The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

I think I can honestly say I never met a hot dog I did not like. But I can also say that I have met many that did not like me.

If I buy a hotdog from a vender, it comes in a little tray, and has the things I have ordered on it, placed neatly and when I eat that hot dog, most everything manages to stay in place until the last couple of bites anyway.

Not so when I cook them at home. One of the problems is I like too much stuff on the hotdog. I love pickles, mustard, mayonnaise, onion, cheese and relish. Then I put the hot dog in and it falls all apart and usually ends up on my stomach or on the floor after the hot dog has rolled out and taken most of the condiments with it.

This Fourth of July a friend of mine told me to get an over sized bun to start with, then use only bratwurst as if that made any difference. He told me to cook the brats in beer and then grill them outside to get a crust. After that he said to dig a little hole in the bun so things would stay more naturally in them and then I should be good to go.

First the bratwurst fell out, then the cheese and my little dog Fala had a feast under the dining room table.

But, I have not given up! If this does not work, I will give up but I think this might work. And I still have some of the frozen brats and the oversize buns in the freezer so what do I have to lose?

I need to buy some good applewood bacon and some good sliced cheese.

At the farmer’s market last Saturday I found some long yellow peppers that while hot, they have a wonderful flavor. So, here is what I am going to do.

I will make a split in the side of a brat, then insert half of a yellow pepper and a slice of cheese. Then I will wrap the brat with bacon so tight that nothing can melt out of that slit. Then I will cook them on the grill until the bacon is nice and crispy. Then I will add some mustard and maybe a tad of mayo and put that mess into a deep bun and I dare the whole thing to fall apart on me.

Just writing about this has made me so hungry that I may have to run to the store and get some bacon right now!