Baseball is not just about the game, it's about the food, too.
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that fans will eat a whopping 21,357,316 hot dogs and 5,508,887 sausages during the 2014 Major League season -- enough to stretch from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to Wrigley Field in Chicago.
That's a lot of hot dogs.
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council offers these tips for hot dog "etiquette."
• Never put hot dog toppings between the hot dog and the bun. Always "dress the dog," not the bun.
• Apply wet condiments first, then chunky ones, followed by cheese and any spices or seasonings.
• Eat hot dogs on buns with your hands. Utensils should not touch hot dogs on buns.
• Always lick away condiments remaining on the fingers after eating a hot dog instead of washing.
And if you want to ramp up your dog, try different toppings. From ones topped with slaw, simple grilled onions or chili to Chicago-style with sport peppers, dill pickle, onions and mustard on a poppy seed bun. You can dazzle baseball fans with today's recipe for ones topped with a spicy relish.
Avocado and Spicy Relish Hot Dogs
1 medium avocado, halved, pitted
1 large ripe tomato, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, stem removed, seeded, finely chopped
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup finely chopped white onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
6 hot dog buns, toasted on the grill
6 all-beef hot dogs, grilled
6 tablespoons Mexican cheese blend, divided use, optional
To make the relish, cut the avocado into 1/4-inch dice and place in a bowl. Add the tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, onion, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix gently so you don't break up the avocado pieces.
Arrange the buns on a platter. Place the hot dogs in each bun and top each one with 1 tablespoon cheese, if using, so it melts slightly. Spoon relish on top and serve.
Makes 6 servings.
Food on 07/16/2014