Corndogs = American Pride!

Most of you probably had a nice long weekend, did some grilling, and hopefully if it did not rain you caught a fireworks display or two.  As you may have guessed no grilling or fireworks on my end as the Irish don't celebrate the Fourth of July, the nerve! Surprisingly there was no rain.  In fact, we had a beautiful weekend here, so not all was lost.  

I spent my fourth of July shopping with American pal Evin and we discovered all kinds of American goodies at TK Maxx like Pop Tarts, Aunt Jemima, Marshmallow Fluff, Tootsie Rolls, and Lucky Charms!  Evin snapped a few photos since we were kind of excited to at least look at the American food.  I say look because there is no way I was buying it!  At 9 euro for a box of lucky charms, and 6 euro for JIF peanut butter I made the decision to pass.

Later in the evening I met up with a few other American friends for a pint. I brought along a plate of chocolate chip cookies to share, made with Ghirardelli chips which I brought back in my suitcase last month!  I washed my cookie down with a Murphy's Irish Stout. I tried to stick with the whole God Bless America thing, but the only American beers served in most of the pubs here are Miller and Bud. If you know me at all you know I have a bit of a discriminating beer palette; I'm not ashamed to be a beer snob. 

Hopefully my American style meal makes up for not drinking an American beer.  I debated making burgers or BBQ, but changed my mind because I have just made both rather recently.  Then I thought about making brats, but decided to save that for Adam’s Oktoberfest birthday in September!  However, brats got me thinking about hotdogs, and hotdogs got me thinking about corndogs, and what’s more American than mystery meat on a stick covered in cornmeal batter, and fried to perfection?! Sorry if you’re not a fan, Adam loves them and I wouldn’t turn one down.

I have never made corndogs before but once I got it in my head I was so excited to put to use the cornmeal I also brought back with me from my US vacation!  Cornmeal, flour, eggs, check, check, check! Hotdogs...hmmm?  No Oscar Mayer here, or Ball Park Franks, or Hebrew Nationals. Funny we have dozens of hot dog choices in the US and not simply just the brand name. Hot dog choices abound from all beef, kosher, low sodium and low fat, vegan, to foot long vs bun length!  

As with most products here choices are limited and it was these or Tesco brand. 

These are Herta brand Frankfurters made in France. They looked like hotdogs even though they were very long and skinny, so I grabbed them and hoped they would do.  As it turned out, they were perfect, and even if they weren't, you wouldn't know it once they were covered in yummy cornmeal batter and fried up crispy on the outside. 

While this is not a common meal in our home it turned out to be a delightful treat, and really not all that difficult.  The only let down was because they were fried in a pan rather than a deep fryer, the dough did not puff up into that perfectly spherical shape.  So they were kind of flat on two sides, but honestly that is my only complaint. I served my slightly flat looking corndogs with sweet potato fries, and tangy coleslaw, and you know what? They made me proud to be an American!

This is the recipe I used:

2/3 cup of all-purpose flour

1/2 cup of yellow corn meal

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

1/4  teaspoon of baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of cayenne

1 egg

3/4 cup of whole milk

4-6 hot dogs

4 tablespoons of cornstarch (for dredging)

Pour your oil in a cast iron skillet, dutch oven, or deep fryer.  Heat over medium-high heat until ready for frying. I usually drop a dime size amount of batter into the oil to determine if it’s ready, but you can certainly use a thermometer to figure it out!

Skewers or chopsticks 

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, yellow corn meal, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cayenne. In a large bowl whisk the one egg and whole milk.  Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once, mixing until just combined.  Don’t over-mix and let it rest for 10 minutes. Transffering the batter to a tall thin cup might make it easier for dipping.  I had to sort of turn the bowl on it’s side, and it was a bit tricky!

While your batter is resting, lay your cornstarch on a baking sheet or papertowel.  Place each hot dog on a skewer and roll in the cornstarch, being sure to pat off any excess.  Then quickly dip the hot dog in and out of the batter. Immediately but carefully place the corn dog in the hot oil.  Cook until the coating is golden brown, 4-5 minutes.  Remove with tongs and place on paper towels for draining.  Serve with ketchup and mustard.

Constant Comparisons

Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly comparing things here in Ireland to things back in the US. Adam has told me more than once that I do not always have to have find an American equivalent of new and different things I come across here in Ireland. I agree, but sometimes there are things that just can't be ignored, and I just can't help myself!

When we first arrived we needed a few things from the hardware store for home projects. Of course there are local mom and pop shops in town, but like any big city just outside lies suburbia, and along with that comes the big box stores. It is sad to say, but these big box stores are usually more convenient and offer so much more and usually at better prices. We didn't even know where to look for the mom & pop places anyway. So off to suburbia one Saturday in search of  B&Q. The B&Q is the largest home improvement and garden center in the UK and Ireland. Before we even walked through the doors I couldn't help but notice how similar to The Home Depot it was. Were they sister companies? Orange square logo, orange aprons, and similar in store and online layouts! I would know my brother sports an orange apron (a Home Depot one!)

Come to find out they are of no relation, and while the B&Q may have borrowed the Home Depot look, I was surprised to learn that B&Q has been around since 1969. The H. Depot on the other hand didn't come into being until 1978. So who is copying who here? hmm?

I guess this was just a lesson to my high and mighty American self that we are not responsible for all aspects of modern society. Europe may be more steeped in history, but they manage just fine when it comes to today's fast paced life of technology, economy, and apparently home improvement stores!

Savory Southern Cusine, and I Ain't Talkin' bout Southern Ireland!

I returned to Ireland with the sad realization that while I was back in North Carolina visiting I neglected to eat any BBQ! For my Irish friends and my US friends not from North Cackalaky I want to make sure you have a clear understanding of what North Carolina BBQ is all about, and why it is so sad that I didn't have a chance to tantalize my tongue with that tangy delight!

Barbeque is a hotly debated topic in the USA, and I cannot even begin to cover all aspects of it in this one post. In fact, I would have to create an entirely different blog just to deal with the complex issues of competing regional barbecue styles.Think about it!? I've already spelled it (Barbeque, Barbecue, BBQ) three different ways, and that's just the spelling! Besides, there are already oodles of BBQ blogs out there like this one www.bbqguyblog.blogspot.com and this one www.bbqjunkie.com.

Pit Master Ed Mitchell at The Pit in Raleigh. Adam managed to stop in for some BBQ when he was back, but I forgot.

With so many different regional styles out there people tend to take sides, and I am no exception. Growing up in the Midwest I was raised on Kansas City style BBQ, which uses a thick tomato and molasses-based sweet and smoky sauce. For the first 20 some odd years of my life that was the only BBQ I knew. It wasn't until Adam and I moved that my taste buds were awakened to the delights of the spicy, tangy, vinegar-based sauce that they were serving up with their whole hog chop in Eastern North Carolina! One bite and it was love, I was a barbeque convert.

Whole hog is the only way to go! I love me a good pig pickin'!

Why stop with BBQ!? In the years we spent in North Carolina I grew to love many other Southern treats like: Shrimp & Grits, collard greens, pimento cheese, fried okra, country ham, hoppin' john, cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, chicken and dumplings, Brunswick Stew, hush puppies, etc. We got our fix on many of these delectable delights from our friend and true Souther gentleman, Lee Fleming, a caterer, who Adam worked with for several years.

There are however some Southern foods that never grew on me, and I'm fairly certain they never will. This first one may cause some of my friends to draw back in horror, but I just do not like Sweet Tea. I am sorry but I just can't do it. Also can't do: sausage gravy, chitlins, liver mush, pecan pie, or boiled peanuts.

Sorry to veer so far off track! I guess it's about time I share with you What's Cookin' Wednesday! Today I have made Spaghetti and Meatballs!

Ha ha, just kidding! Of course I made BBQ, as well as a few other tasty Southern treats! I even made my own Eastern North Carolina Vinegar style sauce. I had trouble finding cider vinegar, maybe it doesn't exist here, or maybe I just wasn't looking in the right place. So I made my own by mixing white vinegar and apple juice. That combined with sugar, crushed red pepper, worcestershire, and a little ketchup, and voila!

Pork Butt ready for slow cookin'!

Eastern North Carolina vinegar sauce

Alas, we do not have a grill or a smoker here in Ireland, so it was not exactly authentic, but I did my best! I decided to slow roast a pork shoulder with a dry rub of sugar and spices on low heat for about five hours until it was tender. Then I shredded it up and tossed with my vinegar sauce. Tasty! The best way to deliver that yummy pulled pork from plate to mouth is on a bun topped with tangy coleslaw!

I also made deviled eggs just for my husband because he loves them so much, and I tried my hand at making Pimento Cheese spread for the first time ever. Pimento cheese was always so readily available in North Carolina that I never considered making it from scratch, but here in Ireland it is unheard of. So I had to look at this as an opportunity to expand my culinary catalog!

With the spirit of the South welling up inside it got me thinking about adding buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy to the catalog as well. Even though the gravy is not something I enjoy (see above), Adam loves it, and I reckon a good southern woman does those sorta things for her man! However biscuits and gravy will have to wait, as this Southern spread was enough for now.  Bon Appetite - Y'all!

Back to Ireland, Back to Blogging!

Wow! I've been MIA from the world of blogging for a while now! I've been back in Ireland for five days and this is the first time I've sat down at the computer with the intention to write. Don't get me wrong I have been wanting to write and I have plenty of ideas running through my head, but somehow the transition has left me tired and apathetic about doing anything. Why is it that we often need a vacation from our vacations? A five-hour time difference should not be this difficult, but I think I simply mentally allowed it to get to me!

So pushing the mental exhaustion aside I thought I'd start back to blogging by sharing a few tidbits about my trip back to the good ol' US of A!

The reason for our trip was to celebrate the wedding of Adam's childhood friend Nick, and his beautiful bride Chelsea! This homegrown backyard love fest was picture perfect, complete with a vintage sofa to pause for a silly photo, to the lovebird themed cake, and the wedding party's crazy launch fully clothed into the pool!

So happy to help set the stage for the vintage love bird themed wedding by designing the invitations!

Adam and his mama acting a little goofy!

Sadly the wedding weekend fun came to an end, and Adam had to return to Ireland for work, but my USA holiday was just beginning. I headed further South to spend the next week in Naples, Florida with my parents. I managed to hit the links a few times, hang out with the family, watch the sunset, and cuddle with my doggy!

FORE!

Picnic at the beach with the family.

Beautiful sun set over the Gulf.

Oh how the time flies! Before I knew it, I was saying goodbye to my family and was on my way to Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh is where Adam and I spent our last seven years and it was great to be back! I managed to see and do almost everyone and everything on my list, but it still did not feel like I had enough time! Missed a chance to hang with the Glam Squad, eat a Snoopy's dog, only had a partial book club meet up, and no beer and wings with Kitty at the Draft House! Oh well, I guess that means I'll just have to go back again someday!

I did manage to spend lots of quality time with Jolly and baby Mason!

Drank lots of Two Buck Chuck with Susan and the girls,

and back porch drinking and pool chilling with my girl Anna!

Next stop Washington DC! Best friends from college Staci and Kim live in the DC Metro area and a trip back to the US wouldn't be complete without seeing them. I had another baby to meet who made his debut since I've been away. Shopping with Staci, catching up with Kim and her new life adjusting to motherhood, drinking my favorite Dogfish Head brews, a quick visit with Stelios & Andrea, and lazy pool days made for a wonderful end to my US visit.  

Kim's new bundle of Joy baby Cole and I bond over a beer!

Thank you to everyone who took me in, entertained me, and made the effort to make sure my first trip back to the USA was a success. I miss you all over again, but happy to know that someday I'll be back and we can do it all again!

Finally, I want to share with you all the goodies that made it back in my suitcase! Hooray for yummy snacks, ranch dressing, goldfish crackers, twizzlers, cornmeal, peanut butter treats, and spicy things!