What's a hot dog?

Hot dogs and soup, our last nights dinner

Faux Sausages, made of potatoes, beets and spices.

We were having tea together and as I have observed many times W is always thinking a lot. There is a riot of thoughts running in the mind. I try to make the mood lighter.

Suddenly

"What's a hot dog?" blurted W.

Me, "It's a type of a sandwich with a sausage in the middle."

(The sausage is called a hot dog but over a period of time and evolution of language usage the sandwich itself is now known as a hot dog.)

"Gulabi has been asking for it."

"May be she has seen someone eat it at school."

Without asking W if knew what a sausage was? It's unlikely.

"But is that edible for her"

Saw a blank confused look on W's face.

Another friend joined us and the conversation on hot dog ended there. Later I was thinking there would be many parents or vegetarian families who would definitely like to give their children a hot dog. So I thought of creating a veggie one here. I know I cannot send this to Gulabi though I'd love to, atleast W can explain to her that the hot dog she is asking for has ingredients that she must not eat as the family is vegetarian. Kids do understand when explained to them. May be when they meet W can make it for Gulabi and give me feedback on the recipe.

Ingredients

2 medium sized boiled potatoes

1/2 boiled and grated beet

1/4 teaspoon red chili powder

1/4 cumin seeds

1/4 coriander powder

2 green chilies sliced finely

1 handful fresh cilantro chopped fine

1/2 cup bread crumbs

salt to taste

oil to spray

2 Long buns/ hot dog buns

mustard sauce

Some salad ( lettuce/ cabbage, grated carrots)

Mix and knead together the potato, beets and the spices. Roll them into long 1 inch thick and 4-5 inch long cylinders. This should give you just 3 vegetarian hot dogs. Spray oil on the griddle or on a baking tray. Place the veg hot dogs on it and either shallow fry or bake till crisp.

Meanwhile slit the long buns. Fill in the salad. Place the veg hot dog in the middle. Draw a zig zag with mustard sauce on it and munch on.

Though I have used beets in this recipe they can be substituted with carrots, cauliflower or any other vegetable or even a medley of veggies should be good. The recipe is basically that of a cutlet just shaped like a hot dog. I used beet just to mock the actual sausage but if they don't appeal to the vegetarian in you, feel free to use any other.

Story of the Making:

Last night I wanted to make these for dinner so I could post about it. So the hunt for long buns started at work itself. I checked out both the superstores on campus but they didn't have it. So I got off at the place a little away from home to check out another one that normally stocks different breads. They too didn't have it. Finally I knew where I could find them. I walked a few blocks to Cakes n Slices. The counter help told me they don't have plain ones. Well then give me the cream n jam buns I told him!

Once at home made the faux sausages. Scooped out the cream n jam from the buns and tucked in the sausages. Actually these buns are softer than the hot dog buns. I didn't have time to make the salad and there was no mustard sauce available. So served the hot dogs without any frills with hot soup. I had bought 4 buns so made 2 hot dogs and the other 2 cream n jam buns served as desert.

Then when I set up the plate to take pictures my digicam didn't have batteries that worked! So took pictures with my cell phone.

This post is to celebrate a parent child relationship for W and Gulabi & my Baba and Me !

Thank You W for your valuable advice!