Bobby Flay's recipe is the cure for the boring hot dog. (And if you don't feel like making your own BBQ sauce and you use it from a bottle, I promise not to tell!) I bought some hot dogs the other day on a buy one, get TWO free sale and scored some BBQ sauce for $.25. I'll get some nice buns at the corner market (Taylor's) and my husband will whip up the coleslaw. Add some corn which is 6 for $.96 right now and some lemonade and you've got dinner!
Ingredients8 kosher beef hot dogs
8 good quality hot dog buns, split 3/4 through
For the BBQ sauce:
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large Spanish onion, coarsely chopped
5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
3 cups canned plum tomatoes and juices, pureed
1 cup water
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup molasses
3 tablespoons ancho chili powder
3 tablespoons pasilla chili powder
2 to 4 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, pureed (depending on how spicy you like it)
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
For the cole slaw:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 small white onion, grated
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon celery salt
3 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 head cabbage, cored, finely shredded
1 large carrot, finely shredded
Sour dill pickles (not half sour), for serving
DirectionsFor the hot dogs:
Heat the grill to high. Grill dogs until golden brown on all sides, about 7 minutes. Remove to a plate. Place buns on the grill cut side down and grill until lightly golden brown, about 20 seconds.
For the BBQ sauce:
Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for an additional 30 to 40 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Transfer the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. Sauce will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator stored in a tightly sealed container.
For the cole slaw:
Whisk together the mayonnaise, onion, sugar, celery salt, vinegar and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cabbage and carrot and stir to combine, season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Let sit at least 15 minutes before serving.
Place hot dogs in the buns and brush dogs with BBQ sauce, top with coleslaw and pickle.
Buy a patterned backpack ($29.50 - $39.50) from Garnet Hill and get a lunchpack ($16.50) for free! The offer is valid through October 5th and you can also get free shipping on orders of $75 or more until August 17th. 
My five year old and three year old really loved completing the summer reading program sponsored by our the local library. Picking a book and stamping their "bingo" card was a big hit. Today, we went to our branch to turn in their bingo cards and get a prize. Each kid got a paddle ball game and a free book! They were so excited. While there, the branch paid me $10.50 since they mistakenly charged me for a "missing" book a few months ago. We headed to Vic's and celebrated their summer reading success with an ice cream cone. Good times.
I was lucky enough to get invited to an amazing wedding this past weekend. The bride added the cutest touches to the reception like a chalk board seating chart, wooden table numbers, a photo booth (!) ... and a basket of flip flops next to the DJ! This is not a photo from the wedding as I was too busy having fun to snap one ... but you get the idea. I rocked my green and white striped pair the next morning too. Way too cute and totally cheap and cheerful!
