Chicago’s Wrigley Field celebrates its 100^th Birthday today!

In honor of the centennial celebration, the ballpark is doing something really cool… they’re putting a historical twist on hot dogs.

“Decade Dogs” will commemorate each of the 10 decades that the North Side ball field has been in existence. If you look at the offerings you can really see how the American palate has become more adventurous and really embraced ethnic cuisine.

Some of the hot dogs sound absolutely delicious… others, not so much (I’m looking at you TV Dinner Dog).

Here’s a breakdown of the dogs, decade by decade, being offered at the Friendly Confines:

1910’s Rueben Dog: In honor of the invention of the Ruben Sandwich: Vienna Beef hot dog, sliced corn beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and Swiss cheese.

1920’s Chicago Dog: The Chicago classic hot dog: Vienna Beef hot dog, tomato wedges, pickle spears, sport peppers, diced onions, mustard, neon relish and celery salt, served on a poppy seed bun.

1930’s Cheese Steak Dog: In honor of the invention of Philadelphia’s favorite sandwich: Vienna Beef hot dog, shaved rib eye steak, grilled onions, peppers and provolone cheese.

1940’s Corn Dog Nibblers: In honor of the Corn Dog, invented at the Texas State Fair: Deep-fried mini Vienna Beef corn dogs.

1950’s TV Dinner Dog: In honor of that unforgettable foil-tray meal:  Vienna Beef hot dog, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn.

1960’s Buffalo Wing Dog: In honor of that now ubiquitous party snack, invented at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York: Vienna Beef hot dog, diced chicken, buffalo sauce, bleu cheese crumbles and chopped celery.

1970’s Pulled Pork Dog: In honor of when America woke up and smelled the smoke (barbecue that is): Vienna Beef hot dog, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, fried onions and coleslaw.

1980’s Nacho Dog: In honor of the decade Tex-Mex cooking seduced the country: Vienna Beef hot dog, tortilla strips, nacho cheese, salsa and pickled jalapeños.

1990’s Bagel Dog: In honor of when bagels broke out of the New York Delicatessens and into middle America’s strip malls: Vienna Beef hot dog wrapped in a warm bagel with deli mustard.

2000’s Dog: The Decade Dog that is the most popular will also receive the honor of being named 2000 Dog.

I don’t see me being able to eat 10 dogs at any one game, so I guess I’ll have to make multiple trips back to Wrigley.  It’s a shame the Cubs can’t match the quality of the food!

Happy Birthday Wrigley Field!

Tomorrow is National Doughnut Day, so celebrate this momentous occasion with these easy DIY Doughnuts with Jelly-Filled Doughnut Holes.

(Someday I’d like to figure out just who it is that gets to declare what is or isn’t worthy of a “national day”—I want that job.)

Some of you will shudder when you see that the doughnuts are deep-fried. Get over it. National Doughnut Day only comes once a year… celebrate in style.

As Mama always says, “Eat today… exercise tomorrow!”

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Churros!

In celebration of the Eleven Pipers Piping, Mama made Mexican Crullers, better known as Churros.

Churros are crispy fried dough fritters sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. They come in two shapes: thin and coiled in the traditional cruller shape or long and thick “porras” (the Spanish word for baton).

In some parts of Latin America, Churros are filled with guava paste, chocolate, dulce de leche (caramel and sweet cream) and even cheese.

The dough you used to make the Seven Swans-a-Swimming is the same dough used for Churros. To get the crunchy ridges, a pastry bag with a star tip works best, but I’ve also used a Ziploc® Brand Freezer Bag.

Deep-fried and delightfully sweet… these are the perfect way to start the weekend, if you remember portion control!

Now… get piping!

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My love affair began earlier this year shortly after my doctor told me my cholesterol level was through the roof. Uh, get your mind out of the romance novel… this is a family blog.

I’m talking about my love affair with tofu.

Not everyone in the fam likes tofu, unless it’s deep-fried (but really, even a shoelace tastes good if it’s deep fried). But don’t you think frying tofu somehow negates its healthy attributes? I do.

So, I’ve been baking it and, I’ve got to tell you, it is dee-lish-ous. Once I gussy it up with a little teriyaki, even Miss Picky-Nicky will eat it. Now, that’s saying something!

Give this a go for your Meatless Monday. Stir-fry some veggies and serve it with a little Jasmine or steamed rice. You can make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge in a sealed plastic container for up to week.

OK… the healthy eating lesson is now over. You can go back to that romance novel.

Baked Teriyaki Tofu (with a little Sriracha on the side)

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