Recipe #74: Indiana Style Hot Dog

Has anyone else noticed there is not a defined Indiana Style Hot Dog? I've taken into account that Indiana is kind of infamous for their corn dogs since we are known for our corn. But when you go to a restaurant that specializes in serving hot dogs in a bun no one really offers a style specific to the state of Indiana. In comparison to other states like Illinois with their Chicago dogs and Ohio with their Cincinnati coney dogs I was beginning to really feel left out. So I looked online and I my observations proved correctly in that almost every state has a preferred way their residents enjoy eating a good hot dog other than us, Hoosiers.

So I decided to take my favorite state version, the New York style hot dog, and add my own twist to make what I think is the best hot dog. The New York Hot Dog normally has ingredients like sauerkraut and mustard and so I went with those items as the base to my hot dog tonight. I added some homemade french fries and some Colby cheese to the mix. Maybe I got a little bit carried away but the end result was so worth it. Oh, and I also decided that because I'm an Indiana resident I have the right to coin this bad boy as the new Indiana Style Hot Dog whether it is truly authentic or not.

Ingredients:

* 1 package of White Turkey Franks (Ball Park)
* 1 package of Hoagie Buns
* 1 package of Colby Cheese 
* 1 package of Sauerkraut
* 1 White Onion
* Spicy Brown Mustard
* 1 Russet Potato
* Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* Black Pepper
* Basil

Cooking Directions:

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

On a cutting board slice the potato into long thin slices.

Then place them in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes.

Drain the water and pat dry with a towel. (This will remove some of the starch.)

Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle generously with the olive oil.

Then sprinkle with the black pepper and basil.

Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes for crispier french fries.

In a medium pot bring water to a boil and then add the hot dogs and cook those for about 10 minutes.

In a small pot heat the sauerkraut.

Take a bun and add a slice of cheese.

Then with tongs add some of the french fries. (The heat from the fries will melt the cheese.)

Add one of the hot dogs on top of the fries.

Add some sauerkraut over the top of the hot dog and then drizzle the mustard over the top.