Well whadda' ya know....a recipe-at last!

Ok, so in an unabashed attempt to drum up readership (ha ha) my hubby suggested I post a recipe that some folks have been asking for. Blackmail-now there's a dish best served cold.

So today we're blogging Hot Dog Paprikas. My mom made this all the time when we were kids. I figured it was because, well, kids like hot dogs and as mom's know, the LAST thing we need/want at the end of a day (even a good one) is a hissy over dinner. Nope. Not the case in the least. The truth? WE were P-O-O-R that's right, I said it and I'm not ashamed in the least. Cash poor, but super rich with love and my brother and I didn't know. Neither did we suffer, because we had everything we needed-and it made us really appreciate what we did (and do) have. Especially now, as adults when we're struck with the same circumstances. {my Dad's voice echo's in my head as a tongue in cheek joke.."Can't be out of money-I still have checks left!"} Ha ha ha Dad-that's a good one...oh wait, you're serious. I look back with unabashed wonder and respect for the way I was raised. Mostly on hot dog paprikas.

So, {jumping off soap box}on to the meat and potatoes. Hot Dog Paprikas is a variation on Chicken Paprikas. The traditional Hungarian food (from which I'm descended...uh the Hungarians, not the food...or maybe I am-I do love my sour cream!) that I grew up with is peasant food. Hearty, comforting, filling....DELICIOUS. Also, made with what was plentiful-the animals they raised, the vegetables they grew for the climate. No fancy-schmancy Brie en Croute here! I suppose you guessed-I'm from the Hungarian farmer class, not the Hungarian Royalty - hooray for me. So Chicken Paprikas is chicken stewed in paprika till it's tender. Then you plop in some sour cream and potatoes or noodles and Viola! Dinner! Ok, there is a bit more to it than that, but that's the gist of it. You can substitute veal, beef, or HOT DOGS and get pretty much the same difference. I've even seen a recipe for Potato Paprikas. Okie dokie.

So for those of you who were blackmailed and have suffered through my blathering long enough, here is the recipe. I hope you enjoy it.

Hot Dog Paprikas

1 package of Hot Dogs (1 lb) I use beef dogs-use what you like/have
8 oz Sour Cream (don't use the non-fat, it separates and curdles and looks awful)
2-3 Tbs Paprika (I use sweet)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 onion chopped (optional)
1 1/2 c water
2 tsp (or cubes) of chicken or beef bullion

Brown onion in olive oil-add chopped hot dogs, then sprinkle with paprika. Brown the hot dogs ~ 2-5 minutes. Add water and bullion, cover and simmer until tender (~5 minutes or so). Add sour cream and mix well. Add dumplings, noodles (I use egg noodles) or potatoes (when I use potatoes, I chop and cook them as I would to make potato salad-kind of a par boil). For more gravy, add a 1/4 c milk. Heat through and serve. Serves 4-6 oh, I also add green beans for - well, some vegetable component. By all means, they are optional as well.

If you want to make dumplings-we call them Galumpka-you'll need:
3 eggs beaten
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp salt
1/2 milk or water (you may need up to 1 cup)

Mix all the ingredients together and drop batter (which should be very thick and sticky, like a muffin batter, but thicker.)by teaspoons full into boiling salted water (I just swish the spoon in the boiling water, they come off easier that way). Cook ~ 10 minutes or until the dumplings float. Drain and serve with the paprikas. *if you have a spaetzel maker, you can use this but may have to make the batter a bit thinner-possibly.*

So that's it. Really, this is so simple- if you use egg noodles, it takes longer to cook them than make the main part of the dish. Take that Rachel Ray!

This dish is also really versatile, as I mentioned above. You can dress it up and make it with chicken and serve a dinner party or dress it down and make it with hot dogs. It is cheap, quick, hearty, comfort food. Now who doesn't like that?