Weenie Of The Week Recipe

Preheat and prepare buns

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) or heat a skillet over medium. Lightly spread 1/2 tablespoon butter inside each hot dog bun. Place buns open-faced on a baking sheet and warm in the oven 4–6 minutes until slightly toasted, or toast in the skillet 1–2 minutes per side until golden. Keep warm.

Cook hot dogs

Choose one cooking method: (a) Griddle/skillet: heat remaining 1.5 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add hot dogs and roll frequently, cooking 6–8 minutes until browned and heated through. (b) Grill: preheat grill to medium-high and cook hot dogs 5–7 minutes, turning to get even char marks. (c) Boil: bring a pot of water to a gentle simmer and cook hot dogs 4–5 minutes. Remove and drain.

Prepare the classic toppings while hot dogs cook: place mustard, ketchup, and relish in small squeeze bottles or bowls for easy assembly. Finely dice the white onion and keep in a small bowl for serving.

Assemble classic-style hot dog: place a cooked hot dog into a warmed bun, add 1/2 tablespoon mustard and 1/2 tablespoon ketchup (adjust to taste), 1 tablespoon relish, and a small handful (about 2 tablespoons) of diced onion if desired.

Prepare the specialty components: slice the pepperoncini or sport peppers into rings, thinly slice the tomato, and cut the dill pickle spear into thin lengthwise strips. Keep sweet pickle relish and celery salt nearby.

Assemble the weekly special hot dog: place a cooked hot dog into a warmed bun. Add 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish and arrange 2–3 thin tomato slices along the bun side. Add 1–2 pickle slices lengthwise and 2–3 pepperoncini/sport pepper rings on top. Sprinkle 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon celery salt over the tomato and peppers to finish. Add diced onion to taste.

If offering optional variations: for a chili-cheese style, spoon 1/4 cup warmed chili over the dog and top with 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar and chopped onions. For a bacon-wrapped option, wrap each hot dog with 1 slice bacon before cooking and cook until bacon is crisp; assemble as above and add crumbled bacon as garnish.

Serve hot immediately with pickles, chips or fries and extra condiments on the side. Offer napkins and a small plate for assembling and eating. Note allergen considerations (gluten in buns, dairy in butter/cheese).