Dog n Suds Coney Dogs and Society

The first entries of this blog were made in spring of '05. Those prior to May 8, 05 were written as if I thought people would be reading. From 5/8/05 I wrote without caring if anyone was reading. Sometimes the writting was for safe keeping of thoughts, others for getting emotions out into the light. This one is to share somethings that are good.

My favorite junk food of my youth is the Dog n Suds Coney Dog. A hot dog in a soft, fresh bun, with a sweet, non-chili sauce sauce. Sometime in the mid-seventies, when the country was early in the process of removing all that is good, Dog n Suds went the way of the Woolworth's and their french fries and chocolate malts. Nobody likes SPAM the food and it has it's own web site. Why can't the Coney Dog have a place on the grocery shelf too?

Saturday I did a little research and found a recipe which when modified a bit, might be the proper mixture. The taste is remarkable. So much so that I think I was momentarily transported to 1969 Antigo, WI sitting in the back seat of our family car, where a tray loaded with glass mugs and plastic baskets of fries in white crunchy paper, hung on the half rolled down window next to my Dad. Surely a summer Saturday evening.

If your taste buds can evoke memories as mine do, here's the way to make your window to the past.

Recipe, Dog n Suds Coney Dog:
1 lb Lean ground beef
4 tablespoons Yellow mustard
1/3 Cup Baker's sugar
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 large sweet onion, chopped fine
2 tablespoons brown vinegar
3 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
24-30 oz of Heinz ketchup

Brown the burger chopping it in the pan so it doesn't clump. Keep the pieces of burger fine.
Drain the fat.
Add all ingredients except Ketchup and Onion.
Stir in ketchup.
Stir in onion last.

Use the mustard bring the color from red to orange.
Simmer for 1 hour.

Boil, not Microwave (we didn't have microwaves in 1969) Oscar Mayer All Beef hot dogs. Don't wimp out and use the skinny dogs.

Place the hot dog in a VERY soft hot dog bun Don't go cheap here. Get the fresh, soft buns.
Spoon the Coney Sauce over the dog. Put enough on so that it runs over the top and out the other end. With the right amount, your fingers and corners of your mouth should get an orange stain.

When I was a kid, my Dad would let me eat two coney dogs. When I was riding my bike to Dog n Suds and had a couple of dollars, four Coney Dogs and a root beer was my regular order. Last night I ate four because I liked the trip back.

My sister Carol estimated the calories and fat grams, commenting on my Saturday night indulgence asked "What music do you want played at your funeral?"

I choose Society by Eddie Vedder. Then serve Coney Dogs, fries, and strawberry shakes.

Eddie Vedder sings Society from the Into The Wild Soundtrack.