Sunday, July 06, 2008

Dog Is My Co-pilot

My friends thought I was just goofing when I said I was planning to make hot dog rillettes. Or maybe they thought I was nuts.
Well, I am nuts. I'm mad, right?
I've been excited about taking leftover cooked meat and converting it into a rustic pate. It's just so easy and delicious.
But for a kick, I declared my intention of making dawg spread. Very Fourth of July, even if we were a couple of days late.
And? It's awesome. If you use the right hot dogs. More awesome than I could have guessed, because I was just goofing. Except I meant it.
I braised slices of dog in beer (beer! not champagne) with a handful of mirepoix for about 45 minutes, until the slices got puffy and juicy. Then I ran the meat through the Cuisinart with grated orange rind, a smoodge of mustard and a pinch of chile powder. Sludged this mess with melted lard, and refrigerated it overnight.
(You're covering your ears! La-la-la-la. You don't want to hear this! Well, ha, ha. You lose.)
The cooked dogs whirred into a rough, granular, state. It was not, as one friend suggested, returning tube steaks into their gooshy, pre-casing state. No, it was a whole new thing.
And I'd serve this to company. You would NEVER guess it was made from hot dogs (if you used the right hot dogs to begin with).
Best of all: the miniature hot dog buns. More on that soon. Ohmagah.

16 comments:

peter said...

Postmodern-retro-haute-trash-patrio-snacktacular.

You're my hero. Even if you are a hippie.

cookiecrumb said...

Peter: You nailed me, in so many syllables. Too many syllables. But you got it right.
Love to you.

cookiecrumb said...

Peter: Correction. PEACE and love to you.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Love the mini buns tres, tres cute.

Anita (Married... with dinner) said...

If you didn't exist, I would have to invent you.

wot larx said...

You're a genius!

Anna Haight said...

Now this is a great alternative to sloppy joes... wonder if tofudogs would work..

kudzu said...

Well, you're really Dora the Explorer.

It was the color of the meat in the photo that threw me off (notice I did not say "put me off"). Then when I found out what you had used, I had a good laugh.

I haven't tried Prather but Coleman franks are about as close to old-fashioned pure hot dogs as I've encountered. I imagine the P-dogs are probably not the rosy color we expect? Anyway -- good job. I can't wait to hear about the buns.

kudzu said...

PS Old cookbooks in my collection, esp. those from the Midwest, have recipes for hot dog stew.

This is a long way from those abominations!

cookiecrumb said...

Ms. Mouse: I couldn't believe they'd bake up properly without becoming bricks. Tra la!

Anita: You can make me a character in your book!

Wot Larx: You gotta think outside the bun.

Anna: It does look sloppy-esque. You try the tofu and let us know.

Kudzu: True, Prather franks are really brown. So are Marin Sun Farms'. (And local, heh.)
I guess you believe me when I tell you we loved eating this... But hot dog stew might not be on the to-do list.

maybelles mom said...

oh I love adore mini. please tell us about the mini buns.

cookiecrumb said...

Maybelles Parents: I agree, mini is irresistible. I'll get to it soon, I promise.

Norm Schoen said...

What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac do at night? He stays up wondering if there is a Dog....(snicker..)

cookiecrumb said...

Oh, Norm. Thanks for that old bone. It's funny.

Christine said...

I'm so glad I've 're-discovered' your blog. I'm having a great time reading your posts. I missed you and Cranky at the SF Sunday meet-up. Maybe next year?

cookiecrumb said...

Christine: I was looking forward to seeing you again. So sorry we failed to materialize. Let's find a way to visit.