Hot Dog Days of Summer

Sunset has published countless cookbooks—ones on grilling, casseroles, seafood, vegetarian food, and even Chinese food. In my recent search of the Sunset archives, I stumbled upon a surprising collection of recipes. It’s not a book, but it’s more like a pamphlet. Printed in 1960, this mini-book has 45 different ways to prepare hot dogs.

Yes, hot dogs.

And the name is even better than the subject: Wonders with Wieners

One gem is “Frank Potato Fry,” in which you combine cut-up frankfurters, sauté them with potatoes in margarine or bacon drippings, and then add frozen peas. Another calls for dousing them in shortening, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, and tomatoes as a sauce. The booklet even has recipes for hot dog frittatas and hot dog enchiladas.

More than 5 decades later, we still do wonders with wieners, just in a different way.