Extra Meaty Chili Dogs

I am a huge fan of meat, in most shapes and forms. One way to put a lot of meat in one meal is the Chili Dog. Not just any Chili Dog, but my Extra Meaty Chili Dogs.

• Hot Dogs
• Canned (or home made) Chili with or without beans
• Ground Beef
• Grated Cheddar Cheese (Tillamook is excellent)
• Red Onion
• Hot Dog Bun

The ground beef I used was leftover from tacos the night before, so it was precooked. If you are cooking the ground beef (as you probably are), start by cooking the ground beef. Season to taste. Look forward to my taco recipe for a great spice to use.

Boil the number of hot dogs desired. While the hot dogs are boiling, grate the cheese and chop the onions.

The chili cooks the fastest, so put it on the stove just before the hot dogs come to a boil.

Add the ground beef to the chili. I put roughly two cups of ground beef into two cans of Hot Hormel Chili with no beans.

Once the hot dogs are boiled and the chili heated, put the hot dog on the bun. Cover liberally with chili, and add the cheese and onions. Top with yellow mustard (I use lots of it) and if you like things spicy, add some Cholula (see my post on Cholula here).

Well, that's all there is to it. See above picture for the finished product. Enjoy.

Biscuit Pizza

When I was a kid my mom always found creative ways to make a cheap meal. There were 7 mouths to feed (including my parents), and a little money had to go a long way. One of the things she would do is have us make our own biscuit pizzas for fun. We would get to pick whatever toppings were available, from breakfast sausage, to pepperoni, to olives and mushrooms, and whatever else we had on hand. I told my wife about this idea, and she kicked it up a few notches. The recipe follows:

• Pillsbury Biscuits
• Trader Joe's Marinara Sauce
• Mozzarella Cheese
• (optional)Spicy Italian Sausage
• (optional)Pepperoni
• (optional)Fresh Basil
• (optional)Any other favorite topping

The quantities needed depends on the amount you are serving. These pizzas are as big as biscuits, so a little goes a long way.

Cook the sausage, sautee any onions or other vegetables as needed.

Take the biscuits out of the can, and spread thin like a pizza crust. Add the marinara sauce. Add toppings and cheese liberally.

Bake in oven or toaster oven until biscuits are golden/cheese is melted.

Add grated Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper to taste and you are good to go.

This meal is really cheap and tastes great. Enjoy.