Journey, Andiamo, & Pirate
Our pack looks forward to breakfast stew. I usually slice a couple carrots, and clip several large leaves of kale into water with some type of meat. Chicken gizzards, hearts and liver is a favorite. Sometimes I use ground turkey, beef or even fish. Yesterday they had a combination of shrimp & turkey chunks - it was a big hit.
I am planning to buy a third or half steer later this year, so I am concentrating on clearing out the freezer. The pack is happy to help me with this chore. This morning I was a little concerned though. I had a large package of hot dogs. They had somehow been pushed to the back of the freezer and were slightly iced. My guys are not really hot dog fans. In training class, hot dogs seem to be a special treat for many of the dogs. Andi is the only one of mine who will take a piece and he is not super fond of them.
In Northern California there is a family business, "Casper's Hot Dogs". It is one of those delightful businesses that began with one small hot dog cafe, next to a movie theater. I don't know when it started, but I remember it from the 50's. The only thing that was and still is apparently a secret is the hot dog recipe. Those long hotdogs are steamed and placed in a heated, fresh bun. The classic form is to add mustard, relish, fresh sliced wedges of tomato and onion. (This is probably not part of the recipe, but the women preparing the hot dogs always did it semi-slowly, in a perfect and precise manner.) Add a sprinkle of salt and it was handed to you as you stood, mouth watering, nose pressed on the glass, wanting that hot dog more than an ice cream or cookies or anything. Those hot dogs had a very distinctive flavor. When I moved with my parents, to Southern California, that is the food I missed the most! At one time or another I probably bought nearly every brand of hot dog I could find. No luck - there was never anything to compare with Casper's. I prepared them the same, but they just did not have "that" taste.
Once I found Casper's hot dogs in Costco. Not prepared hotdogs, just the hot dogs themselves in the meat refrigerators, from Spar Sausage Company. (Also owned by the Casper family). I could not wait to get them home; put them in a large steamer; heat the buns and serve them to my family (most of whom were originally from Northern California and had enjoyed and remembered Casper's Hot Dogs. Needless to say they were a hit! Then the last few times I looked at Costco's, there were no Casper's hot dogs to be found.
When I traveled back to Northern California, my niece, Laura Fess always remembered my love for Casper's and without fail she arranged a trip to their local Casper's or maybe even several trips while we were visiting. I would buy two, which I never did when I lived there. I always had the feeling that the flavor had to last in my memory until the next trip.
Okay, so back to the stew. I sliced several carrots, scissored kale leaves and even diced some baked sweet potato. Then I sliced the hot dogs and let them simmer a little. Each dog got a generous scoop of Fromm grain-free kibble, topped with a couple ladles of hot dog stew over the top. I watched as Andi walked up to his and sniffed it. I don't think he recognized the scent of the hot dogs. He gingerly took a piece. I checked on Pirate, who was starting to eat from his own dish. Around the corner Journey (most finicky) was eating at a pace as close as he ever gets to gulping. Back to Pirate ... yep, gulping would be the term to describe their action. Andi was eating at the rate of rattling his dish. This continued until every dish was shining and clean; lips being licked on each pack member. It made me wish I had held back one or two of the hot dogs, freezer burn or not. I guess my boys are just gourmet hot dog eaters. I had just given them the wrong brands in the past.
Oh what I would give to be holding one of these right now!
