It’s almost Opening Day for baseball (professional ball and Little League).  We actually have two ball players in our house; baseball and softball.  With it getting so close to baseball/softball season, it makes you have Spring Fever.  I noticed today that some of the trees are already blooming with flowers and while shopping at our supermarket (to get my ingredients for my next cook off challenge) we saw flowers pushing their way up through the ground.  How is that possible when we are expecting a Nor’easter here tomorrow, the first day of Spring?  It isn’t April Fool’s day yet but sure feels like a good joke!

With the upcoming baseball season, we ventured out to the batting cages for some hitting practice.  We were surrounded by many baseball & softball players.  Sounds of the bats cracking,  parents standing by offering encouragement and coaches running lessons with players filled the air.  You may be wondering why I am talking about baseball and softball when this is a food blog.  Well, after spending an afternoon of practicing, we built up quite an appetite (even though my husband and I were only standing by watching the kids play)!  We did have to walk back & forth to feed the machine with tokens which can build up quite a thirst.   We didn’t have just any appetite; being around all the baseball really got us in the mood for some ball park goodies, such as hot dogs.  Oh, and maybe one, no two, beers, also.

My husband grew up eating hot dogs topped with a Chili Sauce w/Meat made by “Hot Dog Charlies”.  It is made and sold locally near his hometown in Upstate New York.  Traditionally, a chili sauce would have a tomato base.  This Chili Sauce is a bit thinner and it is primarily meat and spices.  The sauce is made with beef and seasonings from ingredients such as onions, paprika, chili powder, ground chili peppers and other spices.   Not only have I been hearing about this sauce with baseball season fast approaching; I have been hearing about this since I first met my husband, several years ago.  Keep in mind, we live in Southeastern Pennsylvania which is about a 6 hour ride in the car.  That would be a very long way to go for his favorite ball park hot dog.  Lucky for us, my mother-in-law also knows how much her son loves this sauce on his hot dogs.  She picked some of this sauce up, packed it up and shipped it to him.  How awesome is she?!  Funny thing is, I think the shipping cost was more than the sauce itself.

“Hot Dog Charlie’s”

As soon as we got home from ball practice I got those hot dogs on the grill and heated up his favorite Chili Sauce w/Meat that traveled for days to get here.  I diced up some white onions, toasted up some nice, fresh rolls and got the ketchup and yellow mustard ready.  We were not at a ball park, but these hot dogs were really tasty.  The hot dogs had a nice snap when biting into them and they were so delicious topped off with the chili sauce, onions and yellow mustard (my husband’s favorite) or ketchup (my favorite).  One bite into these hot dogs took my husband back to his childhood, reminiscing about all the summers he ate this treat.

Chili Dogs

If you are ever in Upstate NY you should try it.  Or if you are like us, you can always get someone to ship you a jar.  Best mother-in-law ever!!

Mangia! Enjoy!

Chili Dog

Makes approx. 4 Servings

Ingredients

8 Long Hot Dogs

8 Hot Dog Buns

Chili Sauce w/Meat *we used “Hot Dog Charlie’s” in this recipe

1/4, White Onion, diced

Ketchup

Yellow Mustard

 

Instructions

Turn grill on to high heat.  Cut slits into the hot dogs (about a few on each) and place onto the hot grill.  Turn the hot dogs frequently to avoid burning.  Cook for approx. 5 minutes or longer if you like them more charred from the grill.  Open the hot dog buns and place them down onto the grill just to get them slightly toasty, until you see some grill marks on them.

Remove the buns, place the hot dogs into the buns.  Top with the Chili Sauce w/meat and then drizzle with some mustard or ketchup (whichever you like).  Then top off with some of the diced onions.

Chili Dogs

That’s it, super quick and easy and very delicious! Enjoy with a nice cold beer.

Mangia! Enjoy!

 Optional Toppings: 

• Chopped Tomato
• Cheese (slice of cheese or a drizzle of melted cheese)
• Shredded Lettuce
• Relish
• Diced Peppers (sweet and/or hot)
• Pickles
• Coleslaw

The toppings are endless; you are only limited by your imagination! Enjoy!