Mrs. Murfreesboro: Don’t tell me what’s in them ‘cause I love hot dogs on The Murfreesboro Post

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Mrs. Murfreesboro: Don’t tell me what’s in them ‘cause I love hot dogs

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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist

Posted: Sunday, July 5, 2009 8:13 am

I LOVE hot dogs.

Maybe it’s because my Mom and Dad loved hot dogs. They possibly loved them because they were inexpensive and easy to dish out to eight children.

Daddy loved his with sauerkraut, a taste that none of his children ever acquired. He made them while listening to a UT football games on the radio and made them – sans sauerkraut – for us, too.

Mother used to cut them down the middle, stick little slices of cheddar cheese inside, roll a piece of bacon around the outside and grill them ‘til the bacon was done. Yum.

My neighbor Pat almost goes into anaphylactic shock if I even mention the word “hot dog.” Pat is a great cook and rolls with the punches on most things, but I’ve learned not to speak the words “ hot dog” anywhere near her.

I’ve haven’t asked why because I don’t want to know the reason. Perhaps she has seen them made. Or maybe she’s read the ingredients.

I’ve done neither and don’t intend to.

Pat frequently makes Cajun red beans and rice, and when I asked her what kind of sausage she puts in it, she said: “I don’t put sausage in it. I make mine without.”

The kielbasa is the most appealing part of red beans to me (along with a hearty ham bone from Heavenly Ham). Can’t imagine them without the sausage part. Pat does eat breakfast sausage – just not any of those “foreign” kinds.

This year Tommy and I went (with many other invited elected officials), to Freedom Sunday at the Franklin Road Baptist Church. Imagine my amusement this year when the guest speaker, David Gibbs, said, “I love hot dogs.” A man after my own heart.

Gibbs said he thinks Jesus must have served hot dogs at the Last Supper.

When we were newlyweds in 1972, I found a recipe in a Kansas City newspaper for Batter Dipped Hot Dogs. I made them for a party once. I heated up a fry-daddy, cut the dogs into bite-sized pieces and made batter to dip them and everyone fried their own. It was the BOMB, probably because ketchup, mustard, onions and relish were served as sides. I’ll have to pull that recipe out again.

It’s only been recently that my husband Tommy has started eating them again.

About three years ago, we split one on the streets of New York City. It disagreed with him. I was fine. I felt the culprit to be the sauerkraut, but he believed it to be the dog. He stayed clear of them for a long time until football season rolled around. It’s hard to attend a ball game without a Ballpark Frank – although it takes up almost a $5 bill to get one.

We all watch what we eat these days, so we eat them only on occasion. I buy a pack of eight; we eat three and throw the rest out until we get in the mood again.

I hope Pat, nor anyone else, will never tell me exactly what about the dogs she doesn’t like. I plan to go to my grave never knowing but hearing the words of dear old Dad repeating, “Ignorance is bliss.”

Here’s a recipe from a 1964 edition of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook for

Hog Dogs Delicious: Enjoy!

Cook 1/2 C chopped onion in 1 TB hot shortening till tender, but not brown. Stir in one 14-oz bottle extra-hot catsup, 2 TB pickle relish, 1 TB sugar, 1 TB vinegar, 1/4 tsp salt and dash pepper. Score 8 frankfurters; add to sauce.

Simmer until franks are heated, about 10 min. Serve in hot toasted frankfurter buns. Serves 8-10.

‘Til next week.

Tagged under Jeanne Bragg, Mrs. Murfreesboro, Tommy Bragg, Voices

Member Opinions:

By: acdsrool on 7/9/09
I'm not a hot dog fan at all...maybe will eat one a year. However, I am not as fortunate as Ms. Mayor to be able to buy food and then throw it out because I'm watching what I eat. How wasteful and such a sad statement about how spoiled we are! Hot dogs may not be expensive but instead of throwing them out why don't you donate the $$ instead to a charitable cause and then go buy yourself one already cooked. That way you are helping someone else and being smart with your own money.