I am literally trapped in my house. By the time Blizzard Nemo ended, my town had accumulated approximately 33 inches of snow. My family doesn’t keep too much food around the house and since the roads are closed, going out for food isn’t an option. So I had to be innovative when it came to finding something to eat.
I never realized how versatile the hot dog is. It may not be the healthiest option, but it’s a meat product that you could use either by itself or as part of a recipe when preparing breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I love anything spicy, so I usually go for the Hummel Bros Georgia Red Hots.
In terms of taste, Red Hots are very similar to a hot dog and can be cooked in the same manner. But, I prefer them boiled because they stay plump and juicy. I feel that grilling them – or any hot dog for that matter- dries it out and the smoked flavor they pick up from the grill tends to overshadow the flavor of the meat. A nice mix of spices including paprika gives this hot dog spin off a mild kick. But, the spice isn’t overwhelming so even those who are more sensitive to spicy foods should be able to enjoy these without a problem.
Because of the mild flavor, Red Hots work well in a variety of recipes such as:
1. Breakfast Burritos – scrambled eggs and a diced Red Hot (which were fried with the eggs) wrapped in a whole wheat wrap. My brother likes his with ketchup but I use Frank’s Red Hot sauce for a little extra kick. Chorizo also works really well with this recipe. Hint: the more cream you add to the eggs and the more you fold them while they’re in the pan, the fluffier they become.
2. Red Hot Mac n’ Cheese – Instead of using bacon, add diced Red Hots that were previously fried in a skillet so the skin has that nice crisp. I use boxed mac n’ cheese – either Kraft or Velveeta (which is better if you like a creamer cheese sauce).
3. Red Hots and Beans – My mom usually makes hot dogs and beans with pepperoni slices. Though I haven’t tried this one yet, I would imagine it tastes just as good as when it is made with plain hot dogs.
These “comfort food” recipes are quick and easy and are perfect for a snowed in kind of day – or every day 
.
First, I’m sorry about the blizzard. I am from Minnesota, so I know exactly what you guys are going through right now. Maybe that’s why I moved to Cali.
I enjoyed this post.The first several sentences made me interested in what you have to say and want to read the rest of the post. I thought it was helpful that you included some tips for your readers on what to try with hot dogs. It made me want to get some hot dogs from the grocery store and try several different recipes. Nice post!
Thank you! The snow itself isn’t so bad, it’s just the lack of places to put it now that they’ve plowed. I love living in New England, but I’m seriously considering moving to Florida! Thank you for the positive feedback. I’ll admit, I was at a loss for what to write about this past week.
As I tweeted, I love this sentence: “I never realized how versatile the hot dog is.” It’s funny but also true. This is the thesis of your piece. It’s clear and you prove it well.
Avoid adding –wise to any word. It is like anti-style in writing. You can always find a better way to say what you need to say.
The rest of your piece is fun to read and easy to follow. Anyone could make these recipes (although maybe include a recipe for the mac n’ cheese, unless you are boxing it).
You end your piece rather quickly. I wouldn’t drag out an ending, but I wouldn’t mind a little more meat (pun intended) to the ended. Conclusions are a great place to tie writing together and really show your voice.
Nice job!
Thank you. I’ll go back in and revise it a bit so it reads better.