It’s hot and it’s time to cook some hot dogs on the grill!

All beef hot dogs are an All-American treat and now’s the time to try out some new hot dog recipes.

So how do you make a hot dog stand out?

Why, hot dog toppings, of course!

How do you spruce up a hot dog with toppings?

First, there are the go-to toppings like sauerkraut, chili, cheese, chili cheese, relish, ketchup, mustard and the like.

But how about some unusual toppings like bacon or corn chips or chocolate sauce?

Yes, chocolate sauce!

Anchovies, pineapple and chicken are other noteworthy toppings that just might make you smile.

Or how about sausage, ground beef, barbecue sauce or crushed tortilla chips?

Hey, I didn’t say they were going to be gourmet items, did I?

Vegetables are a good option to try to bring some crunch into the mix. Try cucumbers, shaved carrots or shredded lettuce for some variety.

What are some hot dog toppings YOU might try? Let me know!

This month is National Hot Dog Month! And I love hot dogs, BUT they have to be all-beef hot dogs.

For a beef girl there is absolutely no substitute.

Luckily, all-beef hot dogs are in large supply. And I will be celebrating them this month (i.e. EATING them).

I’m pretty non-adventurous when it comes to slathering on interesting toppings. But apparently people get really into dressing their dogs up with cra-zay things. I like that. I wish I were more like that.

Here’s some toppings I never would have thought of in a million years…

Mango Salsa

Kimchi

Potato Chips (crushed, of course)

Mac ‘n Cheese

There are others and you can read all about these crazy hot dog toppings here.

But why not think of your own?

Like spicy hot things? Wasabi. M&Ms? Sure.

There’s an endless creativity involved here and it’s pretty fun. The best thing? You get to eat it!

Have fun creating YOUR perfect dog!

Photo courtesy of Shine.Yahoo.com.