National Hot Dog Day

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By Terry Orr

Get Your Red Hots!

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Hot Dogs! At your favorite sporting event.

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With ketchup, mustard, onions, or relish, no one would argue that hot dogs are truly delicious! Hot dogs are a timeless American tradition and a favorite food to eat at baseball games and cookouts.

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Other common names for hot dogs are frankfurters, franks, wieners and dogs. They are also often the subject of food-eating competitions across the globe. In fact, did you know that the world’s largest hot dog was 1,996 feet long? It was created by Sara Lee Corporation in honor of the 1996 Olympics.

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Homemade Hot Dog Pickle Relish

1 1/2 cups vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

3 tablespoons brown sugar

8 large dill pickles, diced

1 small cooked red pepper, diced

1 small cooked yellow pepper, diced

1 small onion, diced

2 tablespoons chopped dill

Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium saucepan, add vinegar, mustard seeds, and coriander seeds and bring to a slow boil.

Cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients, and stir until blended. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to cool before serving.

Top 25 Hot Dogs

Chicago Dogs

Vidalia Dogs

Low-Country Dogs

Corn Dogs

Taco dogs

Bruschetta Dogs

Chimichanga Dogs

New York Street Dogs

Pekingese Dogs

Chili Cheese Dogs

Bacon-Wrapped Splitters

BBQ Dogs

Frito Dogs

Hog-Tied Cheese Dogs

California Dogs

Pizza Dogs

Po’ Boy Dogs

French Poodles

Jerk Chicken Dogs

Hot Diggity Dogs

Sausage-and-Pepper Dogs

Cuban Dogs

Philly Dogs

Chili Dog

Grilled Dog

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National Lasagna Day - 2011

By Diane Forrest

Today is National Lasagna Day, and I have to admit that as soon as I started writing this I began to channel Garfield, that lovable cat!  One of my favorite scenes in the movie "Garfield, a Tale of Two Kitties" (yes I watched it!) was when he was served a plate of liver or something but wanted his beloved lasagna instead.  Since the setting was in England at an old castle, this was not a dish that was recognized by the other animals in resident.  So, with the help of the animals, Garfield proceeds to make up a batch of lasagna, even the noodles, from scratch!  Once it was made, and everyone had a taste, they of course loved it and sang its praises.

How could you not love lasagna?  It is a wonderful Italian dish made with meat or sausage, layers of pasta, cheese and tomato sauce.  You may substitute the meat for vegetables for a vegetarian lasagna.  It's pretty much a slice of heaven.  My research shows that actually, Lasagna had Greek origins.  The main theory is that it comes from the Greek word laganon, a flat sheet of pasta dough cut into strips.  Later, the Romans used the Greek word "lasanum", meaning "cooking pot".  Then the Italians used the word to refer to the dish in which lasagna is made. Later the name of the food took on the name of the serving dish.

Baking lasagna these days is easier than you may think.  You can buy readymade spaghetti sauce and lasagna noodles that don't have to be boiled.    While I love lasagna, I have to admit I only made it once.  It was a long time ago, and I had to boil the noodles and make the sauce from scratch, so I'm guessing that is the reason why I only fixed it once. Here is an easy recipe that won't have you spending all day in the kitchen.

Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained
• 1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 (16 ounce) package cottage cheese
• 1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

• In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef until brown. Add mushrooms and onions; saute until onions are transparent. Stir in pasta sauce, and heat through.
• In a medium size bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and eggs.
• Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan. Layer with uncooked lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, and meat sauce. Continue layering until all ingredients are used, reserving 1/2 cup mozzarella. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 45 minutes. Uncover, and top with remaining half cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Celebrate Lasagna Day by fixing up your own dish.  If you don't have the time to make your own, today is a good reason to go to your favorite Italian restaurant or just go to your grocery store's freezer section and get some Stouffer's.  They make pretty tasty lasagna, but the downside is there is no leftovers for the next day! “Buon appetito!”