The Story of Cooking - L & L Blog

Guess how many hot dogs will be eaten this Independence Day? If you guessed 150 million, I'd be concerned for you. But you would also be right. That's a lot of weiners.

Hot dogs are always on the menu for the Fourth of July, but why not heighten the occasion? Go all out with a hot dog bar, where people can stack up thematic franks with uncommon toppings. The great Nora Ephron always said that people love to play with their food. 

The below toppings can be combined for a taste you'll relish. See what I did there?

The Buffalo Dog: Hot sauce, crumbled blue cheese & diced celery

Blue Hawaii: Pineapple chunks, bacon and BBQ sauce

Tex Mex: Grated cheddar, chili, diced onion, sliced jalapenos and crumbled Fritos

Garden Party: Caramelized onions, grilled peppers, jalapenos and mushrooms

El Mariachi: Jalapenos, corn, cilantro, diced onion and cojita cheese

The American Dream: American cheese, onion dip and crushed potato chips

Some entertaining tips:

Make a chalkboard menu with combo suggestions

Create fun names for thematic hot dogs

Keep all the toppings in bowls or containers the same size and shape. The uniform look is appealing when people are making tough decisions

Have a DAREDEVIL section for outlandish toppings, like super-spicy ghost peppers, peanut butter or even marshmallows! Scour your cabinets and you'll be sure to find some stand-out options.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, from Ladles & Linens!

Friendly reminder that a couple of stores will be open for revelers in the early part of the day.  Feel free to swing by for last-minute party items, host gifts and more!

Hours: Roanoke: 10a-1p & Carytown: 10a-3p

In the meantime, enjoy a couple of last-minute tips to make the most of your holiday!

In case you haven't noticed, it's hot outside. Cakes and pies are grand, but firing up the oven on a sweltering day? Not so much. Show your loved ones that you're too cool for British rule with an Americana parfait! Zero cooking, refreshingly cool, and you can wow your guests with homemade whipped cream! Ditch the whisk (again, too hot)  and try this handy cream whipper! One taste and people will know your cream wasn’t store-bought.

Enjoy fireworks without floaties – keep pesky bugs out of your drink with these silicone drink covers. 

As a nation of immigrants, it's sometimes tough to find a food that originated in America. People's go-to are hot dogs and hamburgers, but they are in fact German foods, from Frankfurt and Hamburg, respectively. How to Americanize these dishes? Slather them in BBQ sauce of course! Take your grilling next level with a Himalayan Salt Block. Filled with minerals, it infuses food with a subtler and more complex flavor than regular table salt. And it can take the heat!

Have a happy fourth!