything Greek. I also love hummus, but I confess I never thought of putting it on a hot dog – until now. The Greek dog features hummus, cucumber, bell pepper and red onion. Of course it wouldn’t be Greek without the Tzatziki! Mmmmm! My mouth is watering over here:)

Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs

Do you love grilled cheese as much as I do? If so, you’ll love the grilled cheese dog with bacon and sweet onions, all layered on a crispy bun and nestled in with the beloved hot dog.

Homemade Pretzel Dogs

If you love pretzels, the homemade pretzel dog might be just what you’re looking for. The perfect saltiness of pretzels all wrapped around your favorite hot dog – does it get any better than that? Well, the only thing that might make it better is dipping it in a tad bit of mustard

Best Hot Dog Toppings

What’s a hot dog without just the right toppings. From the traditional stylings of ketchup and mustard to the more unique toppings like kimchi, you’re sure to find something that tickles your hot dog fancy! Check out this comprehensive hot dog topping list and try something new and innovative the next time you reach for the dogs.

Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns

What’s a hot dog without the right bun, hmmm? Of course you can grab some at the local supermarket, but have you ever tried making your own? If not, it will elevate your hot dog eating experience exponentially. What’s even better is that they freeze great, so make up a big batch and be ready for dogs at moment’s notice.

The post It’s All About the Dogs – The Hot Dogs, That Is! appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

Candle Making

We all met at The Chandler in Grove City, Ohio where I pre-scheduled our appointments for candle pouring. Fun, right? None of us had been before and we were all pretty impressed with the modern feel of the space. A large wooden counter took up a big portion of the area and served as the ideal spot for guests to relax and get their candle pouring on. The only thing that MIGHT have made the experience better is if we’d have been able to bring our own cocktails in But, that’s me being extremely selfish, mind you What? You know the gals and I like our cocktails – remember the Three Rivers Wine Trail? How about Friendsgiving with the Besties? Hmmm?

Directly across from the counter was a wall filled from floor to ceiling with candle containers in varying styles! The empty vessels came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Heidi, Jules and I all went with the traditional round candle, while Teeny opted to be a little different and go with the modern looking square one.

In addition to the vessels, the wall was filled with amazing scents to tempt (and maybe slightly overload) our olfactory senses!

When we initially arrived we were all given clipboards and told to choose a vessel and mark down 5 scents that we liked. Of course, it took FOREVER to decide which scents tickled our…ummm…nose buds?

Once we made our choices, we sat at the candle bar and waited while they got the supplies ready to go. The employee at The Chandler walked us through the entire process and waited while we each added our scents and completed our candle pour.

After we finished our candles, we left them at The Chandler (you have to let them set for a few hours) and moved on to the next part of our girls day adventure – a lovely picnic in the park. Side note – we went back after the picnic to pick-up our finished candles. Easy peasy.

I definitely enjoyed candle making with my besties and would highly recommend that you grab your own group of gal pals and give it a shot. If you’re not local, take a peek around your area to see if you have a DIY candle spot, too. If not, pick up some supplies, google some instructions and give it a try at home! Remember, it’s all about enjoying the experiences TOGETHER.

Picnicking in the Park

After our candle making adventure, I planned a trip to nearby Scioto Grove Metro Park. The park wasn’t too crowded when we arrived and after driving around a bit, we found the perfect picnic spot with a large tree and nearby picnic table.

Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t force the gals into some snaps underneath that big ole’ tree Every girls day, let me tell ya’!

I simply adore picnics, don’t you? People don’t take time to enjoy them enough, methinks! What could be better than packing up some great nosh, finding a spot in your favorite park and spending some time with your partners in crime enjoying the best nature has to offer? Seriously folks – plan yourself a picnic this year!

Anyways, back to our picnic in the park. I spent the week before girls day getting all of my picnic paraphernalia together. Since we were so early into the COVID battle, I made individual boxed lunches for the ladies, complete with pre-packaged silverware, wrapped sandwiches (I love those) and other accoutrements.

Our girls’ day picnic started with me passing out individual charcuterie platters with cheese, crackers, hummus, olives and my personal fav – fig jam! I served them on these amazing mini slate platters that I absolutely adore and use often for gatherings.

I found the recipes for my entire sandwich over on Cooking for my Soul. It consisted of a delicious turkey and arugula sandwich served on the tastiest Rosemary focaccia I’ve EVER had. These super-tasty sammys were topped with a lip-smacking sundried tomato pesto.

The sundried tomato pesto recipe has become a staple in my household. I make it often, especially in the summer when I have fresh basil growing so abundantly. It’s simply adored at my house and I can’t stress enough how much you NEED to try this! I almost always have a mason jar full of this in my fridge

My first side was a tasty Green Goddess Pasta Salad I found over at The Cookie Rookie. Not only did it look bright and springy (we eat with our eyes, you know), it tasted pretty fab too.

I finished up the main course with a lovely Watermelon Feta Salad from Curry Trail. Not a combination I would have thought worked, but it certainly did. I think it was Julie’s favorite of the entire day. In fact, I think I gave her the recipe a few days later!

To end the great meal, we had Margarita cupcakes from Budget Earth! Gotta get a little boozy with it now and then, right? You know how my best friends and I LOVE our cockytails

And speak of boozy, we had some Lemonade Prosecco Punch, courtesy of Crazy for Crust, that I made up ahead of time! Sssh, though…I don’t think we were SUPPOSED to have them in the park! We’re such rule breakers! I served them in my adorable mason jars with red and white striped straws. So on-point if I do say so myself.

After our lovely lunch, we took a walk around the park, snapped a few more selfies and really just enjoyed being out and about! Little did we know what would be coming down the horizon over the next few years!

DQ Baby

After candle making and picnicking, it was time for a DQ cone in memory of Christine’s beautiful sister, Lisa, who had passed away 9 years prior. Lisa totally delighted in her DQ, so every year Christine makes it a point to have a cone in honor of her sister Such a simple, thoughtful and loving tribute that we’re honored to have been a part of.

Speaking of cones, I prefer chocolate ones dipped in chocolate! How about you guys? Chocolate or vanilla? Dipped or not dipped?

Yet again, the girls and I had another amazing girls’ day. From candle making with my besties to our picnic in the park to the most touching of ice cream cones, we spent a wonderful day together. Laughing, talking and making the most amazing memories.

Until next time, grab your besties and plan your own girls’ day adventure. Take pictures, document the day, but most of all, live the experience and be IN the moment. As you know, life is short and tomorrow isn’t promised.

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