Wiener dog

Tuesday night

Not to complain or anything, but I didn't know if there was much new ground to be covered in the hot dog world. Especially when the idea of eating a roller dog anywhere but a major league baseball stadium kind of turns my stomach.

But that was before we discovered Jimbo's Diner in La Vista. Jimbo's has naugahyde covered booths, coffee in thick, white, ceramic mugs, and hot dogs in red plastic baskets. And not just any hot dog. 1/4 pound of deliciousness on a warm, buttered-then-grilled bun. I'm telling you, it was enough to make me roll my eyes and utter those little "yum" noises you make when you've just tasted something delicious. Cholesterol be damned!

Now, if you really want a treat, you'll play a couple of rounds of keno while you're waiting for your meal. New libraries and fire stations don't build themselves, people! La Vista needs your gambling dollars.

Random Thoughts

Where can you do when it's Friday night and you need encased meat with a very short turnaround? Runza serves a delicious Polish sausage. Turns out, they serve Wimmer's! Guess I was on the right track last week. Makes sense, since they're both Nebraska companies.

On another note, I'll get the results from my cholesterol test on Monday. I should have done a pre-and-post hot dog month cholesterol test. You know, for scientific purposes only. I may be limited to turkey (and the occasional chicken) dogs after tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Oh, by the way, did anyone else watch the Buckeyes beat the Ducks in the Rose Bowl? It was a happy day in Buckeye Nation!

Beer Slushies

Not to state the obvious, but you know it's cold outside:

when the Guinness you've been storing in the garage turns to slush. Good thing there was a back-up.

That Guiness was going to wash down a Wimmer's Natural Casing Weiner. Or two. Oh, well. Add onions, relish, kraut, mustard and you have the perfect supper on a miserable night, even without the beer. Because I'm a planner, I've already bought the Little Smokies for a future event. Hot dogs never go bad, do they?

Speaking of Wimmer's, did you know they own Fairbury Brand Meats, too? George Wimmer, Sr. came to Nebraska from Austria in 1914. He and his wife moved to Snyder, NE in 1934 and opened a butcher shop and sausage kitchen. The company is in its 3rd generation of family ownership. Check out WimmersMeats.com if you want to know more.

Cold Enough for a Picnic

What to have for supper on a night when it's zero degrees out? Picnic food, that's what. Cheddarwurst, hamburgers, baked beans, fresh pineapple. (Rest assured, I didn't let a hamburger come close to my plate!) I have to tell you, turkey cheddarwurst aren't nearly as good as the real thing.

When it warms up a little, I'll venture out on a hot dog search. Until then, I just might try some of these wonderful hot dog recipes in my favorite cookbook, "How To Boil Water." Can't you just taste Hawaiian Hot Dogs now?

The Buckeye

Saturday Night at Home

Since it's roughly 100 degrees below zero outside, we ate Italian sausage and spaghetti at home for supper. It looked kind of like this. Except the plate was blue, the sausage wasn't cut up, and I forgot to put the Parmesan cheese on top. Oh, and we had salad. A little Romaine to balance out the encased meatiness of the sausage.

New Year New Perspective

"Where are the female hot dog bloggers," I asked? "Don't exist right now," said The Mole. Heck, nothing like a new decade, a significant (ends in zero) birthday, and processed meat to get a woman to step up to a new challenge. My bona fides - graduate of The Ohio State University College of Agriculture with a BS in Food Science & Nutrition. Moved to Omaha in 1983 to work for Frito-Lay, Inc. in Council Bluffs (before they tore it down). Moved to Williamsport, PA to work at a Frito-Lay bakery (before they closed it down). Moved back to La Vista to live happily ever after with my husband and two sons. Now work for the Greater Omaha Chamber - dream job that has nothing to do with food science or nutrition. (Obviously, otherwise, I never would have signed onto the nutritional train wreck that is Hot Dog Month.)

I have a long and somewhat troubled relationship with the hot dog. I grew up in what I thought was God's Country - O-H-I-O. My grandfather owned and operated a dairy farm with a herd of lovely Jersey cows. He always had a cow named Barbara. One day when we were at the farm, my grandmother served hot dogs for lunch. I was enjoying my dog when Grandpa said, "We butchered Barbara last week." I've never been good at math, but even I knew 1+1 equaled Barbara for lunch. I'm dedicating the next month to Barbara's memory.

The boys have set the bar pretty high. I'm looking forward to seeing their bar and raising it. Oh, I have a little help along the way as Hubby is enthusiastically joining me on the journey. The photos are from our first venture. That's right. I have two packets of mayo next to my dog. I don't like ketchup or mustard. Or relish.

The Buckeye

P.S. Go Bucks! Beat the Ducks!